New online visa application system for Turkey

A simple process at this address: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/

• What is e-Visa? Go
  E-Visa is an endorsement that allows the bearer to enter Turkey.
  It replaces “sticker”- and “stamp-type” visas formerly issued at the border crossing.
  Applicants obtain their visa electronically after entering required information and making payment by credit card.
  After successful application, e-Visa is e-mailed to the applicant. Applicants must print out their e-Visa, show it to airport officials and customs officers and carry it with them at all times during the travel.
  E-Visa is only valid for tourism or trade purposes. For other purposes such as work or study, an application through our Embassies or Consulates must be submitted.
  Turkish authorities can deny entrance of a holder of e-Visa to Turkey in certain cases. Holders of visas issued by Turkish embassies or consulates are subject to the same procedure too, thus can be denied entrance.
• What do I need for e-visa application? Go
  A minimum 6-month-valid passport, flight (or any other possible means of transportation) reservation and a credit card (Master or Visa).
• What are the advantages of e-Visa? Go
  E-Visa can be obtained easily anywhere you have internet connection and enables the holder to submit application without waiting in the que at the Turkish embassies or consulates or at the border crossing and enter into Turkey.
• Who is eligible for e-Visa? Go
• Do I need to enter Turkey on the exact date specified in my application? Go
  The validity period of your e-Visa begins from the date specified in your application. You can enter Turkey on any date within this period.
• If my travel dates change, can I apply for e-visa amendment for change of date? Go
  No, you cannot. If you do not enter Turkey within the period of the validity of the e-Visa, you must apply for a new e-Visa.
• How secure is e-visa? Go
  The Republic of Turkey, in principle, does not sell, rent, or otherwise use for commercial purposes any personal information entered in the e-Visa page to third parties. Any information obtained at each stage of the application and the e-Visa issued at the end of the process are stored in high security systems. The applicant bears full responsibility for the safety of the soft and hard copies of the issued and forwarded e-Visa. The applicant bears again full responsibility of this information in case they fall into the hands of third parties.
  The applicant’s information in the barcode on the e-Visa is stored in encrypted and electronically signed form, designated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. Access information and authorization to the content of the barcode is solely given to the institutions authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey. The applicant bears full responsibility for any inconvenience that may result from bar code falsifications.
• Do I need to obtain separate e-visa for people accompanying me? Go
  Yes. Each traveler must have his or her own e-Visa.
• Is e-visa refundable? Go
  No. If you obtained an e-Visa and did not enter Turkey, you will not be refunded your payment.
• Are there any restrictions on airline companies to fly to Turkey? Go
  The citizens of the countries listed in Table 1 (link), as well as Pakistan, Iraq, India, Bangladesh and Mexico can travel with any airline company they wish to.
  The citizens of other eligible countries (link) are required to travel with Turkish Airlines in order to obtain e-Visa.
• If any of the information on my e-visa does not match the information on my passport, can I still enter Turkey? Go
  No, you cannot. E-Visa is electronically associated with a passenger’s passport. Therefore, you must enter Turkey with the same passport with which you applied for an e-Visa. Otherwise, your e-Visa will be invalid.
• Can a tourism agency apply for e-visa on my behalf? Go
• I would like to stay in Turkey for a period of time longer than the e-visa permits. What should I do? Go
  If you wish to stay in Turkey longer than your e-Visa permits, you must apply at local Police Departments for a residence permit.
  Please note that, e-Visa is granted only for tourism and trade purposes. Application for other types of visa (work visa, student visa etc.) are required to be submitted through Turkish Embassies or Consulates.
  If you overstay your visa, you might be asked to pay fines, deported or banned future travel to Turkey for a specific period of time.
• Is it secure to make a credit card payment on the e-visa web page? Go
  Our website maintains high level of security standards. We are not responsible for any harm that may result from security vulnerabilities of your bank, your computer or your internet connection.
• I have realized that, some of the information that I provided in the e-visa application requires correction. What should I do? Go
  You need to make a fresh application.
• I have completed my application. How long will it take for my e-visa to be e-mailed to me? Go
  Your e-Visa will be e-mailed to you within 24 hours after completion of your application.
• What should I do, if my e-visa application is denied? Go
  If you have received an e-mail message informing you that your e-Visa application has been denied, you can visit the nearest Turkish Embassy or Consulate for visa application.
• If my e-visa application is denied, will my registration cost be refunded? Go
  The visa application fee is only charged to an approved visa.
• How long before my travel date should I apply for e-visa? Go
  You should apply for your e-Visa at least 24 hours before your departure. However, you are advised to make an application at least one week before your departure.
• I have applied for visa at a Turkish Embassy (Consulate General). I want to get update for my application. Can I send a request through this web site? Go
  No. You should contact the respective Embassy (Consulate General) to get information about your application.
• I have realized that some information on my e-Visa does not match the information on my passport. I have made payment and now I have an e-Visa with incorrect information. Can I get a refund? Go
  No. The responsibility of any mistake is with the applicant.
• I could get “sticker type of visa” at the airport. I don’t want to apply for e-Visa. Can I still get “sticker type of visa” at the airport? Go
  Yes. The practice of “sticker type of visa” has not changed (until further notice).
• I do not have a credit card or debit card. Is there any other way of e-Visa fee payment? Go
  No. You can only make payment with a credit or a debit card (only Mastercard or Visa). On the other hand, the card does not have to be under your name.

Enjoy your Holiday

Go overseas - Turkey blog approval

It is nice when someone reads your blog and actually thinks it has valuable content. It makes it all worth while as not may readers leave comments so you never know if the blog has value.

Go Overseas is a Webster that lists blog around the world and they have been nice enough to add our blog to their list. I thought it was only right to mention their website as there are many other blogs listed with very useful information, so get reading....

Protection for property buyers in Turkey

The Petition


This petition is intended for delivery to the Turkish President & Prime Minister.

"To the Turkish President Abullah Gul & Prime Minister Recip Tayyip Erdogan"

We the undersigned respectfully wish to draw to your attention the abuse of property purchasing which currently exists within Turkey. There are a small number of Emlaks/Builders/and lawyers who collude to effect transactions with the intent of de-frauding would be purchasers of their money -and not delivering the Tapu and in some cases the Habitation certificates for these properties.

In the worst cases they will "sell" these properties a number of times and dispose of the proceeds of these "sales" to ensure that they have no assets and cannot be made by the turkish legal system to repay the monies obtained.

We would respectfully suggest that this would be much more difficult, if all such cases were enshrined in criminal law with severe penalties for those convicted; and would request that the following measures be included in any such legislation-

All properties may only be sold by either

(a) the person named on their tapu;
(b) An individual holding power of attorney for the tapu holder/s; or
(c) An agent legally instructed to market said properties who is in receipt of a written instruction from the owners along with copies of the Tapu & Habitation Certificates for these properties.

All property contracts in Turkey should be notarised.

No contract may require payment of the purchase price until delivery of Tapu & habitation certificate - less only a deposit which should not exceed 10% of the purchase price.

No person convicted of any offense under any such property law shall be permitted to be a director/shareholder/investor in any other property business.

No emlak convicted shall ever be permitted to trade in association with any other emlak.

All property contracts in Turkey should include a clause placing an immediate Ipotek on the property, until such sale is concluded.

All Tapu offices could be supplied with a map showing the zones where property cannot be purchased by foreign nationals. Possesion of such information would enable immediate grant of Military Clearance on payment of the appropriate fee - ending an unspecified period where many problems originate.

Many of the signatories listed below have fallen victim to these abuses and all wish to draw to your attention the negative impact which such abuse has for anyone considering investment in Turkey. It is our hope that you will effect direct and urgent action to end the actions of a few individuals who can do so much to destroy the reputation of your entire nation.

Click here to  sign up today

Your mobile phone in Turkey. Can you use a Turkish Sim?

As you know, roaming is the ability for a mobile phone user to automatically make and receive voice calls, send and receive SMS or access other services when travelling abroad. Turkish mobile operators, Avea, Turkcell and Vodafone, provide roaming services to visitors coming from the UK, in partnership with British operators. Therefore, you can use your mobile phones with British sim card in Turkey. Most of mobile services such as picture messaging, text messaging, fax/data and GPRS are available with Turkish networks.

Please keep in mind that, if you pay monthly at least 24 hours before you leave, you should call your mobile operator in the UK, and they will set up your phone to be used abroad.
If you are temporarily staying in Turkey as a tourist, visitor, diplomat etc., you can buy a sim card from a Turkish mobile operator on the basis of contract, and then your British handset’s IMEI number is matched with MSISDN (mobile phone) number. In this case, your handset can only be used with matching Turkish sim card, but not any other Turkish sim card. For the matching purposes you should apply to a subscription centre (“abone kayit merkezi” in Turkish) of relevant Turkish mobile operator. (AVEA, TURKCELL, VODAFONE) 

The recent changes in the Turkish Telecommunications regulation requires all mobile phones to be registered with the Turkish Information Technologies and Communications Authority’s database with their IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers in order to use Turkish sim card. Mobile phones (IMEI numbers) not registered with the Turkish Information Technologies and Communications Authority are blocked for connection through a Turkish sim card.

If you are diplomat, student or military personnel in Turkey, or you reside in Turkey, then you can bring your British mobile handset into Turkey and can use with a Turkish sim card, after you get your mobile phone registered with the Turkish Information Technologies and Communications Authority. 

According to the Turkish customs regulation, from 1st February 2008, travellers can bring only one mobile handset into Turkey in two calendar years as one of their personal belongings, free of customs duties.
In order to get your handset registered, the following documents should be submitted to the Information Technologies and Communications Authority within one month from entrance date, through a subscription centre (“abone kayit merkezi” in Turkish) of relevant Turkish mobile operator. (AVEA, TURKCELL, VODAFONE)

• Diplomats or military personnel: Passport or ID Card,
• Students: A document from their schools indicating their student status,
• Resident foreigners in Turkey: Residence permit,
• Passport and copies of relevant pages of passport (identity and entry stamp pages),
• A petition indicating IMEI number of handset. (could be provided by subscription centre)

After the registration is completed Turkish network sim card can be used with a British handset. Please ensure that the handset must be sim free or not locked.
You can check if your handset's IMEI number is registered with the Information Technologies and Communications Authority or not through Turkish Information Technologies and Communications Authority's website at: http://imei.tk.gov.tr
Your handset's IMEI number is found on a sticker underneath the battery, or on screen by simply keying *#06# into most phones.
You can find a subscription centre (abone kayit merkezi) of relevant Turkish mobile operator through

• AVEA
• TURKCELL
• VODAFONE

And last but not least, please do not forget to take your charger and a european power adaptor you may need.

Censorship in Turkey

Something I try to keep away from concerning business. However, I have been having trouble accessing my online documents while running a legal business in Turkey. As many millions of users find the Google online documents system very useful, we use it to communicate with our business in the UK.
I have come across this very worrying article which makes me think about how governments seem to be able to control the way we live our lives.

Access to certain Google services blocked from Turkey

Statement by Dr. Yaman Akdeniz, Associate Professor, Human Rights Law Research Center, Faculty of Law, Istanbul Bilgi University, and Director of Cyber-Rights.Org. (lawya@cyber-rights.org)

The situation in terms of Internet censorship has moved from BAD to WORSE in Turkey as the Telecommunications Communication Presidency (TIB) asked the Turkish Internet Service Providers to block access to certain IP addresses associated with YouTube.

As it is well know access to YouTube has been blocked from Turkey since May 2008, and DNS-poisoning method has been used until very recently. However, as of yesterday TIB asked the Turkish ISPs to block access to certain IP addresses associated with YouTube. The ISPs then started warning their users that as a result of the most recent IP blocking certain Google services may also be affected.

Since last night a considerable number of Google related services have been affected from Turkey. These are:

http://code.google.com
http://pages.google.com
http://video.google.com
http://translate.google.com.tr
http://docs.google.com
http://sites.google.com
http://books.google.com
http://chrome.google.com
http://sketchup.google.com
http://froogle.google.com
http://labs.google.com
http://mars.google.com
http://moon.google.com
http://notebook.google.com
http://toolbar.google.com
http://browsersync.google.com
http://catalog.google.com
http://codesearch.google.com
http://dir.google.com
http://earth.google.com
http://groups.google.com.tr
http://shopping.google.com
http://sky.google.com
http://support.google.com
http://tools.google.com
http://wap.google.com
http://answers.google.com
http://google-analystics.com

The above services are not completely blocked but users are reporting that they either cannot access them or access is really slow. My own tests from two different ISPs confirmed the situation.

This is an unacceptable side effect to the Turkish authorities desire to block access to YouTube. The latest disproportionate action can only be described as censorship and remains unacceptable in a democratic society. The blocking of websites that carry legal content such as YouTube and all the above mentioned Google related services could be incompatible with Article 10, and could be regarded as a serious infringement on freedom of speech, and too far-reaching than reasonably necessary in a democratic society.

Posted by miocaro at 04:00