Visa-Free Travel with a Turkish Passport: Full Country List Updated for 2026

Turkish citizens can travel to some countries visa-free. In others, they get a visa on arrival or obtain an electronic visa (eTA) before a trip.

Visa-free entry allows visiting a country without getting a visa in advance. Türkiye has visa waiver agreements with 72 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

The visa on arrival means that an investor doesn’t apply for a visa beforehand but obtains it when he reaches the country. The visa on arrival only applies when a person travels as a tourist. A traveller provides hotel reservations, proof of funds and a return flight ticket to get it.

The eTA, or the Electronic Travel Authorization, is the electronic visa that an investor obtains online 3—5 days before the trip. Usually, a person pays a fee for the eTA submission.

Turkish citizens freely enter 138 countries: 

• 72 are visa-free;
• 31 issue visas on arrival;
• 6 countries require getting electronic ones in advance.

The list of visa-free countries and entry conditions can change — check the information on the country’s consulate website before the trip.

Investors obtain citizenship by investing $400,000+ in Türkiye’s economy:

1. Real estate purchase — $400,000 and more.
2. Business investments — $500,000 and more.
3. Opening a bank deposit — $500,000 and more.
4. Purchase of units in an investment fund — $500,000 and more.
5. Purchase of government bonds — $500,000 and more.

Purchase of real estate. Investors buy an apartment or commercial property, a piece of land, or a share in a real estate project. 

After 3 years of owning, an investor can sell the property and return their money. Most programme participants choose this option: after several years, the cost of property may grow up to 25% or even double.

Make business investments in the capital stock of a Turkish company. An investor can do so or establish his own company. In case of opening the company, at least 50 jobs must be created. After 3 years, an investor can sell the business.

When an investor opens a deposit, they can save money in any currency accepted by Turkish banks. By mid-May 2026, the lira deposit rate had risen to about 47.25%, while US dollar deposits averaged 1.88% and euro deposits 1.12%^{[1]Source: CEIC page using CBRT as the source, with current 2026 values for Türkiye deposit rates.}. As in previous options, an investor can withdraw money after 3 years.

Buying units in an investment fund allows an investor to earn passive income. After 3 years of owing, an investor can return their money.

After buying government bonds, an investor preserves assets for 3 years and then can sell them.

Besides visa-free entry to 138 countries, a Turkish passport allows investors with a C-2 visa to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days, relocate to the US or provide a ‘safe haven’ for themselves and their families.

1. Travelling to the Schengen Area. Turkish passport holders can obtain a C-2 Schengen visa for up to 5 years. This visa is nonimmigrant — an investor can’t live or work with it in the Schengen Area, but they can use it for travelling and business trips.

2. Open a business in the USA and relocate there with the whole family. Turkish passport holders can obtain an E-2 business visa: an investor opens or buys a company in the USA. The minimum investment threshold isn’t defined by law, but investors usually contribute $100,000 or more to their US business. 

With an E-2 visa, an investor can’t obtain a Green Card or American citizenship. E-2 is valid for 5 years with a right for renewal. To get a Green Card, an investor can change their visa to an immigrant type one: for example, if they invest $800,000 and become eligible for an EB-2 visa application. Unlike E-2, EB-2 provides opportunities for obtaining a Green Card and US citizenship.

Turkish citizens obtain B-1/B-2 visas for 10 years — these visas allow travelling and business trips to the US. They apply for it and pass the interview in Istanbul or Ankara.

3. ‘Safe haven.’ Investors with a Turkish passport can visit Türkiye whenever they want — it’s precious in case of a political crisis, epidemic or threat to the safety of family members.

1. The Turkish passport gives visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 138 countries: 72 are fully visa-free, 31 issue visas on arrival, and 6 require an electronic visa.
2. Beyond travel, holders can obtain a C-2 Schengen visa valid for up to 5 years and a B-1/B-2 US visa valid for 10 years.
3. Citizenship is available by investing $400,000+ in real estate, or $500,000+ in business, a bank deposit, an investment fund, or government bonds. Real estate is the most popular route. After 3 years of ownership, the asset can be sold and the funds recovered.