What the documents need to prove
Under Article 14 of the EU Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009), supporting documents must show four things: the purpose of your trip, your accommodation, sufficient means for the stay and the return journey and your intention to leave the Schengen area before the visa expires.
The list of documents in Annex II of the Visa Code is non-exhaustive. Each country's consulate publishes its own list for applications in Türkiye, taking local circumstances into account, and may ask for more in individual cases. The profile lists below are therefore "commonly requested" documents; always complete your file against the current list of the country you apply to. If you are not sure which country that is, see our guide on which country to apply to.
Core documents for everyone
- Passport: issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure from the Schengen area, with at least two blank pages
- Fully completed and signed application form (signed by a parent or guardian for minors)
- Recent biometric photo meeting international standards (some consulates take it when you apply)
- [Travel medical insurance](/en/destinations/schengen-visa/travel-medical-insurance) valid in the whole Schengen area for your entire stay
- Return flight reservation and travel itinerary
- Proof of accommodation: a hotel or rental booking, or your host's documents
- Proof of financial means, usually bank statements for the last 3 months
- Full civil registry extract (tam tekmil vukuatlı nüfus kayıt örneği) with a barcode, from e-Devlet
- Copies of previous Schengen and other visas, if any
- If you are not a Turkish citizen, a valid Turkish residence permit
Commonly requested extras for employees
- Employer letter: your name, passport number, start date, job title, leave dates and type (paid or unpaid), the employer's contact details, and the signatory's name and title
- Recent payslips (commonly the last 3 months)
- SGK service record (hizmet dökümü) from e-Devlet with a readable barcode or QR code
- For some consulates, the SGK employment registration form (işe giriş bildirgesi)
Commonly requested extras for business owners and the self-employed
- Tax registration certificate (vergi levhası)
- Trade Registry Gazette (ticaret sicil gazetesi) showing the company's founding and current status
- Recent certificate of activity (faaliyet belgesi) from the chamber of commerce or professional chamber (some consulates want it issued within the last 6 months)
- Proof of the company's tax payments
- For business trips, recent statements of the company's bank account
- For farmers, a registration certificate from the chamber of agriculture
Students, retirees and applicants without income
- Students: a current student certificate; university students a QR-coded YÖK student certificate from e-Devlet
- Retirees: proof of pension and statements of the account the pension is paid into
- Applicants without income (students, homemakers, unemployed): a signed sponsorship letter from the person covering the costs
- The sponsor's ID or passport copy and proof of income (such as an employer letter, payslips or bank statements)
- Proof of your relationship with the sponsor, usually shown by the civil registry extract
Applicants under 18
- Application form signed by a parent or legal guardian
- Notarised parental consent (muvafakatname) from the parent not travelling, or from both parents at some consulates
- Custody ruling if one parent has sole custody, or proof of guardianship if a guardian has been appointed
- Copies of both parents' passports or ID cards, and of their visas if they hold any
- A recent civil registry extract showing the birth record and family ties
- A student certificate from the school, if in education
Invitations: family, friends and business
- Family or friend visits: an invitation letter, or the country's official sponsorship and accommodation form (for example Germany's Verpflichtungserklärung)
- A copy of the host's ID card or passport, and their valid residence permit if they are not a citizen
- For family visits, proof of the family relationship
- If the host is paying, the host's proof of income and bank statements
- Business trips: an invitation from the inviting company stating your personal details, the purpose and length of the trip, and who pays for it
- Business trips: a letter from your employer confirming the purpose and length of the trip; entry tickets for fairs or congresses and proof of the business relationship
Preparing your file
- 1
Download the right, current list
Check the list for your purpose of travel on the website of the country's mission in Türkiye again shortly before you apply.
- 2
Get fresh e-Devlet documents
Documents such as the civil registry extract, SGK service record and student certificate should be recent, with a readable barcode or QR code.
- 3
Check that everything is consistent
The dates on your form, the leave dates in your employer letter, your flight and accommodation bookings and your insurance period should all match.
- 4
Follow the originals-and-copies rule
Lists may ask for originals, copies or both; the Dutch list, for example, asks for the original and a colour copy of personal documents. Prepare them exactly as the list says.
- 5
Check for translation requirements
Some consulates may ask for Turkish documents to be translated into a specific language. If the list requires translations, include them in your file.
The consulate's list is what counts. The profile lists on this page summarise documents commonly requested for applications in Türkiye; consulates may ask for different or additional documents. Vera prepares a personalised document list for your situation and checks your file before you apply; the visa decision rests solely with the authorities of the country concerned.
Official sources
We checked the information on this page against the official sources below. Always confirm the current rules there before you apply.