Turkish Visa Updates

[gegroves]

Noonsite (www.noonsite.com) has recently posted an update to the Mediterranean section of their World Cruising Handbook. Of particular interest to those wishing to go to Turkey, they report:

"Foreign sailors arriving in Turkey on their own yacht are now eligible for a two-year visa. A five year visa can be obtained in advance from the Turkish Diplomatic Mission in one's country of domicile.
Otherwise, for citzens of many countries, a maximum of 90 days' stay will be granted on arrival (60 days for Albanians and Romanians, 30 days for Greek Cypriots). Citizens of most African, Far Eastern and Pacific Island countries will require a visa in advance of arrival.
Visas are not required for citizens of Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands and Spain."

However, the local (Marmaris, TR) customs folks haven't heard of this yet. Up 'til now every 90 days we had to leave the country (sans boat) and return back in order to get a new visa, while the yacht could stay for 365 days! (we would catch the ferry to an island in Greece, have a great lunch, go to a European grocery store, buy cheap liquor and return the same day) Fun, but expensive.

It seems as if Turkey is getting their act together to attract more tourism, especially cruisers.