Consular services

You may contact us by e-mail istanbul@eda.admin.ch or by telephone at +90 212 283 12 82. Visitors will only be received by appointment.

• Applications for identity documents must be made online. Once you have received confirmation from the Consulate General, you may book an appointment online.
• For marriage preparations, an appointment can be arranged by telephone.
• Life certificates for AHV/IV are temporarily accepted by e-mail due to delays in postal traffic and difficulties in visiting authorities. Pensioners can sign the certificates and send them (without the official stamp) together with a copy of the passport or identity card by e-mail to the following address sedmaster@zas.admin.ch.
• There are no restrictions for transactions that do not require a personal visit.

Visa
Covid 19 Regulation Measures in the field of international passenger transport

On 2 July 2020, the Federal Council adopted new measures to contain the coronavirus.  

As of Monday, 6 July 2020, persons entering Switzerland who have stayed in a country or area with an increased risk of infection at any time during the 14 days preceding their entry will be obliged to undergo a 10-day quarantine. Immediately after entry, they must go directly to their home or other suitable accommodation and stay there permanently for this period.

This quarantine obligation applies to entries from the following 29 countries or territories:

• Argentina
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
• Bahrain
• Belarus
• Bolivia
• Brazil
• Cabo Verde
• Chile
• Dominican Republic
• Honduras
• Iraq
• Israel
• Qatar
• Colombia
• Kosovo
• Kuwait
• Moldova
• Northern Macedonia
• Oman
• Panama
• Peru
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• Sweden
• Serbia
• South Africa
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• United States of America

The Swiss government has not yet granted any travel facilitation for persons from third countries in connection with Covid-19 as of 15.06.2020.
Consequently, only the following groups of persons are still allowed to enter Switzerland at the moment: 

• Swiss nationals and their families
• Persons with a valid residence permit in Switzerland
• Persons in possession of a valid national D visa

All other persons are still not allowed to enter Switzerland. This list is exhaustive and there are no further exceptions.

Based on the approval of the Swiss Government, the Consulate General of Istanbul can accept again, starting from 08.06.2020, the following visa applications:

Family Reunion Visa application D (except Swiss Citizen are involved or a preparation of marriage in Switzerland is planned. In this case please get in contact with the Consular Section)

Student Visa applications D, for a stay more than 3 months

Procedure: Starting from 04.06.2020 you can send an email to the Visa Section, istanbul.visa@eda.admin.ch to inquire an appointment for the submission of the visa application at the Consulate General starting from 08.06.2020.

Overstay in Turkey

The Turkish Ministry of Interior is updating their Statement regarding the foreigners who could not exit from Turkey due to the Pandemic regularly. Please find out the regulations here.

Helpline Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)

The FDFA Helpline provides detailed information 365 days a year around the clock about the following FDFA services:

• Travel advice
• Itineris – online registration for Swiss nationals travelling abroad
• Consular protection
• Living abroad
• Other consular services (services of Swiss representations in connection with passports and identity cards, registration, civil status, civil rights, notarizations, confirmations, certificates, inheritance, welfare, deposits, etc.)