Business Travel to Türkiye for Indian Passport Holders: From Visa to Meetings

Do Indian citizens qualify for the e-visa?

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that Indian ordinary passport holders need a visa, and that a single-entry e-visa valid for one month is available on evisa.gov.tr to holders of a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit [1]. The e-visa covers tourism and commerce only, and the passport must be valid 60 days beyond the permitted stay [1]. A visa agency page dated May 2026 reports 180 days of validity, a 30-day stay and a fee of roughly INR 4,270 to 5,090 including gateway charges [4]. We could not open evisa.gov.tr from our systems, so the fee and validity wording are not confirmed at source. Check them on the site before paying.

How does the sticker visa route work?

Applications are lodged with Gateway Management, not at the embassy or the Mumbai and Hyderabad consulates [3]. For a business visa the embassy lists the original invitation letter from the Turkish company, an employer letter on letterhead with an expense guarantee, travel insurance, a confirmed return flight reservation, three months of company and personal bank statements, and GST documents [3]. For multiple entry, the Turkish company's letter must describe its long-term relationship with the Indian company [3]. You may apply up to six months ahead, and trips mixing business and tourism use the business category [3]. The embassy page dates from 2018 with a 2022 update, so confirm the current list with Gateway.

Which flights connect India and Türkiye?

IndiGo reported a daily nonstop Delhi to Istanbul service on the Airbus A321XLR from 19 April 2026 [5], although another report gives 1 May [6]. Its lease of Turkish Airlines Boeing 777s ended after regulatory orders, while the codeshare remains [6]. A travel site (April 2026, updated June) says Turkish Airlines flies nonstop from Delhi and Mumbai every day [7]. We could not confirm any nonstop service from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai or Ahmedabad, so treat those as connections until the airlines confirm. IndiGo's Istanbul schedule changed several times in 2026, so check days and aircraft on the airline's own booking page before you commit to dates [6].

How do currency and payments work?

The currency is the Turkish lira. Under the foreign exchange rules, prices in contracts between two residents of Türkiye generally cannot be set in or indexed to foreign currency, with listed exceptions, and a March 2025 communiqué allowed foreign currency in sales of movable goods other than vehicles [8]. The rule concerns contracts between Turkish residents. The source we read does not restrict a Turkish importer from agreeing USD or EUR prices with a foreign supplier, but ask your bank or a Turkish lawyer to confirm. We found no reliable data on card acceptance in B2B settings.

What should you know about hours, holidays and meetings?

The Danish Trade Council describes office hours of 9:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday, with executives arriving around 9:30 to 10:00 [11]. Closures in 2026 include Ramazan Bayramı (20 to 22 March), Kurban Bayramı (27 to 30 May, extended to nine days) and Republic Day on 29 October, with the afternoon of 28 October off [9]. In 2027 Ramazan Bayramı falls on 9 to 11 March and Kurban Bayramı on 16 to 19 May [10]. Book meetings in writing, expect small talk and tea before business, arrive on time even if hosts start late, and expect several meetings before price talks. Address people as Bey or Hanım [11][12].

Where are the industrial buyers?

In May 2024, five cities produced 56.3% of Türkiye's exports: Istanbul (23.4% of the national total), Kocaeli, İzmir (9.2%), Bursa and Tekirdağ [13]. An industry overview links Kocaeli with chemicals, paper, tyres and shipbuilding, Bursa with textiles, automotive and metal machinery, and İzmir with textiles, food and medical devices [14]. Kocaeli supplies about 7% of national exports and is described as the leading city for exports per capita [14]. These figures cover one month, so use them as a guide to where manufacturers cluster, not as a ranking.

Key facts

• Indian ordinary passport holders need a visa for Türkiye [1].
• The e-visa requires a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit, and covers tourism and commerce only [1].
• A stay under a visa or exemption is limited to 90 days in any 180 days [2].
• Sticker visa applications go through Gateway Management; the embassy lists a minimum of four working days in Delhi [3].
• IndiGo reported daily nonstop Delhi to Istanbul flights from 19 April 2026 [5].
• Public holiday dates for 2026 and 2027 are listed above and follow the lunar calendar for the Bayrams [9][10].
• Istanbul accounted for 23.4% of Turkish exports in May 2024 [13].

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a Turkish e-visa with only an Indian passport? No. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the e-visa requires a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit. Without one, apply for a sticker visa [1][3].

How early should I apply? The ministry advises applying at least one month before travel [2]. The embassy accepts applications up to six months ahead [3].

Do I need an invitation letter? For the business sticker visa, yes. The embassy asks for the original letter from the Turkish company, showing your full name and passport number [3].

What TurkIndia does here

We work from Istanbul and Ahmedabad. For Indian companies visiting Türkiye, we find suitable buyers, build the meeting programme in Istanbul and the industrial cities, and join the meetings so that introductions and follow-up happen in Turkish. The visa itself is applied for by each traveller. We do not publish service prices here. To plan a visit and get a quote, message us on WhatsApp at +90 530 991 37 21 or write to gamgamtuna@gmail.com.

Sources

This article is general information; rules and dates change. Sources are listed at the end.