Travelers to Turkey with an e-visa are advised to bring a hard copy with them or risk being denied entry. According to a number of reports in the UK media, some travelers without such copies – but with an e-visa – have been turned away at the airport due to troubles with the country’s e-visa system.
According to The Telegraph, over the past two weeks a number of passengers departing from the UK have been prevented from boarding their flight after being told that smartphone versions of their documents were not acceptable, including more than 30 passengers on an EasyJet flight to Bodrum. The problem is due to issues with the system used to process e-visas, according to The Telegraph.
The official website of Turkey’s e-visa system advises all travelers – including those from the United States – traveling with an e-visa to keep a copy of it with them.
“Passport control officers at ports of entry can verify your e-visa on their system,” says a statement on the Turkish government’s website. “However, you are advised to keep your e-visa with you either as a soft copy (table PC, smartphone, etc.) or as a hard copy in case of any failure on their system.”
According to the State Department, travelers from the United States need a visa to travel to Turkey for tourism or commercial travel of up to 90 days within a 180 day period, as well as a passport valid for six months beyond their entry date and enough space for both entry and exit stamps. U.S. citizens traveling on cruise ships, however, can enter the country without a visa for up to 72 hours with permission from port authorities.
Travelers can apply for an e-visa at www.evisa.gov.tr/en.
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