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I was going to Dubai, with a transit in Istanbul. I was to land in Atatürk International Airport and, on the same day, fly from Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Both flights were on Turkish Airlines.

When I got to Murtala International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, they refused to check me in, saying that I didn't have a Turkish transit visa.

Right now, I'm at home, and confused; I don't know what to do. I'm a Nigerian and bought my ticket through an agent.

Is there anything I can do now? And how to avoid such situation in the future?

nic
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Thankgod
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2 Answers2

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You do need a Turkish visa because you are changing airports and will not remain airside. Check-in staff was right.

If your ticket had your transit on one single airport you wouldn't need one but with the current itinerary you do need it.

I don't know what to do

Solution: Get your agent to change the ticket so your connection is on a single airport, for example Ataturk International. It will cost more but it will be easier than getting a transit visa quickly.

Transit - Turkey (TR)

Visa

Visa required.

TWOV (Transit Without Visa):

Passengers with a confirmed onward ticket for a flight to a third country within 24 hours. They must stay in the international transit area of the airport and have documents required for the next destination.

Source

Community
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Hanky Panky
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23

The question of responsibility for visas crops up from time to time here, and I don't think we can be clearer than Greg Hewgill is in the accepted answer:

In general, it is the passenger's responsibility to ensure that they obtain any required visa(s) before commencing travel.

We have a question here about the need for a Turkish transit visa, and it is clear that you do. As the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website says:

If you will not leave the transit lounge at the airport you are not required to have transit visa. Otherwise, you have to make visa application to the nearest Turkish Representation.

Given that you're changing airports in Istanbul, it's clear that you needed a visa, and it's clear that it was your responsibility to know this. You might want to go and grumble at your agent for not keeping you informed, but I'm afraid that the airline were quite right not to allow you to check in.

MadHatter
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