By Air
Main Airport
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The national airline is Turkish Airlines (TK) (website: www.turkishairlines.com).
Ankara (ESB)(Esenboga) (website: www.esenbogaairport.com) is 33km (21 miles) northeast of the city. To/from the airport: Havas buses (website: www.havas.net) travel every 30 minutes between the airport and the city centre from 0430 to 2400 (journey time - 50 minutes). Taxis are also available. Facilities: Duty-free shops, bank/bureau de change, restaurants and bars.
Istanbul (IST) (Atatürk, formerly Yeşilköy) (website: www.ataturkairport.com) is 24km (15 miles) west of the city (journey time - 30 to 50 minutes). To/from the airport: Havas runs a regular bus service between the airport and the city centre. Taxis are available. Facilities: Duty-free shops, bank/bureau de change, bar, restaurant and car hire.
Other airports:
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Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) (website: www.sgairport.com) is 40km (25 miles) from Istanbul, on the Asian side. To/from the airport: There are shuttle bus services to Taksim Square in the city (journey time - 45 minutes) and to Atatürk International Airport (journey time - 60 to 70 minutes). Taxis are available 24 hours. Facilities: Duty-free shops, bank, ATMs, business centre and restaurants/cafes.
Izmir (IZM) (Adnan Menderes) (website: www.adnanmenderesairport.com) is 18km (11 miles) south of the city. To/from the airport: Havas buses meet domestic flights and travel hourly from the city centre (journey time - 50 to 60 minutes). Facilities: Bank/bureau de change, ATMs, duty-free shops, bar, restaurant and car hire.
There are other international airports at Adana, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Trabzon.
Business Visa
Regular passport holders, if citizen of one of the following countries and having a valid ordinary passport, can enter Turkey without obtaining a visa and stay up to: 3 months: Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Ecuador, Germany, Fiji, Finland, France, Greece, Grenada, Hong Kong (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders only), Iceland, Iran, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Morocco, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Saint Lucia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, UAE, Uruguay, Vatican. 2 Months: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Indonesia, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia. 1 Month: Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Maldives, South Africa.
Visa required
The citizens of one of the following countries who have a valid ordinary passport can enter Turkey with obtaining a visa at borders, staying up to: (duration of stay). 3 Months: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Hong Kong (Only BNO-British National Overseas passport holders), Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK, USA. 1 Month: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Jordan, Leetonia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. 15 Days: Albania, Georgia.
Requirements for a Turkish Business Visa Application
Letter from employer explaining nature and duration of business trip to Turkey.
Letter of invitation from the host company in Turkey:
Travel itinerary, round trip ticket, hotel reservation with payment guarantee etc.
Valid travel document (passport) (It should be valid at least three months longer than the expiry date of the requested visa);
Two Color Passport Photographs
Complete and sign the Turkish Visa application form
If the person applies from a country other than his/her homeland, then he/she should also submit his/her valid residence permit or any document that proves he/she legally stays in that country.
Customs
It is permitted to bring the following items into Turkey as duty free goods:
Wines, Tobacco & Other Luxury Items
The following allowances apply to the import
of both domestic and foreign goods:
a) 200 cigarettes (1 Box) and 50 cigars.
Plus: 200 gms tobacco and
200 cigarette papers or
200 gms pipe tobacco or
200 gms chewing tobacco
or 200 gms tobacco for nargile
or 50 gms snuff,
b) In addition to the above allowances,
it is also possible to purchase
200 cigarettes, 100 cigars and
500 gm pipe tobacco in the Turkish Duty Free
Shops when entering the country.
The following may also be imported:
1.5 kg coffee; 1.5 kg instant coffee;
500 gms tea; 1 kg. chocolate;
1 kg. confectionery; 1 (100 cl) or
2 (75cl or 70 cl) bottles of wine and/or spirits; cologne, lavender water, perfume, essence, lotion (120 mls maximum of each).
Essential contacts
Country code +90
Ambulance 112
Fire Department 110
Police 155
Road assistance 0212 663 7119/5950
Tourism Info 170