Türkiye has officially announced that citizens of eight countries can now enter Turkish territory using expired passports, a policy that grants these nationals a privilege not available to most international travellers. The arrangement is confirmed on the Turkish government's website, indicating it is a formal, standing policy rather than a temporary measure.
Which Countries Are on the List?
The eight countries whose nationals qualify for this arrangement are:
- Germany
- Belgium
- France
- Spain
- Switzerland
- Luxembourg
- Portugal
- Bulgaria
Seven of these eight countries are European Union member states. Switzerland is the only non-EU nation on the list, while Bulgaria—which joined the EU's Schengen Area in January 2024—is also included.
What This Means for Travellers
For citizens of the listed countries, the policy offers significant flexibility, especially for those whose passports have recently expired or who have not yet renewed their travel documents. Instead of being turned away at the border or forced to expedite a renewal, nationals from these eight countries can still complete their journey to Türkiye without a valid passport.
Travellers from all other nations—including those from Africa, Asia, and the Americas—are not covered by this arrangement and must present valid travel documents when entering Türkiye.
Related: Türkiye's ID Card Entry Policy
In a separate but related development, Türkiye has also published a list of 21 countries whose citizens can enter the country using only their national identity cards. That policy allows nationals of those countries to travel to Türkiye without presenting a passport.
The expired-passport entry policy is expected to ease travel for affected nationals, particularly those with lapsed documents, while other travellers must continue to meet standard entry requirements.
