Its gorgeous coastline, an unending range of commercial and economic opportunities, and interesting geographical placement made it the sixth most popular destination among foreign tourists in 2019. If you are a Hong Kong national planning to visit Turkey in 2020 or later, you will find all the necessary details on applying for a Turkish tourist visa.

 What are the Requirements for an eVisa?

Hong Kong citizens are eligible to apply for an eVisa if they fulfill the following requirements.

• A passport having six months validity starting from the date of your arrival in Turkey.
• An email address to receive the eVisa.
• A payment card to pay the visa fees. You can use MasterCard, Visa, or UnionPay credit card, debit card, or pay from a PayPal account.

Your passport must stay valid for six months after you have entered Turkey, regardless of how long you wish to remain within the approved duration of stay. If you apply with a passport that is due to expire, your visa application will be rejected.

Even if you obtain an eVisa, the border control officials will not let you enter Turkey if your passport doesn’t meet the validity condition. Renew your passport first before applying if it is expiring soon.

 Who Needs to Obtain an eVisa to Travel to Turkey?

Not all Hong Kong citizens need a visa to enter Turkey. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (S.A.R) nationality is exempt from the visa obligation. Hong Kong (BN(O)) citizens who hold a British National Overseas Passport require a visa to enter Turkey. All other ordinary passport holder doesn’t need to apply for an eVisa.
Hong Kong (BN(O)) nationals can apply for multiple-entry visas. A multiple-entry visa allows travelers to make multiple trips to Turkey within the validity period of their eVisa.
The visa will be valid for 180 days or six months, and travelers can stay in Turkey for 90 days.

 Turkey eVisa Application Process for Hong Kong Citizens:

Applying for an eVisa is a straightforward and fast-paced process, involving two easy steps.

• Fill out a Turkey visa application form.
• Pay the visa application fee.
• These are the two main steps of applying for an eVisa to Turkey.

 How to Fill the Visa Application Form?

The visa application form is like a short questionnaire, where the applicant needs to fill in the required personal and travel-related details.

If you are an HK citizen, you will need to provide personal details, such as full name, father/mother names, date, place of birth, home address, phone number, and email address. All the details must match with the information on your passport’s biography page.

HK citizens will provide information about their passports, such as passport number, issue date, and expiration date.

They must answer some security-related questions and enter the expected date of travel to Turkey. You must select the correct purpose of visit (business or tourism) and type of visa multiple-entry.

 Paying the Visa Application Fee

After filling the form, the applicant will be redirected to the payment page. Enter your credit or debit card number, and pay the visa fees. Once payment is received, you will be notified via email and SMS that your application is received.

 Turkey eVisa Processing Time:

Travelers can determine the visa processing time by selecting any of the following three visa fees payment packages.

• Normal Processing:Your visa will arrive in .... Service visa fee 39USD
• Rush Processing: Your visa will arrive in .... Service visa fee 50USD
• Super Rush Processing: Your visa will arrive in .... Service visa fee 70USD

To avoid any delays, you must apply for a visa at least a few days before your expected travel date. Please do not book accommodation or tickets before receiving your eVisa.

 Who can Apply for a Turkey eVisa?

The electronic visa facility is open to travelers wishing to arrive in Turkey for a short trip. It is only available for tourism and business purposes. Hence, if you are a Hong Kong citizen and aim to travel to Turkey for a short trip of up to three months, you can apply for an eVisa. For more extended visits, the traveler would require a regular sticker visa.

All Hong Kong citizens can apply for an eVisa, provided that they meet the required eligibility criteria of the Turkish government. HK citizens holding British National Overseas Passport also need an eVisa. Similarly, HK travelers holding a Certificate of Identity-Hong Kong (CI) or Document of Identity for Visa Purposes-Hong Kong (DI), will also require a visa to enter Turkey.

Please note that a visa will be necessary for all travel modes, including sea, road, air, and rail.

 Who can Apply for a Transit Visa?

If you want to pass through Turkey to reach another country, you will require a tourist transit visa. Travelers who need to change their flights or board a connecting flight and spend the layover period on a Turkish airport do not need to apply for a transit visa. If you intend to leave the airport and check out the city, you will need a transit visa.

To apply for a transit visa, you need a passport with 150 days validity, an onward ticket, a valid email ID, and a payment card. Also, you must hold a valid travel permit to enter your desired destination.

Cruise passengers do not need visa if their cruise ship disembarks on a Turkish port for less than or up to 72 hours. If they want to leave their ship and sightsee within the city, they will need a visa. Cruise passengers must have a passport valid for 150 days, means of payment, and a valid email address to obtain an eVisa.

 About Turkey Tourist eVisa:

The eVisa is an electronic visa that travelers receive via email after submitting a visa application online. In 2013, the Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs introduced a fast-track visa processing system.

Under the new electronic visa system, all eligible foreign travelers can apply for a visa using their desktop PC, laptop, mobile phone, or tablet. They need an internet connection and the required support documents to apply for an eVisa.

Previously, many nationalities could travel to Turkey using their Identity Card or obtained a Visa on Arrival. But, after introducing an electronic visa application system, visa on arrival facility was discontinued for a majority of nationalities. Now, every HK traveler must obtain a visa before arriving in Turkey.

Turkey is a beautiful country boasting of rich culture, friendly people, delectable food, majestic architecture, and scenic landscape. After the Turkish government announced an electronic visa system, the number of foreign visitors in Turkey increased tremendously.