North Americans No Longer Need Visas For Visits To Turkey

Great news has been released for North American travelers as Turkey drops the requirement for a visa to enter the country. This applies to anyone visiting for less than 90 days. Previously, North American travelers were required to purchase E-visas online, but now the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism has dropped this requirement. Read on to learn more about visiting Turkey as a Canadian, American or Mexican traveler.

North Americans no longer need visas for Turkey

Back in April 2013, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs put a scheme in place where visitors could apply for an E-visa online. Moreover, the system allowed travelers to obtain the E-visa in a process that took around three minutes.

However, with the latest announcement, travelers from Canada, the United States and Mexico join around 20 other countries that are not required to take out a permit to visit Turkey. Meanwhile, the new development is confirmed on the US State Department website, where it notes that visas are not required for Americans to visit Turkey for less than 90 days.

Travel warning for Americans

While this is excellent news for travelers to Turkey, the US State Department still places the country on its Level 2 warning. This level advises that travelers should “exercise increased caution… due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions.”

Moreover, the State Department’s website advises that some areas of Turkey offer increased risk and recommends that travelers should read their guidelines carefully before traveling to the country.

Turkey struggles to recover tourism

Meanwhile, the tourism industry in Turkey has been struggling to recover since the deadly earthquakes in February 2023. These devastating disasters are said to have killed more than 50,000 people. Naturally, during that period, travel to Turkey was limited for travelers’ safety. This is likely the cause of the country’s decision to drop visa requirements for North Americans to make it easier for them to vacation there.

What does Turkey offer travelers?

The city of Istanbul is a major draw for travelers and one of its most popular. Here, visitors can view major attractions like the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace Museum. This is Turkey’s largest and most populated city and the center of tourism. Meanwhile, Istanbul nestles on both sides of the Bosphorus, meaning it lies in both Europe and Asia.

Probably the most popular tourist attraction in Turkey is Cappadocia, located in the heart of the country. This magical place is renowned for its picturesque valleys, mystical underground cities, fairy chimneys and unique cave hotels. One of the best ways to view this is from a hot air balloon.

Head to the Turkish beach resorts

For those seeking the beach, one of the most modern resorts in Turkey is Antalya. Located in the southwestern region, the resort city offers several idyllic beaches overlooked by modern and luxurious resort hotels.

For a more affordable beach experience, head to Bodrum on the Bodrum peninsula on the Aegean Coast. The city is renowned for its excellent beaches and marinas and overlooks the Greek island of Kos. Meanwhile, Bodrum is also close to Izmir and features many cultural attractions looking back at the city’s fascinating past.