One of the finest Empires, the Republic of Turkey is often referred to as the Cradle of Civilisation. With its impressive history of famous Ottoman rulers, Turkey has become a blend of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures. It attracts flocks of tourists all year round.
With its rich historical culture and Biblical, Roman, and Byzantine tales, Turkey lures its tourists into a world of opulent mosques and ancient charm. Thus, if being a South African, a Turkey trip has been your lifelong dream, here is everything you need to know about a visitor visa for Turkey.
Traveling now has been made much easier with eVisas. Most countries including Turkey, consider eVisas as authentic documents as regular paper visas to enter their location. These remain valid only at major entry points, (airports, land borders).
Your Options for a Turkey Visa
planning a Turkey tour from South Africa, the first crucial step is to know everything about Turkey visas for South Africans. This will give you more clarity about your steps and everything you need to do before applying and help ease the process, minimizing the chances of it getting rejected.
Turkey Offers Two Types of Visas
One that you can acquire through the embassy or a consulate, and another that you can apply for online. While getting a visa through an embassy has its advantages, there are downsides. These include having to spend an entire day on embassy visits, if not more. There might be the need to stand in long lines or book special appointments.
Thus, to save you from such hassles, the digital world today provides the benefit of acquiring an online visa. Also called eVisas, this will allow you to easily apply for and get your visitor visa for Turkey from anywhere with a device and a stable internet connection.
The best part is all you have to do is fill out the form, submit the documents, and pay the fees. It does not take more than 30 minutes and your eVisa will be in your inbox in a maximum of 3-4 days.
How to Apply For a Turkey Visa from South Africa
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched the eVisa program in 2013. It allows tourists to easily acquire their visas without much hassle.
It is mandatory for South African tourists to get a visitor visa for Turkey online. They will need an eVisa to enter Turkey. With this, they can travel for any purpose, be it business, tourism, or transit, for 30 days. Although mandatory, there are certain requirements and eligibility criteria that South African travelers have to meet to qualify for Turkish visas.
Eligibility
Every South African national with a valid passport can apply for a Turkish visa. You have to also have a valid email ID to which your eVisas will be sent along with a credit/debit card for your payments. It is only after your payments that the processing of your visa will begin.
Once done, you will get your visa via the email ID you uploaded on the site in a PDF format. Generally, you will not have to submit any additional documents but in case of any discrepancy, you will be contacted before approval.
Requirements
A visitor visa for Turkey has very basic document requirements. These include:
Passport:
- Your ordinary passport has to be valid for 60 days beyond your stay.
- In case you hold an emergency, diplomatic, or refugee passport, you do not qualify for an eVisa, and you must obtain a paper visa from the Embassy.
- If you have a dual passport, apply for your visa with the passport you use to travel to Turkey. Your passport for both tasks should be the same.
You must also fill in your personal details. This includes your passport number, full name, address, and email ID.
It is vital to ensure that there is no discrepancy between your documents and the details in the application.
Apply some time before your travel date. If you are visiting Turkey on an emergency basis, you will have to apply for an eVisa at least 72 hours before your flight. You cannot board the flight to Turkey without an eVisa.
Points to Remember Before Applying
Regardless of your eligibility criteria and the required documents, there are a couple of things you need to remember. These include:
- In case of a delay, do not panic and rush to the Embassy or a Consulate but wait for an email from customer support.
- You can apply for an eVisa either for business or for tourism purposes.
- You must have a valid credit/debit card for payment.
- Before receiving your approved visas, you should check your email every 12 hours in case you have been asked any extra questions by the Immigration officers.
- eVisas are generally approved between 24-48 hours at max. Stay updated on its status while waiting for it to arrive.
Validity of Your Visa
While a visitor visa for Turkey is valid for over 180 days, South Africans can live there for over thirty days over a period of 180 days.
Turkey visas online allow multiple entries for South Africans. Thus, you can enter and exit the country multiple times within its validity of 180 days but stay only for 30 days at a time.
Duration of Your Stay
South African citizens can only stay in Turkey for a month at a time. Thus their date of return should be within 30 days of their arrival. You will, however, have to obtain a visa before traveling to Turkey, be it if you are visiting for a day or a month.
If you plan on staying for longer, apply for an appropriate visa that fits your situation. A Turkish visa for South Africans remains valid for business or tourism. If your purpose for visiting is work or study you should apply for a Sticker or a regular visa from a Consulate or an Embassy.
What to Do When in Turkey
Turkey is a place that offers a wholesome experience. Be it in terms of local delicacies, natural beauty, a touch of history, or rustic architecture: Turkey has got it all. Thus, here are a couple of things you can explore in the Turkish paradise!
- The Holy Seat of Antiochus and Mausoleum at Nemrut Dagi.
- Dishes that date back to the Ottoman Empire. The best of such dishes you can get at the Asitane Restaurant, Fatih.
- Exploring the beautiful beach town, Kuşadası.
- Visiting the miniature-themed park at Miniaturk that has over 100 models.
- When in Istanbul, you can go for the perfect Turkish bath.
- Exploring the Art Nouveau architecture
- Visiting the beautiful Grand Bazar of Istanbul
- Go sailing in the Aegean Sea
- Exploring the thermal waters of Pamukkale
- Exploring the biblical history of sacred lakes in Urfa
- You can also take a day trip to the beautiful Cleopatra Island.
There are various other things that you can go for various other activities, however, these are the top favorites among tourists.
Live Your Turkish Dreams With eVisas Now!
Travel through the rustic charm of this Oriental paradise with visitor visas for Turkey. They are super easy to obtain and guarantee a glitch-less trip. Apply for one right now and you may get it even before the bags are packed!
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