Find Out Which Countries Turkish Passport Holders Can Visit Without a Visa

Turkish media reports say the number of European countries that allow Turkish passport holders to enter without a visa has fallen to just 10.

The change comes after Montenegro announced that it will require Turkish citizens to obtain a visa starting in November 2026.

According to the reports, Montenegro's decision is part of its efforts to align its immigration laws and visa policies with European Union standards as it moves forward with its EU membership negotiations. Several European countries, including Romania and Croatia, have previously taken similar steps.

Meanwhile, talks between Turkey and the European Union on Schengen visa liberalisation have remained at a standstill, despite official negotiations beginning in 2013. Turkey has yet to meet six of the EU's 72 legal, administrative, and security requirements needed for visa-free travel.

Visa restrictions on Turkish citizens date back to the 1980s, when Germany and France first introduced visa requirements following the political events of 1980. During the 1990s, they were followed by the Benelux countries, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain.

Visa-free destinations for Turkish passport holders

In Asia, Turkish citizens can still travel without a visa to countries such as Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, and several Central Asian nations.

Japan has seen a record increase in Turkish visitors, largely due to the weaker Japanese yen and the growing difficulty of obtaining European visas. Meanwhile, China, India, and Pakistan continue to require visas, while Iraq only requires visas for certain age groups.

In Africa, despite the trade agreements and economic partnerships Turkey has signed over the past two decades, more than half of the continent's countries—particularly those in the Sahel, Central Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa—still require Turkish citizens to obtain a visa before travelling.

South America remains the most accessible region, with 10 of its 13 countries allowing Turkish passport holders to enter without a visa. However, the long travel distances and high airfare costs continue to keep visitor numbers relatively low.

Travellers heading to the United States and Canada are still required to obtain a full visa, while Mexico currently offers an electronic visa (e-Visa) system.