(ANKARA, TURKEY) Türkiye will introduce new visa rules for Libyan nationals on September 15, 2025, creating a streamlined path to long-term, multiple-entry visas aimed at boosting business, tourism, and education. The move, announced in Ankara by Trade Minister Omer Bolat during Türkiye-Libya Joint Working Group meetings with Libya’s Transport Minister Mohammed Al-Shahoubi, comes as both countries push to reach a $5 billion annual trade volume in 2026 after recording about $3 billion in the first eight months of 2025 and a projected $4 billion by year’s end.
Policy Changes Overview
Under the updated visa rules, Libyan nationals will be able to apply for longer stays and multiple entries, a shift Turkish officials say will reduce friction for frequent travelers and support deeper commercial ties.
Minister Bolat framed the policy change as a practical step to expand economic cooperation, while Minister Al-Shahoubi welcomed easier travel as airlines continue to run roughly 50 weekly flights between the two countries, reflecting steady demand.
Officials say full instructions, required documents, and fees will be posted by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Visa Information and shared with Turkish consulates in Libya ahead of the launch. Applicants should watch for updates on the Ministry’s official guidance page: Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Visa Information.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the new system is designed to simplify access for business travelers while keeping routine tourism and family visits in scope.
Turkish and Libyan authorities have tied the visa easing to a broader plan to deepen economic ties across:
– Energy
– Mining
– Construction
– Health
– Education
– Tourism
The Türkiye-Libya Joint Economic Commission (JEC), which has not met since 2009, is set to reconvene in December 2025. A JETCO agreement is due to be signed in Istanbul to help resolve trade and investment bottlenecks, including issues in banking and the contracting sector that have slowed project execution.
Trade and Mobility Context
The two governments highlighted recent deals, including a 2025 Goodwill Agreement signed in Istanbul that focuses on mining, energy, and infrastructure.
Key business figures supporting the push include:
– Murtaza Karanfil (Turkish-Libyan Business Council)
– Fouad Al-Awam (Emaar Libya Holding)
They pointed to growing activity in Libya’s eastern region and the country’s “Return to Life” strategy, which outlines major infrastructure and hospital projects.
According to Turkish officials, Turkish contractors have long played a central role in Libya’s rebuilding, completing 641 projects worth $31.5 billion since 1972.
For families and students, the new visa rules should make short- and medium-term stays easier to plan, especially for those with repeat travel needs. For traders and project managers, multiple-entry permission reduces time lost to re-application and helps teams move on short notice—critical in construction, energy services, and supply chain work.
With about 50 weekly flights already in place, airlines are expected to support steady business traffic alongside seasonal tourism and medical travel.
Libyan Economy and Trade Minister Mohamed Hweij has worked with Turkish counterparts to update memoranda of understanding so they align with current laws in both countries. Turkish and Libyan teams also set up a Joint Economic and Trade Committee to work through practical issues such as:
– Settlement of old receivables
– Letters of guarantee
– Other contractual and financial bottlenecks
The hope is that easier travel will bring more site visits, due diligence, and faster decision-making on both sides.
Impact on Applicants and Businesses
- Effective date: September 15, 2025
- Visa categories: Long-term and multiple-entry visas for business, tourism, and education
- Where to check requirements: Updates on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website and at Turkish consulates in Libya; see Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Visa Information
- Travel capacity: Approximately 50 weekly flights between Türkiye and Libya
Benefits for different groups:
- Libyan nationals:
- Fewer applications and less paperwork
- Reduced need for repeated consulate visits
- Better planning for work, trade fairs, medical appointments, and family visits
- Business travelers and project teams:
- Lower downtime thanks to multiple-entry permissions
- Faster mobilization of engineers, supervisors, and technical teams
- Easier coordination for construction, energy services, and supply chain operations
- Students and researchers:
- More flexible windows for semester exchanges and lab visits
- Turkish companies:
- Expanded access to Libya’s markets in construction, energy, mining, agriculture, fisheries, renewables, education, health, and tourism
- Potential to convert pending deals into active contracts once financing, banking, and contracting obstacles are addressed
Officials expect that regular government-to-government meetings, combined with streamlined entry, will help clear backlogs and speed up project execution.
Application Expectations and Next Steps
While the policy framework is set, applicants should wait for the Ministry to publish:
– Document list
– Processing steps
– Fees
Based on past practice, Libyan applicants can likely expect to submit:
– Valid passport
– Photographs
– Proof of purpose of travel (business letters, conference invites, school admission letters)
– Travel itinerary or plans
Officials signaled that consulates will provide clear instructions so applicants can prepare complete files from day one.
The long-delayed JEC session in December 2025 will serve as an early test of this new mobility track. If delegations meet on schedule and companies can send teams without repeated short-term visa requests, trade targets become easier to reach.
The planned JETCO signing in Istanbul aims to create a standing platform to solve problems quickly rather than allowing disputes to pile up.
Important: Applicants should monitor the Ministry site and Turkish consulates for the official document list and fee schedule before submitting applications. The effective date is September 15, 2025.
Broader Expectations and Potential
Both governments emphasize that easier travel goes hand in hand with closer economic and social ties.
Anticipated positive outcomes:
– More site visits and due diligence, accelerating project starts
– Easier family visits and caregiving across borders
– Increased classroom seats, internships, and academic exchanges for young people
– Lower scouting costs for small and medium firms
– Smoother oversight for major projects (site checks, safety reviews, handovers)
Officials summarize next steps as straightforward:
1. Keep flights running on schedule
2. Publish visa details on time
3. Hold the promised economic meetings (JEC in December 2025 and JETCO signing in Istanbul)
If these elements align, the new visa rules could become a model for future mobility arrangements between Türkiye and other African partners—aligning travel policy with trade goals while keeping the process clear and accessible.
This Article in a Nutshell
Türkiye will implement new visa rules for Libyan nationals effective September 15, 2025, introducing longer-stay and multiple-entry visas to facilitate business, tourism and education. Announced by Trade Minister Omer Bolat during Türkiye-Libya Joint Working Group meetings, the policy supports a bilateral goal of reaching $5 billion in annual trade by 2026 after about $3 billion in the first eight months of 2025. Officials say the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will publish full application requirements, document lists and fees and consulates in Libya will distribute guidance. The change aims to reduce administrative friction, enable faster mobilization for contractors and traders, support students and families with repeated travel needs, and complement planned institutional steps such as the JEC reconvening in December 2025 and a JETCO signing in Istanbul to address banking and contracting bottlenecks.
