Here’s Why It’s Now a lot Easier to Travel to Turkey

Beginning April 11, tourist and commerce visitors must get visas for travel to Turkey online. No more sending your passport in, no more applying at the airport when you arrive.

Go to the Turkey e-Visa website, fill out the form, pay $20 (or equivalent)via MasterCard, Visa, or debit card, download and print the visa, and show it to immigration on arrival. The enrollment page also available in English, French, and Spanish. The visa is valid for multiple entries during a 180-day period. For those who didn’t get the word, Turkey has installed self-service airport kiosks for a “transitional” period.

Several months ago, I reported that India was adopting a similar system: Apply online and pick up your visa when you arrive. Sadly, as of now, India is still working on the system, which is not yet in place. For now, if you want to visit India, you have to get your visa the old-fashioned way: Send your passport in or use a visa service.

Countries that still require visas arranged in advance for ordinary U.S. tourists include Australia, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China (with a few short-visit exceptions), India, Indonesia (including Bali), Kazakhstan, Mozambique, Nepal, New Zealand, Qatar, Tanzania, Uzbeckistan, and Zambia. Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Oman also require visas, but they’re available at ports of entry.

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