60-Day Passport Validity Rule Effective January 1, 2015

Foreign nationals must have a passport valid for at least 60 days past their allowable visa or work/residence permit duration to enter Turkey, according to an amendment to Turkish immigration law. The new rule is effective January 1, 2015. 

Travelers who do not meet this requirement may not be allowed to enter Turkey after January 1, 2015. 

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals 

Foreign nationals should carefully check the expiration dates of their passports, visas, work and residence permits or cards to ensure their status does not expire less than 60 days before their passport expiration dates. This may be particularly problematic because historically, the Interior Ministry has issued residence permits valid up to the expiration date of passports. 

Foreign nationals and their dependents whose passports will expire within 60 days of their visa, work or residence permit expiration should apply for a passport extension before departing Turkey. 

Fragomen worked closely with Bener (Istanbul) to prepare this alert. It is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.

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