How does going for a hot air balloon ride at the crack of dawn and watching the gorgeous sunshine sound? Dreamy, right? Not really. You can have as many hot air balloon rides as you wish in Turkey. And if that does not entice you then the rich cultural heritage, mouth-watering Mediterranean dishes and the warm people are sure to convince you that you got to see Turkey at least once in your life.

So, now that you are convinced to explore Turkey. What next? You will need a Turkish visa to go ahead with your adventure.

Here are some of the things you should know when you apply for a Turkish visa:

One thing you must note is that the Turkish Government requests the tourists to have a passport which is valid for minimum six months once they arrive in Turkey. The government is rigid when it comes to this rule and will deny you entry if you do not have a valid passport.

Check your passport to make sure there is enough pages left for the entry and exit stamp, as again without that you might be denied entry to Turkey. Also, don’t forget to take these two stamps while arrival and departure, as if you fail to do so, you will be fined and your chances of coming back to Turkey might become zero.

When it comes to applying for a Turkish visa, be sure for how long you intend to stay. If you are going for a trip or a short commercial trip, you have the luxury of getting an e-visa from the official Turkish visa website. If you opt for e-visa, it is advisable to carry both a soft copy and a hard copy of your visa along with you throughout the trip.

For those who are going Turkey for work, study or any reason which would need them to stay in the country for more than 90 days within a time frame of 180 days, you will have to issue a Turkish residence permit.

If you fall in love with the overwhelmingly beautiful country and wish to stay longer than the 90 days permit, note that US citizens can book an online appointment and extend their visa for more six months, which means that you can stay for in total nine months in Turkey.

When it comes to traveling to Turkey, make sure that you do not overstay past your visa validity and have a valid passport, as the Turkish authorities are strict when it comes to practicing laws and you might be fined, deported or banned from visiting the exotic Mediterranean city.