What Is a Visa Requiring Prior Approval?

How is it different from a regular visa?

Under normal circumstances, a visa application is reviewed at a Turkish diplomatic mission abroad, and the decision is made there. In the case of a visa requiring approval, however, the diplomatic mission cannot make the decision on its own.

The application is forwarded to the Presidency of Migration Management, and a visa will not be issued without the approval of the Ministry of the Interior. The word "istizan" already means "to request permission"; the name of the procedure derives from this.

This does not mean that the application was denied. It simply means that the decision was made in Ankara, and therefore the process takes longer.

Who is this for?

The issue of prior authorization arises depending on the foreign national’s nationality, past records, or the nature of the application. There is no predetermined list specifying which applications are subject to prior authorization; the determination rests with the administrative authority.

In practice, the most common situation involves foreign nationals subject to an entry ban. A person subject to an entry ban cannot benefit from the visa exemption, even if they are a citizen of a country eligible for it; they must go to the Turkish diplomatic mission in the country where they are located and apply for a special visa with a justification letter.

For this reason, the assumption made by someone with a history of deportation—that “there’s no visa required for my country, so I’ll just board the plane”—is incorrect and will result in being turned away at the airport.

If you are subject to an entry ban, the visa exemption does not apply. You must complete your application at the consulate before purchasing a ticket.

Where can I find out the status of my application?

There are two channels. The first is the diplomatic mission where the application was submitted: the process can be tracked there.

Second, YİMER 157. Inquiries can be made over the phone provided that the applicant calls personally and passes the security questions. It is not possible to obtain information by calling on behalf of someone else.

No guarantee is given regarding the processing time. Since the decision-making authority for applications requiring approval lies with Ankara, the process takes longer than a standard visa application; travel plans should be made with this uncertainty in mind.

Things to Keep in Mind After Obtaining a Visa

A visa obtained from the consulate must be used within six months at the latest. If you do not enter Turkey within this period, the visa becomes invalid.

Passport validity is a separate requirement: individuals who do not have a passport valid for at least sixty days beyond the expiration date of their visa, visa waiver, or residence permit will not be permitted to enter Turkey.

In addition, once your residence permit has expired, you can no longer use your visa or visa waiver. The approach of “I’ll continue to stay using my visa” after your permit has expired constitutes a violation.

It is possible to apply for a residence permit with a border visa, although the process varies depending on the type of permit requested. However, this does not apply to all types of permits; be sure to clarify the type of permit you are seeking before applying.