New visa policy for Turkey Published Feb. 19, 2014 By By Staff Sgt. Veronica Pierce 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Starting April 10, 2014, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs will no longer provide visas on arrival to foreign travelers. These changes will impact family members of active duty members, U.S. government civilians, contractors and their command sponsored dependents inbound to Turkey on or after that date. Active duty members who will be stationed in Turkey will not require visas, and may enter on official permanent change of station and NATO orders, however, other personnel and dependents must have visas upon arrival to Turkey. "Non-active duty members moving to Turkey will need to make arrangements with their local passport office to obtain visas," said Tech. Sgt. Melinda Maldonado, 39th Force Support Squadron customer support NCO in charge. "The processing time for a Turkish visa under the new system is undetermined at this time, but we suggest newcomers apply for visas well in advance." As this change is new, there are still parts of the upcoming process that are still being worked out, but the local military personnel section is actively working on answers and a way forward. "We are working with the Turkish consulate to get the most accurate and up to date information on visas for military dependents," said Senior Master Sgt. Kristina Rodgers, 39 FSS MPS superintendent. "If you are scheduled to arrive in Turkey after April 10, and do not have visas for dependents prior to PCS, we recommend that you request a Report-No-Later-Than-Date extension." The 39th FSS is also coordinating with the Air Force Personnel Center to ensure the information on visa changes is being release Air Force wide. Sponsors must inform inbound members of these changes. In addition to the criteria affecting people inbound, those already stationed in Turkey need to be aware of how this will impact friends and family visiting after April 10. The U.S. consulate in Adana, Turkey has a wealth of information for U.S. citizens wishing to travel here. One of their press releases states that all foreigners must obtain Turkish visas from Turkish missions abroad or from the e-visa application system, depending on eligibility. Also, the consulate's website states that U.S. citizens traveling to Turkey for tourism or commerce visas can be obtained through the e-visa system. For any other purpose of travel, applicants must obtain a Turkish visa in advance from a Turkish diplomatic or consular post. For those who plan to visit for strictly tourism or commerce purposes, there is a transitional period during the 2014 tourism season for tourist visas. Before the program is phased out, foreigners arriving in Turkey without visas will be able to obtain e-visas via interactive kiosks at Turkish airports. The fee for an e-visa upon arrival for Americans is $30. The fee for e-visas obtained prior to arrival in Turkey is $20. Currently, visas are purchased at the port of arrival and valid for 90 days to apply for residency permits and will not change until April 10. The 39th FSS capability for visa renewal support and availability to the Incirlik AB community will not change. The Military Personnel Section, Customer Support Element can be contacted at DSN 676-3280. Information regarding Turkish e-visas and the application process can be found at: https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ General information on Turkish visas can be found at: www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa