Paying to enter Turkey

[Alan2]

Do you have to pay at the airport to enter Turkey? I have been told that a payment of �10 sterling per person is required to enter the country, anybody help

[Grunty]

Yes.  They collect a tenner from you at the airport.  I think it's the foreign currency reserves that they are after.

[the>one]

thats right

[missmooncat]

Yeah �10 sterling,it was when i went in `98.Think it is for a temporary visa or something.

[Dom Tuk]

A turkish person wishing to visit the Uk has to fill out an application form and take it personally to the British embassy in Turkey or elsewhere and apply for a visa. He/ she has to pay a fee which is definetly more than �10.

Be thankful that you dont have to do any such preparation to enter Turkey. In their generosity they have agreed that UK nationals can be given a visa (a small sticker in your passport) at the airport (basic application forms to fill) to allow you to enter their country for 3 months. Its not money making. Its a nice gesture that we do not afford their citizens.

[Pinotage]

I would guess the reason that for the difference in the visa regulations between the British and Turkish governments is that Turkey promotes itself as a major holiday destination for UK citizens who come over for one or two weeks and leave without ever intending to illegally stay there and open kebab shops.

It is most definitely money making as the inbound visitors to turkey do not have the option of paying in Turkish money and there is no expense associated with processing the visa application - as no processing is done. It's solely a way of gaining foreign currency by taxing incomers.

[Dom Tuk]

Sorry to say this pinotage but i doubt that visa application fee in Turkey at the British embassy is in Turkish Lira. I suspect that it will be in dollars and stg/euro...someone else may be able to confirm. they too thus have no option of paying in the currency they wish to. 

As for the millions of turkish who visit the UK, you cannot penalise the nation for a minority who will remain here illegally. What about the thousands of Aussies and US nationals who are here illegally or for that matter the thousands of Brits who are working and living illegally in AUS/USA. We are not penalising their countries by imposing visa regimes are we or vice versa.

As for processing time you could argue that after application it takes us no time to issue visas at all for a vast majority of cases.

Even if they wish to increase their foreign exchange reserves....why not?. And after all it is much easier for the Uk traveller to pay at the airport than to apply at home for a visa. The fee is quite nominal and i think the turkish are doing quite the right thing as they wish to promote their beautiful country as a tourist destination.

It will all be academic in a few years time anyway.

[Cathyhuns]

When we went they wanted a �10 note each.  They would not accept a �20 note for two people.  Don't know why but it's their country.

[Xollob]

Unless the Turks have changed the rules recently, British nationals are required to pay �10 for a multiple-entry, three month visa (it used to be �5 for single entry). I was able to pay in Euros the last time I was there. German nationals do not need a visa, which leads me to believe the charge has more to do with British visa requirements for Turks than a money-making exercise.  Don't let the �10 put you off; it's a great country and a lot less hassle to enter than the US, for example.

[HolyJoe]

Hı All,

Lets get a few thıngs rıght shall we "dom tuk"?

Yes, ıts a tenner to enter. payment at the aırport whıch ıs good for the average uk cıtızen vısıtıng such a beautıful country. Yes, ıt ıs made easıer for the brıts to get a vısa unlıke the turks comıng to the uk for a vısıt. but "dom tuk", unlıke the turks the average uk cıtızens wıll return! The average Turk on the other hand wıll leave Turkey and settle ın a country where they can sıt on theır arses and get paıd for ıt. Now at thıs poınt I know you wıll be jumpıng up and down and pullıng your haır out. But you need to know the facts. I do know the facts as I am marrıed to a Turk and have fırst hand experıence as I know a hell of a lot of Turks ın the UK.

So, stıck up for the country ıf you wısh, but please dont play the crap for the average Joe ın the UK who may not know one Turkısh person or what Turkey ıs all about!

The other thıng you should know that when you get to the aırport and pay for your Vısa....where ıs the receıpt?...where ıs your vısa logged on to a computer? Whos pocket ıs actually beıng lıned? Dont gıve these guys some **** and bull story that the Turks are gıvıng the UK cıtızens a good deal....THEY AINT!!!

HolyJoe

[Dom Tuk]

I reckon getting a receipt and logging it on a compter would increase the waiting time from 1 min per passenger to about 5 mins per passenger at best. Now with so many plane loads landing the tourists will start complaining and that willn ot be good for business.

I do not accept that the border guards are pocketing the cash. There is a count of how many stickers are issued and there is also a count of how many landing cards have been filled. Do you think the govt will not want that money?.

As for turkish not leaving the country...why are you blaming them. Our laws allow them to stay until they can be removed. It is our govt that is giving them the benefits, housing etc. Like i said it will all be academic in a few years time and Blair is the biggest fan of Turkey in Europe so why not keep voting labour eh??