A quiet decision from Ankara is changing who can enter Turkey without a visa. Many travelers are now checking if their passport is on the list. From January 2, 2026, Türkiye has expanded visa free access under a new rule that allows certain foreign citizens to visit without prior approval, just as global travel demand rises.
The Türkiye VISA FREE move was signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and applies to tourism and transit travel. It allows eligible visitors to stay up to 90 days within a 180 day period. The timing is drawing attention, with the change taking effect weeks before Asia’s peak travel season.
Türkiye VISA FREE entry confirmed for Chinese passports
Under the new policy, Chinese citizens holding ordinary passports can now enter Turkey visa free for tourism or transit. The turkey visa not required rule removes application steps, making Turkey one of the easiest long haul destinations for Chinese travelers in 2026.
The decision follows a sharp rise in arrivals from China. Official figures show Chinese visitor numbers jumped more than 65 percent in 2024, reaching around 410,000 travelers.
Visa free access sparks surge in travel interest
Since the announcement, searches for flights from China to Istanbul, Antalya and Izmir have surged. Cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu are leading the increase, signaling strong demand ahead of the Spring Festival holiday.
Many are now watching closely to see which country could be the next to get visa free access to Turkey.
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