UK Visitor Visa for Turkish Citizens
Turkish citizens are visa nationals and must get a UK Standard Visitor visa before they travel. This guide covers the £135 fee, financial evidence, genuine visitor rules, VFS biometrics in Istanbul and Ankara, and why applications are refused.
- Section
- Visitor Visa
- Reading time
- 9 min
- Last checked
- 2 September 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- Turkish citizens are visa nationals and must apply before travelling.
- The Standard Visitor visa is £135 for up to 6 months in 2026.
- Turkey is not on the UK tuberculosis test list, so no test is needed.
- Give biometrics at a VFS centre in Istanbul or Ankara.
- Show strong financial evidence and clear ties to Turkey.
Turkish passport holders need a UK Standard Visitor visa to visit the UK. The visa costs £135 for up to 6 months in 2026. This guide explains who needs the visa, the financial evidence and documents you need, the genuine visitor rules, and how to apply through VFS in Istanbul or Ankara.
Do Turkish Citizens Need a UK Visitor Visa?
Yes. Turkey is a visa national country. This means Turkish passport holders must apply for a UK Standard Visitor visa before they travel. You cannot enter the UK as a visitor without one. This is different from countries like the United States, whose citizens do not need a visitor visa.
You apply online and then give your biometrics in person. You should be granted the visa before you book final travel. For the full overview, see our UK Visitor visa guide.
What You Can and Cannot Do as a Visitor
A Standard Visitor visa lets you do many things. You can:
- Visit family and friends
- Come as a tourist
- Attend a business meeting or conference
- Take a short course of up to 6 months
There are firm limits. You cannot work for a UK employer, do paid or unpaid work, or claim public funds. You also cannot live in the UK through frequent or back-to-back visits. See our work restrictions guide for full detail.
The £135 Fee in 2026
The Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for a stay of up to 6 months in 2026. You pay this when you apply online. Long-term visitor visas cost more — £506 for 2 years, £903 for 5 years and £1,128 for 10 years — but each visit is still limited to 6 months.
Fees can change. Always check the current price on GOV.UK before you apply. See our visitor visa cost guide.
The Genuine Visitor Rules
The Home Office must believe your visit is genuine. This means they need to be sure you:
- Will leave the UK at the end of your visit
- Will not live in the UK through repeated visits
- Can pay for your trip and stay
- Will not work or claim public funds
Clear travel plans and strong ties to Turkey help you meet these rules. See the full requirements guide.
Financial Evidence
You must show you can pay for your trip and that you have a settled financial life in Turkey. Provide:
- Bank statements: the last 6 months, showing regular income and a steady balance
- Payslips: recent payslips that match your bank deposits
- Employment letter: confirming your job, salary, and approved leave dates
- Business papers: registration documents if you are self-employed
Avoid large deposits that you cannot explain. The Home Office wants to see a steady pattern, not a one-off balance. See our financial evidence guide.
Documents You Need
Along with financial evidence, prepare these documents:
- A current passport with a blank page
- Your travel dates and a simple itinerary
- Proof of where you will stay
- Return or onward travel plans
If you are visiting family or friends, ask them for an invitation letter. See our documents guide and our invitation letter guide.
How to Apply and Give Biometrics
You apply online on GOV.UK and pay the fee. After that, you book an appointment at a VFS Global visa application centre to give your fingerprints and photo. In Turkey, VFS centres are in Istanbul and Ankara, with others in major cities.
Processing Times
- Standard: a decision usually takes 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK
- Priority: £500, for a decision usually within 5 working days, where the service is available
The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel. See our processing time guide.
Do You Need a Tuberculosis Test?
No. Turkey is not on the UK list of countries where a tuberculosis test is needed, so a Turkish applicant who has been living in Turkey does not need one for any UK visa. The list is based on where you have been living, not on your nationality, so check it if you have lived elsewhere. See our tuberculosis test guide.
Common Refusal Reasons
Applications are most often refused when:
- Financial evidence is weak or hard to verify
- Your reasons to return to Turkey look weak
- Your travel plans are vague or do not add up
- The application has gaps or mistakes
Prepare carefully to avoid these. See our refusal reasons guide.
Next Steps
Related guides:
Questions and answers
Do Turkish citizens need a visa to visit the UK?
Yes. Turkey is a visa national country, so Turkish passport holders must apply for and be granted a UK Standard Visitor visa before they travel. You cannot enter the UK as a visitor without it.
How much does the UK Visitor visa cost for Turkish applicants in 2026?
The Standard Visitor visa costs £135 for a stay of up to 6 months in 2026. You pay this when you apply online. Check the current fee on GOV.UK before you apply, as fees can change.
Do Turkish visitors need a tuberculosis test?
No. Turkey is not on the UK list of countries where a tuberculosis test is needed, so Turkish applicants who have been living in Turkey do not need one for any UK visa. The list is based on where you have been living, not on your nationality.
Where do Turkish applicants give their biometrics?
You book an appointment at a VFS Global visa application centre in Istanbul or Ankara. There you give your fingerprints and a photo. You apply online first, then attend the centre.
Why are UK Visitor visas refused for Turkish applicants?
Common reasons are weak financial evidence, unclear travel plans, and not showing strong reasons to return to Turkey. The Home Office must believe your visit is genuine and that you will leave at the end.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.