Travelling to Turkey? Don’t be caught out by the new visa system says Trading Standards

7th April 2014

The Highland Council’s Trading Standards Officers are warning sun-lovers bound for Turkey not to be caught out by a new visa system which requires for a visa to be applied for before travel.

Britons have always been issued with a visa stamp in their passports on arrival for a £10 fee, but this will begin to come to an end from 11 April 2014, meaning visitors will have to apply online for an electronic visa (e-Visa) before travel.

Trading Standards are advising Highland holidaymakers to be wary of unauthorised websites which try to charge for providing information about e-Visas and submitting applications. The call comes after one Inverness woman was stung for £55 when she applied for an e-Visa from an unofficial website. These websites are not endorsed nor affiliated with the Turkish government.

Gordon Robb, Highland Council Trading Standards Manager said: “The websites look official but somewhere on the homepage there will be information to the effect that they provide a ‘fast track’ or checking services for an extra fee on top of a ‘small service charge’ or ‘application processing fee’. Charges for processing applications vary from website to website.”

Prospective travellers are advised to use the official Turkish government website (www.evisa.gov.tr) which will only charge a flat fee of $20 for a 90-day, multi-entry visa. Cruise ship passengers with ‘British Citizen’ passports entering the country for a day trip, remaining in the port of embarkation and returning to the ship the same day will continue to be able to enter Turkey without a visa or e-Visa.

Gordon added: “While it isn’t unlawful for a business to charge for a reviewing and forwarding service, tricking consumers into spending on unwanted services is. If a consumer thinks they have been duped into sending off a fee for an e-Visa they should report this matter to us.”

The new e-Visa will cost 20 USD ($20) (converted into GBP according to the foreign exchange rate), and emailed to travellers for them to print out at home after providing their name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, email address and passport details. They will then be required to present the entry document to border control on arrival in Turkey. Once in the country travellers should keep their e-Visa and passport safe, ideally in a locked safe.

The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a “transitional period”, during which visas may continue to be bought upon arrival at Turkish airports, after the 11 April deadline. The transition period, whereby you can still obtain a visa at the point of entry into Turkey, will continue until sometime after the main 2014 tourist season.

However advice remains that it’s better to buy an e-Visa online before travel. It’s quick and easy to apply online and in comparison with the £20 that will be charged at the airport from 11 April, an e-Visa costs 20 USD ($20) which when converted into GBP works out significantly cheaper.

Consumers can contact Highland Council’s Trading Standards directly either in person or in writing at: The Highland Council Trading Standards, Development & Infrastructure Service, 38 Harbour Road, Inverness IV1 1UF or speak to an advisor on 08454 04 05 06.

For further Highland Council Trading Standards news, please visit https://tinyurl.com/highlandtradingstandardsnews

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Today : Local Authority

Highland Council's Offices: Go Digital, Bring in Mobile Offices and Save Money?

The banks have closed branches across the Highlands and customers have adapted.  With Highland Council facing serious financial pressures, is it time to rethink permanent offices and take council services directly to the people who need them? There was a time when going to the bank meant visiting a branch.  

12/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
The Highland Council is ready for winter - are you?

Highland Council is urging community groups to ‘apply now’ for its Winter Resilience Programme if they want grit bins in their local communities.   The Highland Council’s winter service starts on Wednesday 14 October and the Council is ready to treat - according to its policy - the 6,787km of roads for which it has responsibility.  

10/10/2026 : Local Authority

France's Schools Are in Revolt. Is Scotland Any Better?

Class sizes, teacher shortages, school buildings and the pressure on teachers reveal a more complicated picture than politicians' headline figures suggest.   Protests over the state of schools in France have raised questions that parents in Scotland might recognise.  

6/10/2026 : Local Authority

When Tourists Take the Homes: Is Europe Losing Its Housing to Tourism?

Tens of thousands of people have been protesting across Spain over the country's housing crisis, with rapidly rising rents and the growing influence of tourism among their biggest concerns.   The protests came after the Spanish parliament rejected government measures intended to strengthen tenant protection and restrict some forms of short-term rental accommodation.  

5/10/2026 : Local Authority

Still time to return Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Council election ballots

Anyone eligible to vote in the contested Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Council election is reminded that their postal ballot papers need to be completed and returned in the pre-paid envelope provided by 12 noon on Thursday, 8 October 2026.   Candidates standing were invited to submit a statement to support their candidacy and these statements are provided in the envelopes mailed out along with the ballot papers to all eligible voters.  

2/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Julie Calder wins easily for Lib Dems in East Caithnes bi-election

Dave BUCHANAN Independent 714 Julie CALDER Scottish Liberal Democrats Elected Stage 1 1,522 Charlotte GIBSON Scottish Conservative and Unionist 79 John GLEN Scottish National Party (SNP) 424 Iain RICHMOND Reform UK 283# No further preference 0 Remainder not transferred 0 Total 3,022.  

2/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council proceeds to procurement for a new electric Corran Ferry

The Highland Council has reached another significant milestone in the delivery of a replacement Corran Ferry, with the procurement for a new electric vessel.   Funded through a £58 million investment from the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, including £28 million from the Scottish Government for the new electric vessel, £20 million from the UK Government and £10 million from The Highland Council towards landside infrastructure, the project will deliver a modern replacement ferry service for one of Scotland's busiest single-vessel crossings.  

2/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Wick and Thurso Jobs secured and bus services strengthened through D&E Coaches acquisition

Highland Council-owned D&E Coaches has confirmed the acquisition of Stagecoach’s Thurso and Wick bus operation securing local jobs.  This will protect vital services and strengthening public transport provision across the Highlands.  

30/9/2026 : Local Authority

Reforming Scotland’s Councils: Should We Test One Region Before Reorganising Them All?

Scotland is considering one of the biggest changes to local government for a generation.  The Scottish Government has proposed replacing the existing 32 councils with between six and ten regional authorities, alongside somewhere between 120 and 160 community authorities.  

30/9/2026 : Local Authority

Scottish Cities Alliance Investment Conference to showcase Highland opportunities

Inverness will welcome government representatives, investors, business leaders and economic development partners later this week as it hosts the Scottish Cities Alliance Autumn Investor Event.  A two-day programme designed to showcase investment opportunities across Inverness, the Highlands and Scotland's city regions.