The Turkish embassy has announced that India and Nepal passport holders travelling to South America, must obtain the Electronic Airport Transit Visa.
According to a statement by the authority, the new changes apply to all Indian and Nepalese nationals, who are travelling via Istanbul Airport to reach South American countries such as Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Panama, VisaGuide.World Reports.
The statement further clarified that as of April 15, Indian and Nepalese passport holders, who are subject to e-ATV requirements, can have their documents obtained online, free of charge.
The Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye announces that Turkish authorities have commenced requiring the “Electronic Airport Transit Visa” (e-ATV) for Indian and Nepalese passport holders traveling to Mexico, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela, transiting via the Istanbul Airport.
New Requirements Applicable for Other Travellers Headed to South America Via Türkiye
However, Indian and Nepalese nationals are the only ones in Asia who need an e-ATV to transit the Istanbul Airport. The Turkish authorities announced that those holding passports from Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Somalia, Cameroon, Yemen and Mauritania are also subject to this requirement.
The new measures are part of Türkiye’s national efforts to reduce irregular migration, which in recent times has been frequently affected by such anomalies, with migrants often using air routes.
At the same time, Turkish authorities have announced that new control requirements will apply to passengers from Brazil, Cuba, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela.
Travelers heading to Venezuela are required to use Caracas Simon Bolivar Airport whereas those with connecting flights have to enter the country and then carry on with their journey.
Some additional controls may be applied to our passengers who have flights arriving in Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba and Brazil, apart from the general rules such as passport and visa requirements. Since the country’s authorities may deny entry to the country with respect to the following requirements, similar controls can be carried out during boarding.
The Turkish authorities point out that travelers can obtain their electronic application for airport transit visas through the Foreign Ministry’s website. The main information required for this application includes personal details, the address of accommodation and ticket details.
Turkish Airlines operate flights to the South American countries on a weekly basis – 11 to Mexico and Brazil each, around eight to Venezuela and four to Cuba.