Ryanair issue important warning to Irish citizens travelling to popular hotspot

Irish passport holders have been advised to have a photocopy of their passports and to ensure their passports are in date when travelling to Türkiye.

Ryanair issued the warning to Irish passport holders travelling to the popular holiday destination as there has been confusion for some in obtaining a visa and others have been turned away from the country due to the expiration date on their passports.

Irish citizens booking flights to Türkiye may have noticed a pop-up titled: "Turkish e-visa important information", it states: "Please note it is no longer possible to obtain a visa at Turkish airports. For tourist or transit visas, a customer needs to obtain an e-visa prior to departure. We recommend to get an e-visa online through the official Republic of Turkey e-visa website.

"A customer can apply for an e-visa at least 40 hours before travel and can do so up to 3 months in advance. Passports should be valid for at least 5 months after the date of entry into Turkey. There should be a full blank page for the entry and exit stamps in the passport."

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When it comes to visas, the Department of Foreign Affairs states that Irish citizens do not need a visa to enter Türkiye for stays of up to 90 days for touristic purposes within any 180 day period.

Furthermore, when it comes to entry requirements, the department said: "It is advisable to take a number of photocopies of your passport while travelling and carry a photocopy of your passport at all times."

The Department of Foreign Affairs also said that any Irish citizens travelling to Türkiye for purposes other than tourism should contact their nearest Turkish Embassy in advance to clarify their visa requirements.

For Irish passport holders travelling to Türkiye, there is a six-month passport validity required from the date of entry to Türkiye and passport cards cannot be used in place of a passport.

It is crucial to check your passport ahead of time before travel as entry may be refused based on regulations around passports and their expiration dates. The Embassy does not have the authority to intervene on behalf of Irish passport holders if they do not meet the entry requirements. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs also state that holders of a 'Travel Document' issued by Ireland do require Turkish visas in order to travel and holders of the document are advised to contact the Turkish Embassy in Dublin.

The 'Travel Document' in question is an official document which assists qualifying non-Irish nationals who are resident in Ireland to travel and includes children or family members of Irish citizens who are not themselves Irish citizens.