Do you need a transit visa for Türkiye (Istanbul)?
Airside transit is visa-free; to leave the airport you need entry permission (e-Visa or visa-free) according to your nationality.
Staying airside (not leaving the airport)
Connecting airside through Istanbul without passing immigration generally does not require a transit visa.
Leaving the airport during your layover
To leave the airport you must enter Türkiye — depending on nationality this is visa-free, an e-Visa, or a sticker visa.
Key transit schemes & facts
- Türkiye e-Visa: available online for many nationalities if you want to leave the airport during a long layover.
- Touristanbul: Turkish Airlines runs free guided Istanbul tours (transport, and usually a meal, included) for passengers with a 6–24 hour layover on a Turkish Airlines international-to-international connection booked on one reservation.
- You do not book Touristanbul online — eligible passengers register in person at the Touristanbul desks at Istanbul Airport. You still need permission to enter Türkiye (e-Visa or visa-free) to join the tour.
- A confirmed onward ticket is required.
Official source
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a transit visa to connect through Türkiye (Istanbul)?
Airside transit is visa-free; to leave the airport you need entry permission (e-Visa or visa-free) according to your nationality.
Can you transit airside through Türkiye (Istanbul) without a visa?
Connecting airside through Istanbul without passing immigration generally does not require a transit visa.
What if you want to leave the airport during a layover in Türkiye (Istanbul)?
To leave the airport you must enter Türkiye — depending on nationality this is visa-free, an e-Visa, or a sticker visa.
Check the visa you'll need at your destination
Beyond transit, you'll need to know the visa rules for where you're actually going.
Open the visa checker →