Alright folks, today I finally tackled my Turkey visa application. Was sweating a bit at first ’cause government stuff always feels complicated, but honestly? It ain’t rocket science.
First Step: Hunting Down the Actual Website
Googled “Turkey visa official site” and immediately got lost in sponsored links and shady agencies. Seriously, why’s this so messy? Scrolled past four ads until spotting the legit government portal. Bookmarked that thing fast – lesson one: triple-check URLs.
Starting the Damn Application
Clicked “Apply Now” and chose “Tourism/Visitor” when asked. Had my passport next to me while filling out:
- Full name EXACTLY like passport (even middle names)
- Parents’ names (weird, but okay)
- Hotel address from booking confirmation
- Passport issue/expiry dates
Pro tip: Do NOT rush this part. Typed “2025” as my birth year first like an idiot. Almost submitted too – caught it luckily.
Uploading Papers Nightmare
This part sucked. Needed:
- Passport bio page scan (JPG under 2MB)
- Mugshot photo (white background, no smiles)
- Flight reservation PDF
Photo got rejected twice. First time my hair covered eyebrows, second time the lighting was “too shadowy”. Used my phone against a white wall finally. Felt like taking a damn passport photo at home.
Paying the Fee
Paid $61 with Visa card. Got an error message after hitting submit – near heart attack. Page refreshed and showed payment confirmation. Don’t close that tab until you see the green checkmark!
Waiting Game & Result
Checked email every hour like a maniac. Exactly 28 hours later – boom, eVisa PDF in inbox. Downloaded that bad boy immediately and printed two copies. Also saved it in Google Drive just in case.
Total time spent? Like 45 minutes excluding photo drama. Government websites still feel like they’re from 2005, but got it done without agencies. You can too if you’re patient with the uploads!
