Canadian passport holders do not need a visa for Turkey. Tourist entry has been visa-free since December 2023 — but the exemption is capped at 90 days in any 180. Here is how it works.
Turkey is a firm favourite with Canadian travellers — Istanbul, Cappadocia, the Aegean coast and Pamukkale are all within reach of a direct flight from Toronto or Montreal. Before booking, the first question is usually the same: do Canadians need a visa for Turkey? The short answer is no. Turkey lifted the visa requirement for Canadian ordinary passports on 23 December 2023, so there is nothing to apply for and nothing to pay.
This guide explains, in plain language, how long Canadians can stay without a visa, how the 90-in-180 rule is actually counted, what your passport should show, what to have ready at the airport and when a longer stay needs permission. It is written for ordinary (tourist) passport holders travelling for tourism or short business.
Because visa-free entry rules and stay limits are set by the Turkish government and can change, treat everything below as guidance and confirm the current requirements on the official portal before you travel.
⚠ Visa rules can change — always confirm current requirements on the official Republic of Türkiye e-Visa site (evisa.gov.tr) before travel. Fees and conditions below are approximate guidance, not a guarantee.
No. Ordinary Canadian passport holders are exempt from the Turkish visa requirement for short visits and may arrive without applying for anything in advance. The exemption has been in place since 23 December 2023, so there is no e-Visa to buy and no consulate appointment to book. It is not unlimited, though — it covers stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, the rule worth understanding before you plan a longer trip.
Up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The detail that catches people out is that the 180 days form a rolling window rather than a calendar half-year, and the 90 days are cumulative across every visit inside that window — they do not reset because you left and came back. Two 50-day trips close together would breach the allowance even though neither does on its own. If you travel to Turkey often, count your days across the whole window rather than per trip, and check your position on the official portal if it is tight.
Generally, no — there is nothing to apply for. Because Canadian ordinary passport holders are visa-exempt for short stays, the official Republic of Türkiye portal at evisa.gov.tr will normally return an exemption message rather than an application form when you select Canada. That check takes a minute, costs nothing and is the sensible way to confirm your own case. Avoid third-party "visa" websites that charge inflated service fees for a document you do not need — the government site is the only official source.
There is no visa fee for Canadian citizens, because there is no visa to buy — the exemption costs nothing. What matters in place of validity is the stay limit itself: up to 90 days within any rolling 180-day period. Plenty of older pages still describe a paid e-Visa on a Canadian passport; that guidance is out of date, and the official portal confirms as much for free. A price quoted to enter Turkey is a warning sign, not a tariff.
The exemption only stretches to short stays. If your plans run past 90 days in any 180 — a winter spent away from a Canadian January, a study term, a stretch of remote work — visa-free entry no longer covers you, and permission for the longer stay must be arranged with the Turkish authorities. Sort it out before you fly rather than after you land, and confirm the current route on the official portal.
There is no application, so the paperwork is simply what you carry. Bring a Canadian passport with comfortable validity remaining beyond your arrival date — six months is the working rule most travellers and airlines apply, and it saves arguments at check-in. Immigration may also ask to see a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation and sufficient funds, so keep your hotel booking and itinerary handy.
On arrival in Turkey, simply present your Canadian passport at immigration — there is no visa to show and no fee counter to queue at. Officers may ask about your hotel, length of stay and return flight. With your documents in order, clearance is usually quick. Check that your entry stamp goes in, as it dates your 90-day allowance.
The only official place to apply is the Republic of Türkiye e-Visa portal. Avoid third-party sites that charge inflated fees.
Go to evisa.gov.tr →No. Ordinary Canadian passport holders are visa-exempt for short visits and can enter Turkey without applying for anything in advance — the requirement was lifted on 23 December 2023. The exemption allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, so longer trips need separate permission. Confirm the latest rules on evisa.gov.tr before you travel.
Generally no. The e-Visa exists for nationalities that require a visa, and Canadians are exempt for short tourist stays. Select Canada on the official portal and it will normally show an exemption rather than an application. Any site selling you a Turkey e-Visa on a Canadian passport is selling something you do not need.
Up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The window rolls rather than resetting each calendar year, and the days are counted across all your visits inside it — not per trip. Leaving and re-entering does not give you a fresh 90 days.
Nothing, because there is no visa to buy — Canadian passport holders are visa-exempt for short stays. A website quoting a fee to enter Turkey on a Canadian passport is charging a third-party service fee, not a government one. Check evisa.gov.tr.
Keep comfortable validity beyond your arrival date — six months is the usual working rule travellers and airlines apply, and it prevents problems at check-in. Confirm the current requirement on evisa.gov.tr before you book.
Not on the visa exemption. Once you pass 90 days within a 180-day window you are outside what visa-free entry covers, and a longer stay must be arranged with the Turkish authorities before you travel. Check evisa.gov.tr.
Only evisa.gov.tr, the Republic of Türkiye government portal, is official. Many third-party sites look similar and charge fees for exemptions that cost nothing. Check directly on the official site.
Once your visa is sorted, the fun part begins. Browse our most popular Turkey itineraries — Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coast — or tell us what you have in mind.
3 Nights / 4 Days
4 Nights / 5 Days
5 Nights / 6 DaysIstanbul · Kusadasi · Ephesus · Pamukkale
from €625 per person
View Itinerary