Visa Guide for All Countries

Prepared by Marsel Visa on this page, you will find general and comprehensive answers to the questions of what a visa is, what types of visas there are, and how to obtain a visa. If you are looking for visa consultancy services specific to a certain country, you can benefit from Marsel Visa's experience in Schengen and national visa processes.

A visa is an official document issued by the competent authorities of a country to a foreign national, granting permission to enter, transit through, or stay in that country for a specific period. Most citizens of the Republic of Turkey must obtain a visa in advance to travel to most countries; this process involves varying documents, fees, and time differences that change from country to country, and even from type to type within the same country. On this page, we address the concept of a visa, its types, and the general application process as a whole; for the current document list, fees, and appointment information specific to a certain country, you can check our country guides below. As Marsel Visa, we are with you throughout the process, no matter which country you are traveling to.

What is a Visa?

A visa is an official document issued by a country's consulate or embassy to a foreign national, indicating permission to enter that country or to stay there for a specific period.

A visa is a document different from the passport itself: while the passport shows a person's identity and citizenship, the visa is a separate approval that allows that person to enter a specific country. A visa can usually take the form of a sticker attached to the passport, a stamp on the passport, or a record associated with the passport number in an electronic environment. The issuance of a visa does not guarantee entry into that country; border officials have the authority to deny entry to a person even if they have a valid visa.

What Are the Types of Visas?

Visa types are categorized based on the purpose of travel, duration, and the geographical area covered.

The main types of visas and their brief meanings are as follows:

Schengen Vizesi (C Tipi): 27 Avrupa ülkesinin dahil olduğu Schengen bölgesine seyahat için kullanılan, 180 gün içinde en fazla 90 gün kalış hakkı tanıyan kısa süreli vize türüdür. Tek girişli, çift girişli veya çok girişli (multiple) olarak düzenlenebilir; çok girişli vize, geçerlilik süresi boyunca birden fazla kez giriş-çıkış yapılabilmesi anlamına gelir.
National Visa (Type D): Required for stays longer than 90 days; used for education, work, or family reunification purposes and is generally valid for up to 1 year. A residence permit application can also be made in the country entered with this visa.
Transit Visa (Type A): This is the type of visa required to pass through the airport transit area for the purpose of transitioning to another country without entering a country.
Tourist Visa: Issued for holiday, travel, and cultural purposes; it is the most common visa application category.
Commercial Visa: Issued for commercial activities such as business meetings, trade fairs, or congress participation.
Student Visa: Issued for those wishing to study abroad; exchange programs like Erasmus are also evaluated under this category.
Work Visa (Work Permit): A type of visa obtained for the purpose of working in a job abroad, usually based on an employer's invitation.
E-Visa (Electronic Visa): This is a type of visa issued by some countries entirely online, without the need for the applicant to physically go to the consulate; it provides a speed advantage for short-term travels.
Visa on Arrival (Border Visa): This is a type of visa issued by some countries upon arrival at the airport or land border, which does not require prior application or can be obtained through a very short application process.

The type of visa you should apply for is determined entirely by the true purpose of your travel and the duration of your planned stay; applications made from the wrong category increase the risk of rejection.

How to Obtain a Visa?

Obtaining a visa is a multi-step process that begins with determining the appropriate type of visa for the purpose of travel and goes through appointment, document submission, and evaluation stages.

Step 1 — Determine the Correct Visa Type: Clarify the visa category you need to apply for based on the purpose of your travel (tourism, business, education, work) and its duration.

Step 2 — Prepare the Documents: Prepare the necessary documents such as the application form, passport, biometric photo, travel health insurance, bank statement, and accommodation/flight reservation according to the type of visa.

Step 3 — Make an Appointment: Create an appointment through the consulate, embassy, or authorized intermediary (such as VFS Global, iDATA, BLS International) where the application will be made. It is recommended to complete this step early by planning it backward from your travel date, as there may be high demand.

Step 4 — Submit the Application in Person: Submit your documents on the appointment day; biometric data such as fingerprints and digital photos are collected at this stage for most visa types (this data is generally valid for 5 years for Schengen visas).

5. Step — Pay the Visa Fee: Pay the application fee using the method specified by the relevant consulate or intermediary (cash, credit card, or bank transfer).

6. Step — Wait for the Result and Follow Up: When the evaluation process is complete, your visa will be approved or denied; the result can usually be tracked through the intermediary's system.

How to Make a Visa Appointment?

Visa appointments are made online, not directly at the consulate, but through the authorized intermediaries designated by the consulate for most countries.

Among the main authorized visa application intermediaries operating in Turkey are VFS Global, iDATA and BLS International; which institution is authorized for which country varies from country to country. To make an appointment, an account is usually created through the institution's official website, and a suitable date and time are selected. It is recommended to start the appointment process at least 1-2 months before your travel date, as it may be difficult to find an appointment during peak seasons (especially summer months and before the New Year). In some countries, direct online application (e-visa) may also be possible without the requirement of an appointment.

What Documents Are Required for a Visa?

Although the required documents for a visa vary by country and visa type, there is generally a basic set of documents that are commonly requested in almost all applications.

The main documents generally requested are as follows:

Passport: It must be valid for a certain period (usually at least 3-6 months) from the date of travel completion and have a blank visa page.
Application Form: The official form that is completely filled out as requested by the relevant consulate or intermediary.
Biometric Photo: A passport photo taken in the last few months that meets specific size and background color standards.
Travel Health Insurance: An insurance policy that is mandatory, especially for Schengen visas, covering a specific amount (usually at least 30,000 Euros).
Bank Account Statement: A bank-approved account summary showing financial capability to cover travel expenses.
Accommodation and Flight Reservation: Documents containing hotel reservation and round-trip flight information.
Invitation Letter: An official letter obtained from the inviting person or institution for family/friend visits or business trips.
Residence and Population Registration Sample: Official documents showing identity and residence information, usually obtained through e-Government.

This list is a general framework; each country's consulate may determine its own specific requirements (additional documents, different insurance coverage, additional documents based on profession).

How Much is the Visa Fee?

The visa fee varies significantly depending on the country applied to, the type of visa, and the age of the applicant.

While the consular fee for Schengen visas is generally around 80-90 Euros, discounted or free categories may apply for children. In addition, the authorized intermediary institution where the application is made (such as VFS Global, iDATA, BLS International) usually charges a separate service fee. Fees in non-Schengen countries like the USA and the UK have a different structure and can generally be higher. Since fees may vary periodically based on exchange rates and consular decisions, we recommend confirming the current amount from the official source of the relevant country or from our Marsel Visa consultants before applying.

How Many Days Does It Take to Get a Visa?

Visa applications usually result within 3-15 business days; however, this period can significantly extend depending on the country, visa type, and application volume.

During busy periods such as summer and before the New Year, especially in popular destinations, this period can extend to 30-45 days. Additional document requests, interview requirements, or security checks are also factors that can prolong the process. Therefore, regardless of which country you are applying to, it is important to apply well in advance of your travel date.

How Does the Visa Rejection and Appeal Process Work?

A visa rejection occurs when the documents submitted by the applicant are deemed insufficient or unconvincing by the consulate, and it is usually communicated with a reasoned rejection statement.

The most common reasons for denial include missing or inconsistent documents, financial insufficiency, insufficient documentation of the purpose of travel, and past visa/immigration violations. The applicant has the right to submit an appeal against the denial decision; during the appeal process, concrete evidence must be presented against the reasons for denial. However, in many cases, the most practical approach is to correctly identify the reason for denial and strengthen the application by addressing this deficiency.

Which Country Visa Guide Are You Looking For?

The general information above forms the common framework applicable to all visa applications; however, each country's consulate determines its own specific document, fee, appointment, and duration requirements.

Manage Your Visa Process with Marsel Visa

The visa application process is a cumbersome process to follow on its own due to the varying document, fee, and appointment conditions from country to country. As Marsel Visa, we provide end-to-end consultancy services to individual applicants from our offices in Istanbul and Berlin regarding appointment tracking, document preparation, and application management for all Schengen and national visa processes.

No matter which country you plan to travel to, contact us immediately to manage your process safely:

📞 +90 554 017 52 52 📧 info@marselvisa.com 💬 Instant support via WhatsApp