Ordinary passports only. Based on Türkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and e-Visa rules, checked 16 October 2026. Rules change, so confirm on the official sites before you fly.
Quick answer
- Staying airside: no visa for most travellers.
- Exception: nationals of 10 countries, including India, Nepal and Afghanistan, flying on to Colombia, Mexico, Panama or Venezuela need a free e-ATV.
- Leaving the airport: you need a visa if your passport requires one. Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi passports can get an e-Visa only with a valid US, UK, Schengen or Irish visa or residence permit.
- Passport: valid at least 6 months from arrival.
Staying inside the airport
When you connect between two international flights and stay in the transit area, you do not pass Turkish passport control. For most passports no visa is needed.
Leaving the airport: e-Visa or embassy visa
To go into the city, join Touristanbul or stay at a stopover hotel, you enter Türkiye. What you need depends on your passport.
| Ordinary passport | To enter Türkiye |
|---|---|
| Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Egypt, Philippines, Yemen | Visa required. One-month single-entry e-Visa possible if you hold a valid US, UK, Schengen or Irish visa or residence permit. Otherwise apply at a Turkish embassy or consulate. |
| Nigeria | Visa required. No e-Visa option listed, so apply at a Turkish embassy or consulate. |
| Other countries | Check your country on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa page. Many nationalities are visa-free or can get an e-Visa directly. |
- The e-Visa is only for tourism or business, which covers a layover visit.
- Apply on the official site, evisa.gov.tr. Look-alike sites charge extra fees.
- Diplomatic and official passports often have different rules. Check your entry on the ministry page.
Questions travellers ask
Do I need a visa for a layover in Istanbul?
Not if you stay inside the international transit area, with one exception: nationals of 10 countries flying on to Colombia, Mexico, Panama or Venezuela need a free e-ATV. To leave the airport, you need whatever visa your passport requires to enter Türkiye.
Can Pakistani passport holders leave Istanbul Airport on a layover?
Only with a visa. Pakistani ordinary passport holders with a valid US, UK, Schengen or Irish visa or residence permit can apply for a one-month single-entry e-Visa. Without one, they need a visa from a Turkish embassy or consulate.
Can Indian passport holders get a Turkish e-Visa for a layover?
Yes, if they hold a valid US, UK, Schengen or Irish visa or residence permit: a one-month single-entry e-Visa, subject to conditions. Indians flying on to Colombia, Mexico, Panama or Venezuela also need a free e-ATV even to stay airside.
What is the e-ATV?
The Electronic Airport Transit Visa. Since 15 April 2024 it is required, free of charge, for nationals of Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, India, Mauritania, Nepal, Somalia and Yemen who transit Istanbul Airport to Colombia, Mexico, Panama or Venezuela. Apply at evisa.gov.tr and carry a printed copy.
How long must my passport be valid for Türkiye?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises a passport valid for at least 6 months from the day you arrive.
Keep reading
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- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Visa information for foreigners, checked 16 October 2026.
- Embassy of Türkiye in New Delhi, e-ATV announcement (5 April 2024) and the Turkish government notice listing all 10 countries (19 April 2024).
- Official e-Visa portal: evisa.gov.tr.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Visa rules can change at short notice.