Both Mexico and Turkey are two leading countries in terms of tourism: they enjoy first-rate destinations, for their natural beauty, for their rich history and for other cultural issues, such as their gastronomy. And that translates into good news: despite the distance, air connections between the two countries are varied. In this post we explain what you need to do to travel to Turkey from Mexico, focusing on international flights and visa requirements.
Flights from Mexico to Turkey
Unlike other Latin American countries, there are direct flights from Mexico to Turkey. And not only with one route, but with two, in both cases with destination Istanbul, either its main international airport or the secondary airport of Sabiha Gokçen. These are the two airports from which direct flights take off:
- Cancun Airport: from here, the flight takes about 12 hours.
- Benito Juarez Airport in Mexico City: from here, the trip takes about 14 hours.
In addition, the flight options multiply if an intermediate stopover is added. This can increase the journey time to over 15 hours, but to the surprise of many, this does not necessarily mean an increase in ticket prices. On the contrary, it may be cheaper this way. In any case, the price will depend on different factors, such as the dates chosen, and will rarely go for less than $20,000.
These intermediate stopovers can take place at very different airports, often in Europe, because they are halfway between the two. Examples are Frankfurt, London-Heathrow, Munich or Madrid, with airlines such as British Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines or Iberia. In some cases, the intermediate stopover can also be made in the United States, for example in Dallas, with airlines such as Volaris.
Flights with two stopovers are also a possibility, especially for those who wish to fly from other Mexican cities, such as Monterrey, Guadalajara or San José del Cabo. In these cases, the total trip usually takes at least 20 hours.
Visa for Mexicans traveling to Turkey
Although Turkey allows citizens of certain countries to enter its territory without a visa, Mexico is not among them. Therefore, it is mandatory to obtain one prior to travel. The good news is that this visa can be obtained electronically and processed online at its official website. This simplifies the procedures and speeds up the process, although the corresponding fee must be paid.
In addition, since February 2024, this procedure has been free of charge, so it must be requested online without paying any fee, as was previously the case, when it cost close to $1,000.
This e-visa for Mexican citizens is valid for 180 days from the date of arrival. However, such stay cannot exceed 30 days, with a single entry. To extend the stay permit, it will be necessary to submit a new extension request.
The main requirement for Mexican tourists to obtain such e-visa is that their passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry into the country. In any case, there may be exceptions and these conditions may be modified, either to make the requirements more flexible or to tighten them.
Therefore, we recommend you to consult any questions at the embassy. As for our agency, the packages we offer do not include the purchase of airline tickets or visa management. But we will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have when traveling to Turkey from Mexico, as we organize complete tours throughout the country.
