ISTANBUL
More than 6.3 million foreigners obtained a Turkish visa in three minutes in 2015 using the Electronic Visa System, according to data obtained by an Anadolu Agency correspondent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.
The electronic visa system (e-Visa) eliminates queues in border gates and airports.
About 7,232,322 people made applications via the e-Visa system in 2015, and 87 percent of applications (6,343,581) were accepted.
The e-Visa figures showed a 17.4 percent increase compared with the previous year.
The e-Visa application was put into service in April 2013.
Almost 17,379 e-Visas were received in a single day in 2015, and the highest figure in this field was seen on July 13, 2015 when 46,747 visas were given out.
The countries to which most of the visas were given out to in 2015 were the U.K., Iraq, Netherlands, Poland and Belgium. In addition it is reported that $140.66 million in visa fees was collected.
Almost 12,497,000 e-Visas have been processed since April 17, 2013 when the application kicked off.
A British citizen, Michael Gerard, won a flight ticket from Turkish Airlines as a gift since he was the 10 millionth e-Visa holder.
Individuals are able to obtain visas on "www.evisa.gov.tr" in about three minutes.
Tourist and commercial visas can be obtained in the Turkish Foreign Ministry's offices abroad, at border gates and as well as on e-Visa application system.
