Getting your visa at Turkey’s land border may seem tricky. But with a little understanding, the process can become easy. Thus, it helps in getting easy entry into the country.
Turkey is a unique country to travel to. This is a place where cultures, geographies, and histories merge to offer visitors a great experience. Travelers from all around the world visit this country both by air and land. However, the latter is often confusing for most.
Without knowing the exact procedures, some travelers tend to face delays, confusion, or even denial of entry. Well, are you planning to travel to Turkey as part of your multi-stop trip? Are you going to cross into Turkey by road? Then it is important to know that the process is a little different from what you can expect during air travel.
Many overland visitors are unsure how the process works at land entry points. This makes it difficult for them to get their Turkey visa for the land border. So, it is important for you not to be one of them and understand the process before arrival. This way, the chances of facing issues can be easily decreased.
Understanding Turkey’s Land Border Entry Points
Turkey shares land borders with a total of eight countries. This is what makes the country one of the most strategically placed nations for overland travel. Each border crossing of Turkey offers its own atmosphere, level of traffic, and set of challenges.
Here’s what the land borders of Turkey look like:
European Borders (Bulgaria & Greece)
These run for a total of 240 kilometers, include three major checkpoints, and are often the busiest for road travelers. Kapıkule, which is the border with Bulgaria, is the busiest and is called the gateway between Europe and Asia. It’s one of the largest land border crossings in Europe and can get extremely crowded during summer holidays.
Caucasus Route (Georgia)
Being located 12 km from Batumi and 20 km from Hopa, the Sarp Border Crossing is a popular entry point for tourists traveling along the Black Sea coast. The crossing is generally efficient but can be a little busy on weekends.
Middle Eastern Borders (Iran, Iraq, Syria)
The Gürbulak crossing with Iran is a common overland entry point for long-distance travelers, especially for those who are coming from Central Asia. Crossings with Syria and Iraq are temporarily closed and will be opened upon notice.
Eastern Borders (Armenia, Nakhchivan)
The land border with Armenia has been closed for decades. However, the border with Nakhchivan (an exclave of Azerbaijan) is open but used mainly by locals.
Visa Eligibility and Requirements at Land Borders
The eligibility to get a Turkey visa or a Turkey visa renew depends on one’s nationality. Turkey has agreements with many countries that allow tourists to obtain an eVisa or an embassy visa.
For eligible nationalities, the basic requirements include:
- A passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry.
- Two blank pages in the passport for stamping.
- Passport-sized photo, though many crossings no longer strictly enforce this.
- Proof of onward travel (bus ticket, return booking, or accommodation reservation) in rare cases may be requested.
- Travelers are also expected to show they have sufficient funds for their stay, though this is not often checked unless suspicion arises.
For example, travelers from countries like the U.S., Canada, and much of the EU can often apply for an eVisa or an embassy visa. Meanwhile, citizens of Australia and New Zealand usually rely on e-Visas for convenience. On the other hand, some African and Asian nationalities require pre-approval from consulates.
As of August 2025, the visa-on-arrival option for Turkey is closed and will be open after further notice from the authority.
Process for Getting a Visa for Turkey
The visa for Turkey can be applied for either online or through the embassy. However, we will be focusing on the first one as that is relatively more convenient.
- Visit the online portal for applying Turkey visa for the land border.
- Fill out the visa application form with accurate details related to your visit.
- Add scanned copies of the necessary documents, like a valid passport, a recent passport-sized photograph, flight tickets, bank statements, and other things the authorities ask for.
- Pay the fee for your visa application using a debit or credit card.
- Wait for 24 to 72 hours to get the application approved.
- Get the approval letter to the email ID that you used during the application.
- Bring a few printed copies of the letter during the border crossing.
- Contact the Helpdesk if you are facing any difficulties.
The Turkey eVisa is one of the most popular Turkey visa options. This comes with a total validity of 180 days, but the maximum stay varies between 30 to 90 days depending on one’s nationality.
However, if you think you have plans of applying for a Turkey visa renew, then eVisa won’t work for you.
Additional Requirements for Entering Turkey Through Land Borders
Here are a few things that one might experience when entering Turkey by land.
- Vehicle inspection is mandatory, and the driver’s license, registration papers, and insurance will be checked.
- Officers might check different compartments of the car.
- You might be asked about your stay’s duration, visit purpose, and itinerary of the trip.
- Bags will be thoroughly checked by officials.
- Alcohol, electronics, commercial goods, a large sum of money, or tobacco should be declared.
- The entry slip or vehicle slip should be kept safe.
Common Challenges and How to Avoid Them
Entering Turkey through its land borders seems like a simple process. However, in reality, many things make the process a little challenging. Here are some of the issues that you may face and the solutions for them:
Long Queues
Popular borders like Kapıkule see thousands of vehicles daily. This is what leads to visitors waiting in long lines to enter the country. So, you must plan to arrive early in the morning or mid-week to avoid waiting for hours.
Language Barriers
Not all border staff speak fluent English. This is why sometimes communication becomes extremely difficult, leading to misunderstandings. So, it is important to know the translations of key terms or use a translation app to save some time.
Document Issues
If your passport is close to expiring, that is, if it is less than six months’ validity, then your entry will be denied. In the same way, if travelers do not have a return ticket, then they might be questioned more thoroughly. So, make sure you have all the required documents.
Unexpected Closures
Political events, strikes, or even bad weather can sometimes shut down crossings temporarily. So, you must always have a backup plan if traveling by land.
Confident to Enter Turkey by Land?
Entering Turkey through its land borders seems challenging. But in reality, it is quite simple when the correct process is followed.
The process of getting a Turkey visa for the land border is easy and requires you to arrange the right documents. Other than that, you must arrive prepared and make sure you have all the required documents. This will help you save both time and stress.
However, if you still end up facing any kind of difficulty, then the Helpdesk will be there to assist you. Experts will help you solve the issue and ensure you have a great experience.
