Turned away at airport for not having a visa
17 Aug 2007 07:59
My friend was due to fly from Gatwick last night but was tuned away as he did not have a visa. He is originaly from Ireland and has a British Subject passport. He goes to Icmeler a 3 times a year and just came back from his last holiday in June with no problems. He was told that the law had changed and that he had to get a visa before he could fly. He also explained that he still had time left on his visa from June,but was told that when you leave Turkey your visa is not valid for re-entry. Can anyone give any advice on this as we have tried to ask advice from various travel agents but they won't comit to anything. 
17 Aug 2007 10:18
Hi there.
Just read your post and started to panic!! I live in belfast, carry an Irish passport, and I'm travelling to icmeler from manchester on monday evening. This will be my frist trip to turkey and had concerns about the visa situation. People had advised me that I would be ok to obtain a visa at the port of entry in turkey.
I have just phoned the turkish consulate in london to check the visa details. Having gone through the joy of the automated phone system, I got through to a visa advisor who confirmed that, just as uk passport holders, I can "purchase a 3 month entry visa at the port of entry in turkey. This will cost either £10, or $20 (u.s) or 15 euro". She wasnt exactly sure about the euro value, however she said it perfectly ok to pay £10 sterling.
I'm not sure if this helps or not?!
To email them contact: [email protected]
Or go through the phone system and speak to a visa advisor 020 7591 6900. Dont call the visa line as this line just gives you the details of what visa you need, not how much it costs!
Good luck!
Just read your post and started to panic!! I live in belfast, carry an Irish passport, and I'm travelling to icmeler from manchester on monday evening. This will be my frist trip to turkey and had concerns about the visa situation. People had advised me that I would be ok to obtain a visa at the port of entry in turkey.
I have just phoned the turkish consulate in london to check the visa details. Having gone through the joy of the automated phone system, I got through to a visa advisor who confirmed that, just as uk passport holders, I can "purchase a 3 month entry visa at the port of entry in turkey. This will cost either £10, or $20 (u.s) or 15 euro". She wasnt exactly sure about the euro value, however she said it perfectly ok to pay £10 sterling.
I'm not sure if this helps or not?!
To email them contact: [email protected]
Or go through the phone system and speak to a visa advisor 020 7591 6900. Dont call the visa line as this line just gives you the details of what visa you need, not how much it costs!
Good luck!
17 Aug 2007 10:20
what a nightmare! British passport should be enough to leave the country - you don't need a visa before you go - you just hand over your tenner. That tenner covers you for 3 months, I know loads of people who return on the same visa. You need to have 6months (or weeks - not sure now) left on your passport to leave the country - does he have less than that? My partner was held up because his passport didn't have enough life left on it - but we were allowed to go in the end after checking other ID.
If I was your friend, and his passport is OK - I'd ask the passport authority starting with their website- and I'd ask compensation for a lost holiday. I haven't seen any different information on here or on tour operator sites - that would be such a big change that they'd flag it up. And you can bet your bottom dollar that this site would have that info on quick sharp.
Good luck
If I was your friend, and his passport is OK - I'd ask the passport authority starting with their website- and I'd ask compensation for a lost holiday. I haven't seen any different information on here or on tour operator sites - that would be such a big change that they'd flag it up. And you can bet your bottom dollar that this site would have that info on quick sharp.
Good luck
17 Aug 2007 12:29
My friend went to the Tukish embassy this morning and they said they could not see him until Wednesday, He then went into a Thomas Cook travel agents and they have not heard of any changes and have said he is perfectly fine ti fly with his passport, so he has booked another flight for tonight. It was First Choice that would not let fly last night so his is going to take it up with them when he gets back.
17 Aug 2007 12:45
The visa is valid for 3 months and is multiple entry . I think your friend should definitely pursue this with First Choice when he returns . I've just checked on the Turkish Consulate website and there is no mention of it . See link below ( footnote 4 )
http://www.turkishconsulate.org.uk/en/v ... visaforall
http://www.turkishconsulate.org.uk/en/v ... visaforall
17 Aug 2007 13:24
May be i should'nt say this but I personaly think First choice had over bookied it's flight and needed to get people off the flight as his wife was on the plane and there were not any empty seats!
18 Aug 2007 18:53
Frank - has your friend landed? Let us know everything's OK.
20 Aug 2007 07:28
He has arrived safe and well and is now having a nice cold Efes (well quite a few I think). Everyone he has spoken to in Icmeler just don't understand First Choice's madness. I will keep you up todate with the outcome when he gets home. Anyway I will be joining him with a nice coled Efes on Thursday night when I arrive in lovely Icmeler.
20 Aug 2007 09:44
great news Frank. Enjoy your efes.