Need to Stay Longer in Turkey for Business? What to Do

Are you a foreign national currently visiting Turkey for business purposes? Well, then you are among the many people who are investing in Turkey’s economy, which is expected to grow by 3.5% in 2026. However, visiting the country for business also comes with some uncertainty, as one is unaware of how long it will take them to sort out all the work, especially when you are trying to open a new venture or hoping to invest in one. 

Well, are you also facing some delay in your trip? Has something come up that is leading you to extend your trip? Well, if the answer to these questions is “Yes”, then you will have to look for ways to extend the Turkey visa that you entered the country with. But before you proceed with that, you will be required to understand the basics of the process so that you do not face any issues in the long run. 

Understanding the Turkish Visa System

The visa system of Turkey is pretty seamless, and you need to understand it before you proceed with the Turkey visa renew process. The country offers multiple visas to foreign nationals, all with different travel purposes. Some of the visas that the country offers are: 

Tourist visa

This visa is specifically designed for people who are visiting the country to explore the country. This visa can be applied for both online and at the embassy or consulate. Both these visas come with a total validity of 180 days. They also allow multiple entries, but you can stay for 90 days at a time. This is the same type of visa that will have to be applied for when visiting the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. 

Business visa

This is the visa in question that an individual visiting Turkey for business purposes will be applying for.This visa allows applicants to attend business meetings, seminars, conferences, and exhibitions. A business visa can also be applied for through the embassy or online, and in both cases, the visa comes with a validity of 180 days and a maximum validity of 90 days. Both visas allow you to make multiple entries into the country. 

Official visa

This visa is applied for by government officials when they are visiting Turkey for work. The stay and validity of this one is decided by Turkey’s officials, and it can only be applied through the embassy. 

Education Visa

Any foreign national who wishes to study in Turkey will have to apply for this visa. This visa comes with a validity of one year and can be renewed till the education ends. The visa can only be applied for through the embassy or consulate and does not come with the option of an online application. 

Working Visa 

This visa is designed for individuals who are visiting the country for employment purposes. Some of the types of applicants who are eligible to get this visa are Special Employees, Assigned Lecturers, Assigned Artists, Assigned Sportspersons, Assigned Journalists, and Assigned Free Zone Workers. Moreover, one who is visiting the country for Montage and Repairman purposes can also get this visa. This visa originally comes with a validity of 1 year, but can be extended till the duration of the employment, with a total potential being 2 to 3 years. 

Medical Visa

This visa is applied for by foreign individuals who are visiting the country to receive treatment for health issues. Its stay period ranges between 30 to 90 days at a stretch within the 180-day validity. This is only applied through the embassy, and there’s no option of getting this through online. 

Other Visas

This visa includes travel purposes that do not fall under any of the above-listed categories. Some of these purposes are: 

• Tour Operator Representative
• Documentary Purposes
• Archaeological Excavation
• Accompaniment Purpose
• Family Unification Purpose 
• Seafarer Visa
• Freight Visa

When and Why You Might Need an Extension

Facing some delays on a business trip is common. However, the reason behind this varies among people; some of the reasons why one might extend their visa are:

Common reasons for needing an extension

This includes general things that can happen to just anyone. For instance, ongoing meetings, project delays, and additional networking opportunities. 

Unforeseen circumstances

Sometimes the business trip of an individual might get extended due to some unforeseen events. Some of these circumstances include flight cancellations and health issues.

Getting a Business Visa Extension

The Immigration department of Turkey offers a visa extension on just a few types of visas, and sadly Turkey Business visa is not among them. So, if you are planning to extend the Turkey visa that you have, then you will not be able to do so. Now the question is, what can one do in such a scenario? Will they have to abruptly pause their work? Well no! 

There are two ways of dealing with this. One option is to exit the country and apply for a new visa, and the other option is to get a residence permit. 

Applying for a New Business Visa 

As you have already entered the country once with a Turkey business visa, you will definitely be well aware of the process. However, let us still go over the steps to make things easier for you. We are discussing the steps for online application as that will be more convenient and takes less time to process. 

But first, you will have to exit the country while the visa is still in its validity period and before you follow the steps listed below. Otherwise, you can get arrested for unconstitutional stay within the country for overstaying your visa’s validity. On top of that, you might also have to face fines, deportation, or restrictions on future visits.

• Visit the online portal for visa application and look for the requirements. 
• Complete the form with the correct details. Avoid making any mistakes to eliminate the chances of a delay. 
• Add scanned copies of the necessary documents like a valid passport (one that has at least two blank pages and a minimum validity of 6 months beyond your travel date), a recent passport-sized photograph, bank statements, flight tickets, and purpose-related documents. Other than this, you should also add any document that is the reason why you wanted to get your Turkey visa renewed.
• Pay the fee for the application through a debit or credit card. 
• Wait for 3 to 5 days for processing and approval. 

Once it gets approved, you will receive an approval letter at the email ID that you added on the visa application form. Take a couple of print-outs and carry them to the airport. In case you face any delay, you can simply contact the Helpdesk.

Getting a Residence Permit

A residence permit is applied for by those individuals who wish to stay in Turkey beyond their visa validity but don’t want to get a new visa. As the option to extend the Turkey Visa for business purposes isn’t there, you will be required to apply for a residence permit. But remember that this should be applied for while your visa is still within its validity period. The steps of this are: 

• Fill out the residence permit application form. 
• Attach documents like recent passport-sized photographs, original passport, notarized copy of the passport, and bank statements to prove sufficient and sustainable financial resources. Other than this, you will also have to provide additional documents depending on your travel purpose and nationality. 
• Pay the fee. 
• Receive the residence permit after a few days. 

Don’t Worry about Visa Expiry

Looking for ways to extend a Turkey visa might seem unnecessary if your business trip has gotten extended for some reason. However, navigating the process can be tough as the Turkey government does not offer extensions on business visas. You must know what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation to avoid facing any issues during the process. 

However, if you still find difficulties, then you should contact the Helpdesk for necessary assistance.