Visa advice for American citizens traveling to Turkey for tourism

This post is a public service announcement for any American citizen heading to Turkey on a trip lasting less than 90 days:

Please, save yourself the trouble and DO NOT apply for a visa in the U.S. before you leave.  You can buy a tourist visa for $20 at any port of entry in Turkey.  No application form.  Just $20 cash.

This information is already all over the web (check out the U.S. Embassy’s information on visas), but I’m repeating it here because I saw way too many people at the Turkish consulate in New York applying for a tourist visa.

Doing so means they (a) went out of their way to reach the consulate, which is opposite the U.N. building and convenient to nowhere, (b) had to fill out an application, (c) paid an extra $9, and (d) have to come back to the consulate in 2-3 days to pick up their passports.

However, if you’re arriving at Atatürk International Airport in Istanbul, all you do after getting off the plane is head toward the counter to the left of passport control, hand the official a U.S. $20, and get a 90-day sticker visa just like that.  The most I’ve waited in line is a few minutes, it just depends how quickly you get off the plane.

As for me, I was at the consulate applying for a research visa, which is a whole other animal.  I make my third trip back there to complete the process and pick up my passport this Tuesday.