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So I've had to get three visas for Turkey in the last couple of years and each time it cost € 15 / $ 20.

But a few days ago I met some Australian travellers here in Georgia who just came from Turkey and they told me that very recently (June 2012 or just before) the price has tripled, just for us, to € 45 / $ 60!

Can anybody tell me why? Did my government do anything to upset the Turkish government? Might it go back down again soon if some diplomatic faux pas is patched up? Was there some official announcement explaining it or did it just happen silently?

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  • 2
    Such moves are often bilateral. Could it be the case that the Australian government did the same for Turkish citizens or that it imposed more stringent entry requirements on them?
    – user766
    Commented Jun 19, 2012 at 16:09
  • Yes it could well be - so I'd really like to know so that I can be justly annoyed at my government. But they're not always reciprocal. After the war between Russia and Georgia where I am now, Russia bans Georgian tourists but Georgia doesn't even require visa from Russian tourists to visit. So anything is possible.
    – hippietrail
    Commented Jun 19, 2012 at 16:11
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    I imagine that it would be fatal for Georgia's tourism industry if the Russians (and their rubles) stopped coming. Also Russian businessmen are very welcome there, although there is an embargo on the Russian side ...
    – user766
    Commented Jun 19, 2012 at 16:22
  • 1
    Loads of Armenians seem to hit Batumi in the summer.
    – SigueSigueBen
    Commented Jun 19, 2012 at 16:43
  • 2
    They're being passive-aggressive about their hate towards Fosters Beer.
    – Ankur Banerjee
    Commented Jun 19, 2012 at 16:46

2 Answers 2

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Here's the official announcement from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Avustralya vatandaşlarına sınırda vize ücreti. There's no reason given for the increase.

In the warnings for Turkish citizens travelling to foreign countries, I don't see anything about visa rates for Australia having gone up, whereas there are announcements about changes for other countries.

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  • Any idea what the last sentence says? Google Translate doesn't help so much with that part.
    – hippietrail
    Commented Jun 19, 2012 at 16:49
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    Something like "Our citizens are respectfully [being] informed in order to prevent any possible problems at our border posts." I'm not sure why they feel it necessary to announce it to "our [i.e. Turkish] citizens".
    – SigueSigueBen
    Commented Jun 19, 2012 at 16:54
  • Hopefully there won't be incensed gun-toting Aussies in the visa line while I'm there!
    – hippietrail
    Commented Jun 19, 2012 at 17:02
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    I'm secretly happy that someone else has to pay as much as Canadians do.
    – SigueSigueBen
    Commented Jun 19, 2012 at 17:11
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    Did Australia just recognise the Armenian genocide or something? That'd get at least a 200% response out of the Turks!
    – SigueSigueBen
    Commented Jun 21, 2012 at 16:19
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Diplomatic protocol requires that nobody ever explain the reason for anything directly, but I can only presume it's tit for tat, as Turkish citizens wishing to visit Australia have to fork out A$110 for a tourist visa. Australia last year announced that much cheaper ETAs (A$20) are now available for Turkish diplomats and special passport holders, but specifically excluded ordinary passports.

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