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With Turkey continuing to be a favourite tourist destination for people in Qatar all the year around, the tourists flow from Qatar each year doubles over the preceding one. This necessitated opening of a third Visa Service Center in August last year to facilitate visit by increasing number of tourists from Qatar after strict evaluation.
This was stated by Mehmet Meral, First Secretary and head of visa section in the Turkish embassy, Doha, during an interaction with ‘Qatar Tribune’. “We do get temporary manpower support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey during peak season for timely issue of Turkish visa”, Meral said.
“Qatari passport holders need not apply for visa as they can get it on arrival at any airport in Turkey. Upon presentation of their passports at immigration counters they get visa for 90-day stay. In case, any Qatari passport holder wishes to extend his/her stay, they are advised to obtain extension before their visa gets expired to avoid overstay penalties. Upon satisfying the competent authorities about the genuineness of the reason for extension of stay, they can get up to one-year temporary residence permit,” the Turkish embassy official said. As regards domestic workers of other nationalities accompanying their Qatari employer, they must get their visa prior to leaving for Turkey by submitting at any service centre, employer’s consent letter attached with the visa application form and copy of air ticket. Accompanying domestic workers are exempt from providing bank statements and employer’s service letter, Meral said.
Non-Qatari residents applying for Turkish visa are required to submit three months’ bank statement, employer’s service letter, air ticket, hotel booking and medical insurance for the period of stay in Turkey along with one latest 5 X 6 cm picture with white background, Meral said, adding that Service Centers can arrange hotel booking and medical insurance if desired by the visa applicants.
He advised the residents of Qatar interested in visiting Turkey to apply for Turkish visa with sufficient margin of time for processing in order to avoid any last minute-delays. Visitors can travel within three months from the date of issue of visa, he said. “We welcome with open arms all those who wish to spend their vacations in Turkey and try to issue the visa within 3-5 days of receiving the application. There are three centres, namely, ‘Kingston’ near AlTawar Mall, VFS Global (Jaidah Square) and NBK Travels (Salwa Road). There are a good number of students from Qatar studying in Turkey. Interested students/parents applying for student visa must obtain admission in their desired school/college in Turkey and submit proof of admission along with the application form.”
Though the amazing city of Istanbul on either side of the Bosporus is the main attraction, Meral advised tourists to visit other parts of Turkey too like capital city of Ankara and its surrounding cities, preserving almost 3,000 years old ancient civilization. Aksaray in Central Anatolia region was once an important stopover for centuries along the famous Silk Road and possesses remains of Cappadocia from Roman Empire period. As a parting shot, he advised tourists to visit Turkish Cultural Center in Doha for detailed information about attractive places worth a visit.
This was stated by Mehmet Meral, First Secretary and head of visa section in the Turkish embassy, Doha, during an interaction with ‘Qatar Tribune’. “We do get temporary manpower support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey during peak season for timely issue of Turkish visa”, Meral said.
“Qatari passport holders need not apply for visa as they can get it on arrival at any airport in Turkey. Upon presentation of their passports at immigration counters they get visa for 90-day stay. In case, any Qatari passport holder wishes to extend his/her stay, they are advised to obtain extension before their visa gets expired to avoid overstay penalties. Upon satisfying the competent authorities about the genuineness of the reason for extension of stay, they can get up to one-year temporary residence permit,” the Turkish embassy official said. As regards domestic workers of other nationalities accompanying their Qatari employer, they must get their visa prior to leaving for Turkey by submitting at any service centre, employer’s consent letter attached with the visa application form and copy of air ticket. Accompanying domestic workers are exempt from providing bank statements and employer’s service letter, Meral said.
Non-Qatari residents applying for Turkish visa are required to submit three months’ bank statement, employer’s service letter, air ticket, hotel booking and medical insurance for the period of stay in Turkey along with one latest 5 X 6 cm picture with white background, Meral said, adding that Service Centers can arrange hotel booking and medical insurance if desired by the visa applicants.
He advised the residents of Qatar interested in visiting Turkey to apply for Turkish visa with sufficient margin of time for processing in order to avoid any last minute-delays. Visitors can travel within three months from the date of issue of visa, he said. “We welcome with open arms all those who wish to spend their vacations in Turkey and try to issue the visa within 3-5 days of receiving the application. There are three centres, namely, ‘Kingston’ near AlTawar Mall, VFS Global (Jaidah Square) and NBK Travels (Salwa Road). There are a good number of students from Qatar studying in Turkey. Interested students/parents applying for student visa must obtain admission in their desired school/college in Turkey and submit proof of admission along with the application form.”
Though the amazing city of Istanbul on either side of the Bosporus is the main attraction, Meral advised tourists to visit other parts of Turkey too like capital city of Ankara and its surrounding cities, preserving almost 3,000 years old ancient civilization. Aksaray in Central Anatolia region was once an important stopover for centuries along the famous Silk Road and possesses remains of Cappadocia from Roman Empire period. As a parting shot, he advised tourists to visit Turkish Cultural Center in Doha for detailed information about attractive places worth a visit.
