Romanian citizens will no longer need a visa to visit Turkey, according to a presidential decision published in the Official Gazette.
The visa exemption was granted on Tuesday by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for tourists and travelers transiting the country with a maximum residence of 90 days every six months. From now on Romanian citizens will be able to travel to Turkey with only their national ID card, without the need for a passport.
The visa exemption decision was taken in accordance with Article 18 of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection.
Turkish citizens holding ordinary passports, however, are required to obtain a visa appropriate for their purpose of travel to Romania, although those holding special or diplomatic passports are exempt from the visa requirement for tourist trips of up to 90 days.
The fact that Romanian citizens can enter Turkey without a visa while the same exemption isn’t granted to Turkish citizens has been criticized for violating the principle of reciprocity in visa policy.
Ankara Bar Association lawyer Cemil Çiçek on Tuesday made a sarcastic comment in a tweet, saying, “The Century of Turkey is in full swing!”
Resmi Gazete'de yayınlandı. Romanya vatandaşları artık kimlikleriyle Türkiye'ye girebilecekler. Türkler ise Romanya'ya gitmek için pasaport ile vize almak zorunda. Türkiye Yüzyılı tam gaz devam! pic.twitter.com/pm1fTYmvog
— Cemil Çiçek (@avcemilcicek06) May 21, 2024
“The Century of Turkey” is an election campaign promise made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last year to elevate Turkey to global prominence.
Hasan Doğan, an economist and researcher on Turkey and Middle East politics, said visa exemption should be reciprocal and that unilateral liberalization “is not right.”
Eskiden mütekabiliyet esasları dikkate alınırdı.
Vize serbestiyeti karşılıklı atılan bir adım olmalıdır, tek taraflı serbestiyet doğru değil.
Romanya vatandaşlarının kimlikleri ile ziyaret edecekleri ülkemizde, bizler ise Romanya’yı pasaport ve vize ile ziyaret edebileceğiz. pic.twitter.com/odn6IemdYr
— Hasan Doğan (@HsnDgn01) May 21, 2024
“Which class of citizens are we?” economist Bircan Yıldırım said, while X user Hülya Ünsal said the development “sounds like a joke.”
Türk vatandaşları Romanya'ya gitmek için vize ve pasaport almak zorundayken, Romanya vatandaşları kimlikleriyle Türkiye'ye girebilecek. Karar Resmi Gazete'de yayımlamdı.
Kaçıncı sınıf vatandaşız? pic.twitter.com/WbLiPQJkNj
— Bircan Yıldırım (@BRCNYLDRMB) May 21, 2024
Biz Romanya'ya gitmek için vize ve pasaport almak zorundayız ama Romanya vatandaşları kimlikleriyle Türkiye'ye gelebilecek..
Fıkra gibi..
— Hülya ÜNSAL (@Pamuk_Miya) May 21, 2024