Frequently Asked Questions

I am a U.S. citizen. How can I get a tourist visa to visit Turkey?

U.S. citizens who wish to visit Turkey for less than 90 days may obtain a tourist visa by presenting a valid U.S. passport at any of Turkey's official ports of entry (airports and borders). A $20 visa fee, payable in cash only, is the only requirement. Please also see the information at the Embassy's tourist visas page.

I will be visiting Turkey on a cruise ship. Do I need to get a visa?

While you do need to have a passport when traveling overseas, special arrangements are made by the large cruise ship lines to facilitate their passengers’ shore excursions. These special arrangements allow cruise ship passengers to come ashore without a visa for day visits.Please check with your cruise line for details of their arrangement.

You may visit Turkey on a day trip from your cruise ship without carrying your passport ashore. You may want to carry a photocopy of your passport with you when your passport is being kept for safekeeping by the cruise lines, however.

What is the new Turkish visa Regulation? What is maximum stay of 90 days within 180 day period?

Effective February 1, 2012, the Turkish authorities started to implement new regulations allowing a maximum stay of 90 days within a 180 day period.

If you are planning to stay in Turkey more than 90 days within a 180 day period, you must get a Turkish residence permit. In order to obtain a residence permit, please contact the Foreigners Police in your area. The U.S. Embassy strongly urges U.S Citizens to not overstay their visas and to maintain valid residency permits at all times. Turkish authorities do enforce the laws, including those stipulating fines, deportation, and bans on future travel to Turkey for people who overstay their visas or do not maintain valid residency permits. For more information please click here.

What do I need to do if I want to stay longer than 90 days in Turkey?

You can apply for a residence permit for tourism for a maximum period of six months after your 90 day entry permit expires by applying at the Foreigners Police. This will allow you to stay for up to a total of 9 months in Turkey.

Foreigners who have overstayed their visas, residence permits or visa exempt periods and are subject to a fine can also benefit from the above mentioned residence permit procedure provided that they pay the related fines.

What do I need to do if I have overstayed my visa?

Overstaying your visa is taken seriously by the Turkish Authorities. If you overstay your visa, you will be fined upon departure.
Fines vary according to the length of time you have overstayed. If you have overstayed and you are fined, you must apply for your next visa at a Turkish Embassy or Consulate overseas before you travel. You may also be banned from re-entering Turkey for a period of up to 5 years.

Where can I find country specific information about Turkey?

You can find country specific information about Turkey at the U.S. State Department’s web site. You can also find more information at Turkey’s official tourism portal.

How can I register with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate?

You can enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) by clicking here.

You can also download the Smart Traveler app by clicking here.

Where can a U.S. citizen check the visa requirements for other countries?

U.S. citizens can check visa requirements for other countries by visiting the U.S. State Department’s web site.

How can I obtain a certified copy of my U.S. birth certificate?

You can obtain a certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate from the Vital Statistics office of the state you were born. Click here for the list of Vital Statistics office in the U.S.

I was born in Turkey. How can I obtain a certified copy of my Consular Report of Birth Abroad?

You can request a certified copy of your Consular Report of Birth Aboard from the U.S. Department of State. Click here for further
information here.

How can I obtain a certified copy of a Consular Report of Death Abroad?

The duplicate Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRODA) can be requested through the U.S. Department of State. Click here for further information.

How can I get a Citizenship Certificate?

You can apply for a Citizenship Certificate at the U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The application can only be done in the U.S. For further information please visit the USCIS web site.

Can the naturalization ceremony be performed in Turkey?

The naturalization ceremony is performed by the USCIS-Athens Field Office. Please contact the USCIS office at the numbers below for more information.
Tel            : +30-210-720-2404, or 720-2405

Fax            : +30-210-729-4304

E-mail            : USCIS.Athens@dhs.gov

I have a document issued in the U.S. Can I get an apostille certificate from the U.S. Embassy or its Consulates?

You can only get the apostille certification of a U.S. document from the state where you received the document. You can find a list
of designated competent authorities to get an apostille certification in the U.S. here. You can find additional information about apostille certificates at the State Department’s following web site.

How can I get an apostille certificate for a document issued in Turkey for use in the U.S.?

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara, the Consulates in Istanbul and Adana, or the Izmir Consular Agency are not permitted to perform authentications of official Turkish documents. To obtain an authentication, you should go to the Governor’s office and obtain an apostille certificate. You must have your document translated into English by a sworn translator and notarized by the Turkish notary before taking them for apostille certification. Apostille certificates (documents which have the special Hague Legalization Certificate) are acceptable in all countries where the Hague Treaty is in force (including Turkey and the United States) without need for authentication by any other authority. Apostille certification can be obtained at:

Ankara:
Ankara Valiliği
Hukuk İşleri Müdürlüğü
Ulus, Ankara
Tel: 0-312-311-8816, ext. 151

Istanbul:

Valilik Hukuk Isleri
Istanbul Valiligi
Ankara Caddesi
Cağaloğlu, Istanbul
Tel.: 0-212-522-9789

Adana:

Hukuk İşleri Müdürlüğü
Adana Valiliği
Mücahitler Caddesi
Adana
Tel: 0-322-459-2743 or 459-2288

My U.S. driver’s license has expired. Can I renew it at the U.S. Embassy or Consulates?

U.S. driver’s licenses can only be renewed in the U.S. Please check your state requirements for renewing your license. Each state has different regulations for driver’s license renewals.

I am a U.S. citizen in Turkey and I want to get married. What should I do?

U.S. citizens need to get an affidavit of eligibility to marry in Turkey from Consular Services. For information on getting married in Turkey please click here. You have to get that document in person from the appropriate Consular Section as mentioned on the web page. If you are both a Turkish and a U.S. citizen, you don’t need the affidavit and you can directly apply at a Turkish Marriage Bureau.
If you have ever been married before, you need to bring your original divorce decree(s).

Depending on where you will get married, please schedule a notarial appointment with Ankara, Istanbul, or Adana. If you are in Izmir, you need to get the affidavit in Ankara.

Ankara: http://turkey.usembassy.gov/acs_appointments.html.

Istanbul: http://istanbul.usconsulate.gov/acs_appointments.html.

Adana: http://adana.usconsulate.gov/citizen_services/appointments.html.

For questions about how to get your spouse a visa to go to the U.S. with you, please contact our Immigrant Visa Unit.

How can I register my U.S. divorce decree in Turkey?

A divorce decree obtained from U.S. courts does not automatically annul a marriage that was registered or has taken place in Turkey. Any Turkish citizen involved in such a legal separation should file a suit in Turkey to have the U.S. decree recognized by Turkish courts. You can find a list of attorneys in Turkey by clicking here.
The following are needed:

1. A Power of Attorney given to a lawyer in Turkey.

2. Original or certified copy of your divorce decree.

I want to serve in the U.S. military. What should I do?

To join one of the branches of the U.S. military, you need to be already residing in the U.S. with a valid residence permit (green card). It is not possible to join the U.S. military from outside of the U.S.

I haven’t heard from my relative or friend who has been in the U.S. for a long time. Can the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate help me find that person?

Due to the Privacy Act, it is not possible to share information about U.S. citizens with third parties. You can try searching for your relative or friend on the internet. If you want to find this person regarding a legal issue, you can try getting a lawyer in the U.S. who can help you with the search. To find a lawyer in the U.S., click here for the American Bar Association’s web site.

Where can I find a list of lawyers in Turkey?

You can find a list of lawyers in Turkey by clicking here.

Where can I find a list of doctors in Turkey?

You can find a list of doctors in Turkey by clicking here.

Can I bring my car to Turkey?

You can bring your own car into Turkey for up to six months. If you wish to keep your car in Turkey for more than six months, you are must pay import taxes. For more information please visit The Turkish Embassy’s website in Washington, DC.

Can my U.S. citizen child benefit from any U.S. financial assistance for education in Turkey?

Financial aid is only avaliable in the U.S. Unfortunately, the U.S. government does not have any financial aid avaliable for education in Turkey.

Are there any American schools in Ankara?

Below is a list of the English language schools in Ankara, you can contact them for more information. The U.S. Embassy assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by the following institutions. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance.
Bilkent Laboratory and International School (BLIS) 290-5361/2, www.bups.bilkent.edu.tr

British Embassy School Ankara (BESA) 468-6563, http://www.besaturkey.org/

Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) 287-2532, http://www.anka-ehs.eu.dodea.edu/
OASIS International School 285-7524, http://www.oisankara.org/

I need to have my fingerprints taken for use in the U.S. What should I do?

We do not take fingerprints at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. You need to get the fingerprint cards from the requesting authority in the U.S. and go to the Foreigner’s Police Department (Yabancılar Polisi) of the Security Directorate of the city where you live in Turkey and have the Turkish police take your fingerprints.

How can I find out my Social Security number (SSN)?

There is no Social Security Administration office in Turkey. However, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates can send your inquiries to the Federal Benefits Regional Office in Athens, Greece. In order to learn your Social Security number (SSN), please provide us with the following information: your name, surname, date of birth, place of birth, address, and telephone number. Please also send us your mother’s name and maiden name and your father’s name and surname. We will forward your inquiry to the Federal Benefits Regional Office in Athens, Greece. After we receive your SSN from the Athens Regional Office, you will need to come to the Embassy or appropriate Consulate to learn your SSN. Please send the above information to Istanbul, Adana, or Izmir, if you are in their consular district.

I am turning 62. How can I file for Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits in Turkey?

You can apply 3 months before you turn 62. You can also apply online by visiting this link. There is no Social Security Administration office in Turkey. However, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates can send your application to the Federal Benefits Regional Office in Athens, Greece.

You can apply for your benefits at the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, the U.S. Consulates in Adana or Istanbul, or at the U.S. Consular Agency in Izmir by emailing a scanned copy, faxing a copy, or presenting in person a signed statement with the information indicated below (contact Istanbul, Adana, or Izmir. Your application will be forwarded to Federal Benefits Regional Office in Athens, Greece. For more information please click here.

Please also include a copy of your passport. Your signed statement should include:

-Your full name

-Date of birth

-SSN

-Contact information: address and telephone number

-Answers to the below questions:

-Are you currently working?            Yes___            No___

-Are you married? Yes ___ (if yes, your date of marriage _________) No___

-Do you have children who are:

Under age 18____

Between 18 & 19 and still in high school____

Any age, becoming severely disabled before age 22____

None of the above____

-Did you serve in the US military? (active duty)

No____

Yes ____ (From Month/Year ____________ to Month/Year _____________)

If Yes, please show service number:_______

-Are you receiving a foreign pension?

No____

Yes, If yes since what date?_______________

Source _______________      and Amount ________.

Can I use Medicare Part B in Turkey?

Medicare Part B can only be used in the United States. For more information please visit the Medicare web site.

How can I get a record of the years I worked in the U.S.?

You need to fill out form SSA-7050 to get your Social Security earnings information. If you plan to present your Social Security earnings information to the Turkish Social Security Office (SGK), then you will need to either have it notarized at the Turkish Embassy or a Turkish Consulate in the U.S. or get an Apostille certification from the U.S. before you can submit it to the Turkish Social Security Office (SGK).

Where can I find my information on how to apply for Turkish Citizenship?

You can find information on how to apply for Turkish Citizenship at the following websites:
The U.S. Embassy’s web site

The Turkish Embassy’s web site

Where can I find information about voting?

You can find information about voting at the Federal Voting Assistance Program web page and also at the U.S. Embassy’s voting page.

Where can I find information about filing taxes overseas?

To file taxes overseas, you can refer to IRS Publication 54 and U.S. Tax Information for Overseas Americans. You can also consult an attorney to get information about filing taxes overseas. You can find a list of attorneys in Turkey by clicking here.

How much currency / money / monetary instruments can I bring into the U.S.?

There is no limit on the amount of money that can be taken out of or brought into the United States. However, if a person or persons traveling together and filing a joint declaration (CBP Form 6059-B) have $10,000 or more in currency or negotiable monetary instruments, they must fill out the form "Report of International Transportation of Currency and Monetary Instruments" FinCEN 105 (former CF 4790).
If assistance is required, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer can help with filling out the form. The FinCEN 105 can be obtained prior to traveling or when going through CBP.

Please be aware that if a family or group of people traveling together has a total of $10,000 or more, they cannot divide the currency between each other to avoid declaring the currency. For example, if one person is carrying $5,000 and the other has $6,000, they have a total of $11,000 in their possession and must report it on a FinCEN 105. If a person or family fails to declare their monetary instruments in excess of $10,000, their monetary instrument(s) may be subject to forfeiture and could result in civil and criminal penalties.

You can find additional information at U.S. Customs and Border Protection web site.

Embassy of the United States Ankara, Turkey

U.S. Citizen Services