A site asked you to pay
Türkiye’s consulate says the e-Visa is free for South Africans. Any site charging a fee is an agent.
Do South Africans need a visa for Türkiye?
e-Visafor South African passports
South Africans need an e-Visa for Türkiye, and it’s free. Apply online at least 48 hours before you fly.
StayUp to 30 days per visit
e-VisaFree for South African passports
Difficulty 2 of 5
Last checkedChecked17 Oct 2026
What you need
Tick these off as you go. Your ticks are saved on this device.
How to do it
- Open the consulate’s notice and use the official link it gives.
- Apply at least 48 hours before you fly.
- Print the e-Visa; it’s valid for 180 days, with stays of up to 30 days.
Official site:
Airlines decide whether you can board using a database called Timatic. Before you fly, check your route on the IATA Travel Centre.
What it costs in rand
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| e-Visa | Free for South African passports |
Rand amounts use the exchange rate on 9 October 2026 (R16.53 to the US dollar, R18.50 to the euro, R21.87 to the pound) and are rounded. Work out your whole trip in the budget calculator.
Common problems and fixes
Staying longer than 30 days
The e-Visa allows up to 30 days per stay. For longer, apply at the embassy.
Plan your trip
Best timeApril to June, and September to October
MoneyTurkish lira (TRY)
Three trip ideas
Istanbul
Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and a Bosphorus ferry.
Cappadocia
Sunrise balloons and cave hotels.
The Aegean coast
Ephesus and the beaches near Kaş.
Good to know
- Istanbul is huge: stay near a tram or metro line.
Book
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Sources and checks
Checked17 Oct 2026
Checked on 17 Oct 2026 against the official government or embassy page, plus at least one independent source.
- officialFree e-visa for South African passport holders · Consulate General of Türkiye in Cape Town · published 12 Mar 2025
- secondaryTurkey visa requirements for South Africans · In Africa and Beyond · published 19 Feb 2026
- dataPassport Index Data (visa matrix for 199 passports, updated 17 Feb 2026) · imorte, continuing the dataset by Ilya Ilyankou (MIT licence) · published 17 Feb 2026
How we check: our method and every source we use.
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