Complete Guide to Traveling to Turkey from New Zealand: Everything you need to know [2025]

Thinking of travelling to Turkey? With its unique mix of eastern and western culture, stunning coastlines, and delicious cuisine, it offers New Zealanders the chance for a memorable getaway year-round.

Getting into Turkey for limited stays is easy, too, due to its visa-free travel arrangements. This guide will explore everything you need to know for tourist visits, and also outline the requirements for securing a job or attending a university in "the land of four seasons". We'll also introduce the Wise travel card – your perfect companion for managing expenses on your travels abroad. Wise offers the mid-market exchange rate with no markups and transparent fees to help save on international transactions.

Table of contents
NZ to Turkey Travel Requirements Applying for Turkey Visa from NZ Flying to Turkey from NZ Checklist for NZ to Turkey Travel Cash Considerations Using Your NZ Cards in Turkey Wise Travel Card for Turkey

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New Zealand to Turkey Travel Requirements

New Zealanders travelling to Turkey can enjoy up to 90 days of sun and Raki — the country’s national drink — without a visa¹. Any plans purely for recreation and tourist purposes can be arranged during these three months just by presenting a valid passport on arrival².

However, you must apply for a resident permit if you plan to stay in Turkey for over 90 days. There are also visa requirements for working and studying in the country³.

Turkey Visa for New Zealand Citizens

Turkey is quite relaxed in its definition of tourist-related activities for visa exemptions. If you are travelling for a business meeting or conference, taking part in a seminar, or participating in a festival or exhibition, you can enter without a visa for a maximum of 90 days every six months⁴.

A tourist visa won’t be enough if you are planning to work for a company in Turkey or study at a recognised university, though. The three common types of ‘sticker’ visa are:

• Working visa: Granted to workers with a job offer in Turkey or a job contract. Typically valid for up to 1 year.
• Student visa: Granted to students for all education-related purposes, including internships and higher-level degrees. Initially valid for 1 year with the option to renew before the expiry date.
• Transit visa: Granted to visitors who want to pass through customs and stay in Turkey for 24 or 48 hours before connecting to another flight

Both work and student visas must be obtained from Turkish consulates or embassies in New Zealand. You can start the visa application process by submitting your details and making an appointment online.

Turkey Visa for New Zealand Residence Permit Holders

Turkey’s visa-free arrangements are based on a person’s nationality and citizenship. This means any non-NZ citizens with NZ resident permits should check the visa requirements for the country where they hold a passport.

You can find a full list of visa exemptions and requirements for each country by visiting Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Applying for Turkey Visa from New Zealand

So we’ve established that you won’t need a visa for short trips. Any sightseeing or visits to family and friends fall under the 90-day visa exemptions for tourists from New Zealand. All you need is a passport. If three months aren’t enough, you must try and procure a resident permit.

For purposes other than tourism, you will need to apply for a relevant Turkey visa.

Applying for a work or student visa

When applying for a work or student visa, you need to visit the Turkish Embassy to submit your application and complete an interview. Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect:

1. Complete the pre-application form online
2. Arrange a time to visit to complete a formal application and submit relevant documents
3. Collect all required documents
   1. Passport valid for 6 months from planned arrival date in Turkey
   2. Two passport-sized photos
   3. Job offer (work) or letter of acceptance (study)
   4. Copy of health insurance for duration of stay
   5. Proof of financial stability such as bank statements
4. Visit the consulate to submit the application and pay the visa fee
5. Complete an interview and wait for approval

Turkish authorities recommend applying for a visa at least a month before travel, so don’t leave it too late. The address and phone details for the Turkish Embassy in New Zealand are as follows⁵:

Embassy	Address	Phone
Turkish Embassy in Wellington	Level 12, 15-17 Murphy Street, Thorndon, Wellington, 6011	+64 4-472-1290

Flying to Turkey from New Zealand

You cannot fly directly to Turkey from New Zealand. However, you can board flights from Auckland or Christchurch with one or two connections en route. Several major airlines offer flights between the two countries, including:

• Air New Zealand (connecting through partner airlines)
• Singapore Airlines
• Emirates
• Qatar Airways

Flight times are long to Turkey. You can expect to travel for 25 to 30 hours or more to reach destinations in Antalya, Istanbul, and Izmir. However, brief layovers can break up the trip and make it feel less arduous. Common cities you can fly to on the way include Dubai, Doha, Singapore, and Seoul.

What can I bring into Turkey

Turkey adopts a familiar set of strict customs restrictions. You won’t be able to get any firearms, offensive weapons, drugs, or endangered animals through immigration clearance when you land.

It is more relaxed with money, though. There isn’t a limit for either foreign or Turkish currency brought into the country. However, on the way out you can only take up to 5,000 USD or the foreign currency equivalent⁶.

Also, expect to pay duty on anything above the limits set by Turkish authorities⁷. You can find a complete list of duty free goods on the official website for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The duty free allowances include:

• 200 cigarette sticks and 50 cigars
• 200g of tobacco
• 200g of cigarette paper or pipe tobacco or chewing tobacco
• 1 (100 cl) or 2 (75cl) bottles of wine or spirits
• 1.5kg of coffee or 500g of tea

Document to carry before flying to Turkey

Before flying to Turkey, you need to ready a few essential documents for your eventual arrival. A valid passport is the most important thing if you are travelling visa-free. Make sure it has at least six months left on it from your arrival date.

For work visits, you must present a physical copy of your visa with a work permit and your passport. Any visits for purposes other than tourism also require either an e-visa or sticker visa.

Turkey does not request any specific health certificates or vaccination records. However, it’s always a good idea to print off your travel insurance policy for proof of coverage. While not always necessary, you may also be asked to show your return ticket for onward travel and confirmation of accommodation bookings and hotel reservations.

Checklist for New Zealand to Turkey Travel

Documents will get you into Turkey, but you need more than that to enjoy your stay. Let’s look at a few day-to-day essentials.

Mobile connectivity

Most NZ mobile providers offer some form of international roaming. This allows you to use your data, calls, and texts, though you will have to pay a fee. One NZ, for example, offers 5G and 4G connectivity in Turkey for 9 NZD a day, per device⁸.

It’s easy to see how you could quickly rack up costs with those fees for longer trips. That’s why it might be better to opt for an eSIM or prepaid local SIM. You are likely to get better network coverage with these, too.

Popular eSIM cards in Turkey include Airalo, Holafly, EasySIM, and Maya Mobile. These can be purchased online in New Zealand before travelling. You could also pick up a Turkish SIM card at the airport and other stores in major cities. Popular local SIMs include Turkcell and Turk Telekom.

You should also take:

• Appropriate clothing: You can wear western clothing in Turkey but consider dressing more conservatively in and around religious sites. The spring and summer months (March to August) will be warm or hot so take light clothing such as long linen shirts, trousers and skirts.
• Health and safety items: Don’t forget to pack in high SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat, plus any personal medication and basic sticking plasters and bandages.

Travel Insurance for Turkey

New Zealanders travelling to Turkey should take out a comprehensive insurance policy. Don’t cut corners here. Coverage for evacuation by air for major medical emergencies, and travel disruptions such as delays and lost baggage will provide full protection whatever the circumstances.

Check out our guide to the best travel insurance in New Zealand to find the right policy for you.

Managing Your Finances in Turkey

We recommend a mix of card and cash payments in Turkey. While contactless payment adoption is growing, cash is readily accepted at convenience stores, bazaars, and cafés.

Cash Considerations

The local currency in Turkey is the Turkish lira (TRY). You should have some cash on you at all times as smaller businesses may not have card terminals. Cash is also key to bargaining and haggling for goods in local markets, which is very much a part of Turkish culture.

Again, taking out cash at short notice can rack up significant foreign exchange fees and markups. You will find ATMs are dotted around all the major cities. While they accept international cards, watch out for their fees and exchange rates. For some helpful tips, check out our guide to avoiding foreign ATM fees when traveling abroad 📹

And try to keep money in a hidden pouch in your bag rather than a wallet in your back pocket. This will reduce the risk of it getting stolen.

Using Your NZD Debit/Credit Cards

Unfortunately, Apple Pay is not an option as it’s not supported in Turkey¹¹. You won’t be able to use Google Wallet for contactless payments, either, though you can use it for purchases online or in apps¹².

Around 60% of the Turkish population uses debit cards for payments⁹. You shouldn’t have any issues using your own NZD cards for spending and withdrawing. However, you will need to be mindful about foreign transaction fee and currency exchange markups with your provider.¹⁰.

Using a multi-currency travel card such as Wise is an excellent alternative with transparent exchange rates and low fees. Available in for residents of and New Zealand supported countries, Wise offers the mid-market rate on currency conversions, which is the usually the same rate you see on Google, ensuring that you don’t lose money to extra fees or hidden mark-ups.

Save on Turkey Lira Transactions and Swipe like a local with Wise

Wise offers a convenient travel card and money transfer services that make managing your finances abroad a breeze. The Wise card lets you spend like a local in over 150+ countries.

Get started with Wise 🚀

Here's why Wise is a great choice for your international travels:

• Excellent exchange rates: Always get the mid-market exchange rate – the same one you usually see on Google – so you get the most out of your money.
• Low, transparent fees: Say goodbye to hidden charges and hefty markups. Wise keeps its fees low and transparent, so you know exactly what you're paying.
• Convenient card and app: Use your Wise card to swipe like a local in supported countries. Manage your money, track spending, and even freeze your card if needed, all through the Wise app.
• Cash withdrawals: Easily withdraw cash from supported ATMs abroad with low, transparent fees. But be mindful that ATM providers may charge their own cash withdrawal fees.
• International transfers: Send money abroad with the same mid-market exchange rates and low fees.

Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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Sources:

1. Visa Information for Foreigners - Turkish MFA
2. Passport Validity Requirements - Turkish MFA
3. General Information about Turkish Visas
4. Turkey Tourist Visa Information
5. Embassy of the Republic of Turkey
6. Foreign Exchange Information - Turkey
7. Duty-Free Goods Information - Turkey
8. Daily Roaming - One NZ
9. Debit Card Penetration Forecast in Turkey - Statista
10. Travel Money - ANZ New Zealand
11. Locate a Family Member in a Crisis
12. Pay in Store with Google Pay