Turkish Visa doubts

[tonybannister]

Akyaka
The local police were the ones who interviewed us not the Jandarma but a small point.

The Turkish point of view does seem to be that they are only doing what others do and up to a point I agree.

If you stay more than six months in a year in any country you are deemed to to be resident in that country - and by definition not resident in your home country anymore.

But the important difference in Turkey the 3 months in 6 months rule and that is what is causing problems.

For us when we went over to Chios every 90 days it cost 9 euros each return on the ferry and we brought duty free drinks and some shopping from Lydl and made a profit. But I agree when we were in Marmaris that cost was higher.

 

[akyaka]

But the important difference in Turkey the 3 months in 6 months rule and that is what is causing problems

This is exactly the same as the Short Term Visa in the Schengen Agreement and the requirements for non EU visitors.There are over 25 countries who are signatories to this Agreement.

 

[bjvarley]

Thanks for that info Tony, this pretty much confirmed what land based ex pats here (Kas) tell us. The random visits to check you are there is news to us...what happens if you're out cruising for a week (month) or two. Anyway the need for a long term contract at a marina we would only want to use a few months in winter would be unacceptable to us. As you say we only want to cruise here not be residents.

 

[bjvarley]

Akyaka,
I repeat 'I thought this was a liveaboard forum'
Justifications or comparisons of the new visa rules to other legislation do not change the fact that the new visa rules seriously impact the plans of yachtsmen in, or planning to be in Turkey this year ..starting now!
A pity .. I would have liked to stay longer.

 

[akyaka]

Brian as Satsuma said

There should be nothing to stop you overwintering aboard in Turkey?, and nothing to stop you overwintering and then cruising spring, summer & autumn?

You are no different than some 62 other nationalities so the marinas are going to have to resolve the question of what is a place of residence very quickly or they are going to be empty. By the way you can get a RP for periods less than one year if you wish. This same problem arises for non EU yachtsmen arriving in many parts of Europe not just Turkey.

Right off to sort out the kink thats appeared in my starboard outer shroud and replace the bulb in the decklight.

 

[jimbaerselman]

I thought this was a liveaboard forum.
A very real problem is that you cannot now overwinter aboard in Turkey.. let alone overwinter and then cruise the coast in spring and summer and autumn.

Brian

Welcome to the world outside the EU. Very few countries in the world permit foreign passport people to stay longer than a vistor's visa - 90 days in friendly countries. And the routine is the visa cannot be renewed until 180 days have passed.

Non-EU people arriving in the Schengen zone are given permission to keep their boats in the EU for up to 18 months - and that can be renewed after just a day's token absence from the EU (Guernsey is a favourite).

But the crew can not stay more than 90 days out of 180 in all the Schengen area unless they apply for visas permitting longer stays. Such as residence permits. For these you have to prove you're not a bum of no income who'se going to be a burden on the local economy. Speak to few yotties from "down under" to discover what a pain this Schengen legislation causes them as they cruise Europe.

Why should live aboard yachtsmen have any different privileges just because they have a boat?

Turkey has, in the past, been incredibly lenient in these matters. Now they're coming in line with the rest of the world.

 

[charles_reed]

Akyaka
The local police were the ones who interviewed us not the Jandarma but a small point.

The Turkish point of view does seem to be that they are only doing what others do and up to a point I agree.

If you stay more than six months in a year in any country you are deemed to to be resident in that country - and by definition not resident in your home country anymore.

But the important difference in Turkey the 3 months in 6 months rule and that is what is causing problems.

For us when we went over to Chios every 90 days it cost 9 euros each return on the ferry and we brought duty free drinks and some shopping from Lydl and made a profit. But I agree when we were in Marmaris that cost was higher.

The 3/6 months is precisely the same visitor-visa regime as is used by all EU countries, including the UK. It's also common in most of the countries I've visited. The Turks are merely aligning with the EU.

If Sarkozy lets them in (and they continue to want to get into the EU) you'll be able to go there without visa and stay as long as you like - though health service requirements are an entirely different thing, being partly governed by EU accession and also subject to bi-lateral negotiation. I think you'll find German nationals don't have to join the Turkish NHS.

 

[tonybannister]

I take your point about the wider world. And I do understand the Turkish Authorities stance.

I guess I am guilty of looking at it in a very narrow way. We are EU citizens on a boat in Turkey. How does the new law affect our decision to stay or to sail the seven miles to the nearesy EU country. Of course the decision would not be made on this issue alone but we continually have to evaluate everything that affects our life afloat. We have after all got our residence permits. One of the major points that made us get the permit was that we would be uncomfortable leaving our boat in Turkey and not being able to return to it for another 90 days if it was damaged in our absence.

 

[satsuma]

The 3/6 months is precisely the same visitor-visa regime as is used by all EU countries, including the UK. It's also common in most of the countries I've visited. The Turks are merely aligning with the EU.

I'm not sure that is entirely true?
My friend (Turkish) has just applied for a visa to visit the UK! Aside from the 26 documents he had to provide (translated), plus bank statements and letters of support etc, he also had to select the length of visa that he was applying for! (up to 10 years). No mention of 90 in 180, and certainly not £10!

 

[jimbaerselman]

I'm not sure that is entirely true?
My friend (Turkish) has just applied for a visa to visit the UK! Aside from the 26 documents he had to provide (translated), plus bank statements and letters of support etc, he also had to select the length of visa that he was applying for! (up to 10 years). No mention of 90 in 180, and certainly not £10!

There are many sorts of visas. Oversimplifying a bit:

A "visitor's visa" is is issued to someone who turns up at the border (airport, wherever) with a passport, but no other paperwork. Depending on his nationality, he may be allowed to stay for a limited time. Between friendly countries this will be up to 90 days out of 180; much less for countries which have strained relations. You will not be allowed to work or conduct business.

Many other sorts of visa may be applied for; study and work visas are typical, also residence permits. These permit varying lengths stay, and require proof that you won't be burden on the local economy, that you have a genuine employer (or course of study, or place to live), etc etc. And (except for residence permits) this paperwork will have to be completed before entering the country.

 

[akyaka]

A "visitor's visa" is is issued to someone who turns up at the border (airport, wherever) with a passport, but no other paperwork

This is not the right Forum to be discussing this but gladly or sadly depending on your point of view obtaining even simple short stay visas into the UK is not easy for a number of countries including people from Turkey. I have exactly the same experience as Satsuma with a Turkish friend who is currently visiting his in laws and whom I stood as guarentee for. If his application had been unsuccessful he would not have got his not inconsiderable application money back.; also the English wife of an Englishman who worked for me in Hong Kong had to return to the UK to have her baby as otherwise coming from an army family her baby would have been the third generation born outside the UK and classed as an alien and refused entry if they had just "turned up at the border".

 

[charles_reed]

I'm not sure that is entirely true?
My friend (Turkish) has just applied for a visa to visit the UK! Aside from the 26 documents he had to provide (translated), plus bank statements and letters of support etc, he also had to select the length of visa that he was applying for! (up to 10 years). No mention of 90 in 180, and certainly not £10!

UK is not part of Schengen and VISITOR visas are the subject under discussion

 

[yartist]

Now that the new visitor visa regime has been in force for two weeks, is there anyone whose old type visa ran out in the last two weeks and has done a visa run and been issued with the new 90/180 visa?

I'm sure that I read that you could do this, but only once, from a credible source but can't for the life of me find it now.

 

[Artic Warrior]

Hi Guys,,
i dont want to go for a solid 3 months but want to go for three seperate months within the 6 months period.
so i understand that i will have to wait until the 180 days are up untill i can go back....
Am i right thinking this,,,,

 

[Artic Warrior]

Hi again,

Ive been looking through all coments,,,and it looks like its multiple entry of up to 90 days within 180........few...!!
Greece here we come,,,hee hee

 

[akyaka]

dont want to go for a solid 3 months but want to go for three seperate months within the 6 months period.
so i understand that i will have to wait until the 180 days are up untill i can go back....

As long as your total number of days does not exceed 90 days in the 180 days from first arrival you can visit as often as you like. What you cannot do is overlap the Tourist visa as you previously.If you are legally in Turkey on day 180 you must leave and cannot return until the following day at the earliest.Its no different from any of the 25 countries who are signatories to the Schengen Treaty.
You may find this calculator helpful


http://http://bodrumbulletin.com/community/calculators/turkish-tourist-visa-calculator

 

[Artic Warrior]

Ok Cool,,
All understood now,,,thankyou,
i didnt realize about the multipul entry,

 

[Squeaky]

Visa policy for foreigners visiting Turkey to be eased

Good morning:

The following three paragraph announcement appeared in todays newspaper:

Foreigners visiting Turkey will be able to prolong their 90-day tourist visas to nine months, allowing them to have more time to enjoy Turkey without the hassle of acquiring a residence permit.

Under the current visa regulations, tourists are currently only allowed to stay 90 days in 180 days. However, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has made a change to the visa policy for foreigners, enabling them to extend tourist visas for an additional six months.

Those whose visas have already expired will also be able to extend their stay in Turkey to nine months upon paying a fine. http://www.todayszaman.com/news-273704-visa-policy-for-foreigners-visiting-turkey-to-be-eased.html

Will have to wait for further details to be announced but at least they are thinking along the right track.

Coincidentally I spoke to the General Marina Manager yesterday about this problem and the annoucement appeared this mornign so I have now e-mailed him, tongue in cheek, and asked him to solve the problem of needing an agent in order to get a Transit Log which I find very annoying and expensive.

Ever onward and upward.

Squeaky

 

[Carmel2]

Hi Squeaky,

I realise it's early days, but do you know if the new 9 month visa requires you to have a permanent Turkish marina contract, or address?

 

[Squeaky]

Good afternoon:

The latest details I have found are:

Visa regulations for British tourists in Turkey – update 9/3/12

The Turkish Authorities revised their visa procedures on 1 February 2012. (Please find below)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs have now provided us with a written update which states that:-

“…An amendment to the relevant legislation of the Interior Ministry has made it possible for provincial governor’s offices to issue ex officio residence permits for touristic purposes which are valid for up to six months (including six months) in line with general provisions on granting residence permits to foreigners who have arrived in our country on a visa issued by our foreign missions, an on-arrival visa or visa exemption agreements.
Foreigners who exceed the duration of their visa, visa exemption or previously issued residence permits can benefit from the above-mentioned practice on the condition that they pay the penalty for overstaying.
In this respect, while Cabinet Decree No:2011/2306, which took effect on February 1, 2012 set the duration of stay in Turkey for foreigners as 90 days in an 180-day period, foreigners who are visiting our country as tourists can legally stay in our country for a total of nine months through a six-month residence permit which they can receive from governor’s offices upon application. …”

To summarise, British nationals who have arrived in Turkey on a tourist visa and who wish to stay on for a longer period can apply for a tourist residence permit for a stay of up to 9 months. This provision already appeared in the original regulation (full text from Turkish Police website (in Turkish)) but it seems that the application procedures have now been simplified.

For further information or to make an application, you should contact your nearest Foreigners Police/Aliens Department (Yabancilar Subesi).

Consular Services Turkey
9 March 2012
http://ukinturkey.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/important-update

Notice that this mentions British tourists but guess that is normal considering it was issued by the British authorities in response to a notice from the Turkish authorities.

I suspect, and hope, that this will not require any details about accommodation as the normal Tourist Visa did not mention any thing about this. Guess we will have to wait for further details but at least they are beginning to think along the right path.

Cheers

Squeaky