Travelling to Istanbul with children: passports, visas and documents

How long must our passports be valid?

Under Türkiye’s Law on Foreigners and International Protection, your passport must be valid for at least 60 days beyond the end of your visa, visa exemption or residence permit. For example, with a 90-day visa-free stay, your passport must be valid for at least 150 days when you arrive. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends a passport valid for at least six months on arrival to avoid problems.

Children’s passports often run for shorter periods than adults’. Check the expiry date of every passport in the family before you travel.

Do we need a visa, and where do we get an e-Visa?

Visa rules depend on your nationality: some nationalities can enter visa-free for a set period, some get an e-Visa, and others need a visa from a consulate. Citizens of some European countries can also enter with a national ID card instead of a passport. Check the current rules on the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website or with the Turkish consulate in your country.

• Get your e-Visa only from the official evisa.gov.tr site. Look-alike agency sites can charge much more.
• A separate e-Visa is needed for each family member, children included.
• Carry a printout or a copy of the e-Visa on your phone.

What does a child travelling with one parent need?

If a child is travelling only with their mother, only with their father, or with relatives, carrying these reduces the risk of problems:

• A notarised consent letter from the absent parent (or both parents), ideally with an English or Turkish translation.
• The child’s birth certificate or family register, especially if the parent and child have different surnames.
• Any official documents that fit your situation, such as a custody order or death certificate.

These are most often requested by your own country’s exit controls and by airlines. Check your country’s rules and your airline’s conditions before you travel.

What documents are needed at hotel check-in?

Hotels in Türkiye are legally required to register the identity of every guest, including children and babies. Have the whole family’s passports ready at check-in.

If you send us the names of your family members and your children’s ages on WhatsApp when you book, we will prepare your room layout and check-in in advance. For room options for bigger groups, see our large families’ hotel rooms guide.

Checklist before you travel

• Passport and, if needed, visa for every family member
• Photos of passports and visas on your phone and in your email
• Travel health insurance for the whole family
• Regular medicines and their prescriptions
• Consent letter and birth certificate when travelling with one parent
• Hotel booking confirmation and airport transfer details

For getting from the airport to your hotel, see our airport to Sultanahmet guide, and for lost documents, our emergencies in Sultanahmet guide. If you are stopping in Istanbul on the way back from Umrah, our Umrah stopover in Istanbul guide will help.