How long does a Türkiye e-visa take?

Of all the e-visas we process, Türkiye's is the fastest — typically approved within 0–24 hours of submission. Here's what actually happens during that window, and how to make sure you're not the exception that takes longer.

What "0–24 hours" actually means

Most applications are approved within just a few hours of submission — many same-day. The 24-hour figure is a safe upper bound, not the typical wait. Applying with plenty of buffer before your travel date is still good practice, but this isn't a visa type where you generally need to plan weeks ahead.

What you need to apply

Türkiye's e-visa has the simplest document requirement of all our visa types: a single clear passport copy. No photo, no supporting travel documents — just a readable scan or photo of your passport's photo page.

The most common cause of delay

Almost every delay we see on Türkiye applications comes down to one thing: an unclear passport photo. Glare, blur, or a cropped edge means the document can't be verified quickly, which pushes your application into manual review instead of the fast automated path. Before you upload, double check that every character on your passport page is sharp and legible.

Eligibility for this route

We currently process Türkiye e-visas for South African passport holders. You can confirm this — along with pricing and current processing time — using our eligibility checker.