Turkey Visa Extension

[Jack TGA]

Has anyone recently extended their 3 month stay in Turkey by crossing into Georgia and then back again a day or so later to get another 3 months in Turkey?

 

[Millcourt]

Until around 8 years ago you could do this.

For many years we had a sailing boat based in Turkey. To extend our Visas and avoid the expense and inconvenience of clearing the boat through customs, we simply made a day trip from Marmaris to Rhodes on the Ferry checking out on a morning ferry and returning the same afternoon and getting new 90-day Visas (at a cost then of £10 or 10 Euro - they accepted either).

However, because (it was said) of the many thousands of non-Turkish folk working illegally on back-to-back Tourist Visas, the Turkish Government introduced a scheme identical to the arrangements operated for Schengen tourist travel I.e. 90-in-180 days multiple entry. There is no way of circumventing this (e.g. leave from one port and travel back into another) as all Custom Controls at all Airports, Ports of Entry and land crossings have real-time interlinked computer machine reading of Passports.

Also, be warned that overstaying the 90 day limit is taken really seriously. A few days will result in a fine at departure. Over (?10 days or so) a heavy fine and a ban from re-entry for several months or years depending on the length of the overstay. A very long overstay may result in a life-long ban. These rules are rigorously enforced as a sailing friend found out when he flew out on day 90, leaving his yacht at his usual marina berth after enjoying a summer sailing in Turkish waters. A few weeks later there was a bad storm causing some damage to his yacht. The Marina telephoned to tell him but he was not able to return until 90 days out of the Country had elapsed!

In short…… the answer to your question is “no”.

Hope you are having a great time in Turkey. Having sold our last boat 3 years ago and now using our “Land Yacht” (as we describe our MoHo to sailing friends), we would very much like to re-visit Turkey and perhaps may yet do so in our MoHo…… but this year our plan is to settle for Greece.

 

[Jack TGA]

Until around 8 years ago you could do this.

For many years we had a sailing boat based in Turkey. To extend our Visas and avoid the expense and inconvenience of clearing the boat through customs, we simply made a day trip from Marmaris to Rhodes on the Ferry checking out on a morning ferry and returning the same afternoon and getting new 90-day Visas (at a cost then of £10 or 10 Euro - they accepted either).

However, because (it was said) of the many thousands of non-Turkish folk working illegally on back-to-back Tourist Visas, the Turkish Government introduced a scheme identical to the arrangements operated for Schengen tourist travel I.e. 90-in-180 days multiple entry. There is no way of circumventing this (e.g. leave from one port and travel back into another) as all Custom Controls at all Airports, Ports of Entry and land crossings have real-time interlinked computer machine reading of Passports.

Also, be warned that overstaying the 90 day limit is taken really seriously. A few days will result in a fine at departure. Over (?10 days or so) a heavy fine and a ban from re-entry for several months or years depending on the length of the overstay. A very long overstay may result in a life-long ban. These rules are rigorously enforced as a sailing friend found out when he flew out on day 90, leaving his yacht at his usual marina berth after enjoying a summer sailing in Turkish waters. A few weeks later there was a bad storm causing some damage to his yacht. The Marina telephoned to tell him but he was not able to return until 90 days out of the Country had elapsed!

In short…… the answer to your question is “no”.

Hope you are having a great time in Turkey. Having sold our last boat 3 years ago and now using our “Land Yacht” (as we describe our MoHo to sailing friends), we would very much like to re-visit Turkey and perhaps may yet do so in our MoHo…… but this year our plan is to settle for Greece.

Thank you so much for your fast and detailed reply. That's really good to know and clarifies my next move. I am loving Turkey. What a fabulous country. Too big to enjoy it all in three months. I'll be back!

 

[frwjd]

Jack we also love Turkey and need more time to explore so we have become residents with a 12 month permit. We arrived before the rule change in early February so it was a relatively easy process. Not as easy now but worth looking at.
Where are you? Happy travels