Turkish Businessperson Visa 2022

Please note that the Turkish Businessperson Visa is no longer available for new applicants.

(Please note that only children under the age of 21 can still apply as dependents of visa main holder)

What is a Turkish Businessperson visa in 2022?

Turkish Businessperson visa for who are seeking to immigrate to the UK to start an original business, or aid in the running of one that is already established in the country, may be eligible to apply for a Turkish Businessperson visa. This kind of business visa UK is also informally known as the ECAA visa, an acronym of the European Community Association Agreement, a now-defunct European deliberate body that engaged with Turkey to produce the Ankara Agreement UK, in 1963. The Turkish Businessperson visa therefore falls under the broader category of Turkish ecaa business visas.

Length of stay in UK

Those on a Turkish business visa (ecaa visa) can stay up to a year in the UK
If your visa UK is about to expire, you can apply for a three-year extension.
If you wish to remain in the UK indefinitely, you may be eligible for permanent settlement in the country

When can you apply for a Turkish Businessperson visa?

Applications for Turkish business visa UK (ecaa visa) should be lodged no earlier than three months before the date of intended travel to the country

Processing time for Turkish Businessperson visa

For applicants applying from outside the UK, it takes around 12 weeks to receive a Turkish business visa UK. For information about receiving an expediated Turkish ecaa business visa to the UK, click here.

Turkish Businessperson visa fees

There are zero fees for this kind of UK Immigration visa established by the Ankara Agreement

UK Turkish business visa terms:

The requirements for a Turkish ecaa business visa are outlined below. Those who are on a Turkish Businessperson visa are allowed to do the following:

Have family members (dependents) join you in the UK
Establish a business or businesses through a UK business investment
Be an employee for the business you establish, in the capacity of either a self-employed worker in a business partnership or as a director
Prolong your stay (if on this visa already)
Switch to this type of visa (if in the UK on another visa)

UK Turkish business visa eligibility

In order to be eligible Turkish business visa UK, you must demonstrate the following:

That you sincerely seek to establish a company/ business in the UK and that your business plan is realistic
That you have enough money to start this business
That you have enough money to fulfill your financial responsibilities to the business
That you are able to financially support yourself and any dependents exclusively through the profits generated by the business you establish and not through any other job you might seek in the UK

For those seeking to become part of a business already operating in the UK:

Your skills and investment are truly in demand by this existing business
Once you join the business, you will play a significant role in operating it

Personal required documents

The below documents are required for a Turkish business visa UK: Please note that you may be asked to submit additional supporting documents for your UK Immigration.

A valid passport or other valid ID, with one blank page for your visa
Mortgage/rent agreements, bank statements, bills, and/or other evidence of your recent living expenses.
Bank statements or other financial records (such as half-a year’s worth of pay slips) demonstrating your capability to financially support yourself and pay for lodging throughout your stay in the UK.

The following may also be required for a UK Turkish business visa

Tuberculosis test results (if from a country where a TB is required)
Evidence in the event that you were previously the recipient of any state benefits from the UK
A UK police certificate for yourself and for any dependents post-arrival

Professional required documents

In addition to these above personal documents required for a Turkish ecaa business visa, you must also provide material evidence demonstrating your credible intent to establish or run a business. The can be in the form of the following.

A viable business plan
Document establishing the nature of your participation in the business
Insurance documents
Rental or purchase agreements for a physical business site in the UK
Partnership agreement
Proof of investment in the business or proof of intent to invest, including business loans, wire transfers, bank accounts
Evidence of any previous relevant business experience

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) documents (proof of payment)
Proof of third-party financial assistance from a family member or via a non-relative third party (as well the relevant financial records/bank statements of any parties participating in the investment), and legal proof of degree and nature of their participation and financial investment in the business.

How to apply for Turkish businessperson visa (from outside the UK)

Please note that you can only apply for the UK Turkish business visa if you are outside the UK

Apply online for your Turkish business visa UK
Go to a visa application center to have your biometric information taken. This is where you will have your fingerprints collected and your photo taken
Pick up your biometric residence permit within 10 days of the date you gave as your arrival to the UK, even if your arrival is in fact later than the day you first provided.
Please note that the online option is closed to those applying from North Korea. If you are applying for a visa from North Korea, you must apply by downloading the application form and following its written instructions, available here
If you are seeking a Turkish business visa UK and you are already in the UK on another valid visa, you have the option of the switch to this type of visa

Extending your Turkish business visa UK

Please note that you can only extend your UK Turkish business visa if you are outside the UK

Those who meet the following requirements are eligible to extend their visa:
- You meet the original eligibility requirements for UK immigration
- Are working on your original business in the UK
You remain able to meet its ongoing operating costs, including its liabilities
You remain able to financially support yourself and any dependents exclusively through the profits generated by the business you establish and not through any other job you might seek in the UK
Period of extension for ecaa visas
You can apply for a three-year extension
If you do not possess the requisite documents for your extension application, your extension could be approved for one year, after which period you can reapply for a full extension
How to extend an ecaa visas (only from within the UK): Apply before your visa has expired
Apply online
Apply while you still remain in the UK
Include any deponents who were on your original visa, especially those who became adults (turned 18) during your visa period.
Please note the is no fee for applying for an extension
Processing time for Turkish Businessperson visa extensions

The extension processing time is generally 6 months, although it can take longer depending on the following:

You are called to appear at an in-person interview
- Your application materials require additional verification
- You have been arrested or are facing other relevant personal issues
Please note so long as your application was submitted prior to the expiration of your previous visa, you may remain in the UK while your application is being processed

Switch to a UK Turkish business visa

Please note that only those who are currently in the UK on another visas are eligible to switch to a Turkish Businessperson visa from another visa

Those who meet the following requirements are eligible to extend:
- You meet the original eligibility requirements for this visa
- Are currently in the UK legally
- Are not working at a business in the country that violates the terms of your Turkish business visa
How to apply for a visa switch to an ecaa visa
- Apply before your visa has expired
Apply to switch your visa online, here:
Please note the is no fee for applying for an extension for this UK Immigration visa
Processing time for switch to an ecaa visa

The extension processing time is generally 6 months, although it can take longer depending on the following:

You are called to appear at an in-person interview
Your application materials require additional verification
You have been arrested or are facing other relevant personal issues
Please note so long as your application was submitted prior to the expiration of your previous visa, you may remain in the UK while your application is being processed

Family Members

Family members can join you on an ecaa visa and your trip to the UK. Family members are classified as dependents, which are any of the following:

Your partner
Your child under the age of 21, (including UK born children)
Required Documents for family members on an ecaa visa:

Each dependent must submit one of the following:

Evidence of the nature of his or her relationship to you. For husbands/wives, this could be in the form of a marriage certificate, for children, a birth certificate
A valid passport or other valid ID, with one blank page for their British visa
Two photographs (passport sized, in color)
Evidence that your dependents will live with you throughout the entirety of their stay in the UK
Bank statements or other financial records (such as half-a year’s worth of pay slips) demonstrating your capability to financially support both yourself and your dependents and pay for your collective lodging throughout your period of stay in the UK

The following may also be required:

Evidence (perhaps in the form of either a legal document or notarized written permission) of your sole legal and financial responsibility for any dependent who is less than 21 years of age (in the event that his or her other parent is not present in the UK or is not planning to ever reside in the country)
Tuberculosis test results (if from a country where a TB is required)
A UK police certificate for yourself and for any dependents post-arrival
How to apply as a dependent on an ecaa visa (if applying from outside the UK):
Apply online if you are applying as a dependent seeking to join your family in the UK
Go to a visa application center to have your biometric information taken. This is where you will have your fingerprints collected and your photo taken for UK Immigration purposes.
How to apply as a dependent on an ecaa visa (if applying from within the UK)
Apply before your visa has expired
Include your dependents on your application for a Turkish Businessperson
Apply separately as a dependent online
Apply as a dependent partner here:
If your dependent is a child, you must apply for him or her here:

More information

For more information on the ecaa visa (also known as Turkish ECAA business visas) or for more Turkish business visas grounded in the Ankara Agreement UK, click here.