Article updated 23rd December 2010: Kalkan Turkish Local News has been speaking to the British Embassy in Turkey, about the plans to change the visa regulations for foreigners visiting Turkey.

KTLN readers will remember that new rules were introduced back in July 2010, and then pretty quickly reversed and put on hold.

Many people have been waiting for news about when these new 'suspended' visa rules will be 'un-suspended', and now we can report on the latest position, according to our sources at the British Embassy.

What is the current position?
The current position is that visitors can still buy the old 90 day visa for £10, which can be renewed for another 90 days upon expiry. This is the case, even if you have been issued with one of the new 90/180 day visa stickers.

However, the new rules, when introduced, will only allow visitors to stay for up to 90 days in any 180 day period. This would mean that long term residents who have always topped up their 90 day visa, would be forced to take residency, if they wished to continue living in Turkey.

High level meetings
The British Ambassador met wth the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) last week to progress a number of matters.  High on the agenda were visas and residency costs.

Before we go into the background, as to why this matter is taking time to resolve, let's cut to the chase, on the question of when the new 90/180 day rule will be introduced.

As we publish this article, (14th December 2010), there is no definite date agreed. However, there are strong indications from the high level discussions, that May 2011 is an aspirational date for the MFA to implement the new visa rules. As soon as a date is formally agreed, KTLN will report the details.

For now, we can say with some confidence that it will not be introduced before May, but if diplomatic negotiations go well, you can expect changes by May 2011. For anyone who may be affected by this, it would seem prudent to plan for a May implementation.

Article updated 23rd December: Please read subsequent KTLN article, where the MFA are now quoted as suggesting implementation by the end of Spring 2011; (technically that would be by 21st June 2011). 

Why the uncertainty?
It all comes down to the cost of residency, (the ikamet), for British people wanting to settle in Turkey.

In July 2010, when the new rules were implemented, the British Ambassador sought a postponement, so that people could have more time to think through the consequences, and plan for change. The Ambassador was also concerned about the recent increases in the cost of residency, which many 'visa hoppers' would have to take out.  Fees have roughly doubled over the last 3 years.

In theory, residency costs are supposed to be reciprocal, but in truth, there is no exact 'like for like' match, because Britain and Turkey have their own terms and conditions attached to various types of residency.

But whatever the arguments may be on reciprocity, the reality is that if some British people want to continue to stay in Turkey on a long term basis, they will need to pay much more for permission to do so.

The British Embassy has been arguing a case for reduced residency costs, and it is these ongoing discussions that are taking time. The cost of long term residency needs to be resolved, before the new visa rules are implemented.

Anyone thinking about obtaining residency over the coming months, may wish to consider the fact that if the British Embassy is successful in its attempts to secure a better deal, it may cost you less if you are able to hold fire, for a little while longer.