With Turkish demand for Czech work and study visas surging, the Czech Consulate General in Istanbul has quietly revised its public hours, effective 21 September. According to an updated information page, the visa section will now accept applications Monday through Thursday from 09:00–12:00 and 13:00–14:00 as well as Friday 09:00–12:00, strictly by prior e-mail appointment. Previously, afternoon slots were limited to two days a week. The change is designed to absorb a growing backlog of Employee-Card and Study-Purpose filings ahead of the October university intake and the Christmas labour-market peak. Turkish recruitment agencies say appointment waiting times had stretched to ten weeks; the additional afternoon windows are expected to shave at least two weeks off scheduling. Business travellers should note that passport collection and legalisation services retain the broader 09:00–15:00 Monday-Thursday window, but consular staff warn that walk-ins will be turned away. Applicants must email Istanbul.Consulate@mzv.gov.cz with scanned forms to obtain a slot, and incomplete files will be rejected to keep counters moving. The Istanbul post handles visa work for 17 north-western provinces, including the commercial hubs of Istanbul and İzmir. Czechia’s trade office in Istanbul reports a 26 percent year-on-year rise in service-sector placements of Turkish nationals, largely in IT, engineering and hospitality. Companies relocating staff should therefore confirm that the new timetable has been factored into mobility calendars, especially for assignments commencing in Q1 2027.
