Visa-Free Travel: Turkey’s New Policy for Citizens of This Country

ANKARA -Visa-Free Travel: Turkey’s New Policy for Citizens of This Country. The Turkish government has recently made an announcement to further support Kyrgyz citizens by extending the visa-free regime for a period of up to six months. This initiative aims to enhance longer stays and encourage legal residency for individuals from Kyrgyzstan.

During a gathering of the Parliament’s Committee on International Affairs, Defense, Security, and Migration, Ruslan Kazakbaev, the Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Turkey, made known this resolution.

In the past, citizens of Kyrgyzstan were allowed to enter Turkey without a visa for a period of three months. However, the purpose of this extension is to motivate Kyrgyz individuals with expired visas to legalize their stay in Turkey for longer durations.Visa-Free Travel: Turkey’s New Policy for Citizens of This Country.

Ambassador Kazakbaev revealed that there are presently approximately 20,000 Kyrgyz citizens living in Turkey, a number that spikes to 40,000 in the summer months, mainly because of the prolonged vacation period in Antalya.

The citizens of Kyrgyzstan encountered a fundamental issue regarding the 90-day restriction on visa-free stays. However, this concern has been effectively resolved through the collaborative efforts of the authorities from both nations.

In addition to the extension in visa-free stay, Kyrgyz citizens now have the privilege of a green corridor. This corridor enables those who may have violated local laws to exit and re-enter Turkey after settling fines. The purpose of this initiative is to simplify the process for individuals who were previously blacklisted or banned from entering Turkey.

Furthermore, Turkey has recently issued a conclusive caution to Kyrgyz individuals whose tourist visas, valid for a period of three months, have lapsed. This serves as an opportunity for them to obtain employment and legalize their residency within the country.

Turkey, like many other nations, has implemented new visa regulations in response to the pandemic’s impact. In an effort to revive its economy, the country has extended visa-free access to six more countries, namely the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Canada, Bahrain, and Oman.

As of December 2023, nationals from these countries are permitted to spend a maximum of 90 days in Turkey during a 180-day timeframe for tourism without the need for a visa. Nevertheless, those planning to extend their stay for work or study reasons must complete the appropriate visa application process.