Most Canadian visa and permit applicants have to give biometrics, and that is done at a Visa Application Centre (VAC), run for IRCC by VFS Global, not at a Canadian diplomatic mission. Where an applicant’s own country has no Canadian visa office, or no Canadian mission at all, the nearest VAC in a neighbouring country is the usual answer. Istanbul is one of the busiest of these for the region.
This guide sets out the address of the Canada VAC in Istanbul and of the Canadian Consulate General, the phone numbers, nearby hotels, how to get to each from the city centre, and the points worth knowing before you go. If you are travelling to Istanbul to give biometrics for a Canadian application, start here.
Canadian Consulate General in Istanbul: address and contact details
You do not need to attend the consulate for biometrics or to file a visa application. Canadian citizens who need consular services while dealing with immigration to Canada can find the Consulate General at the address below. Note that Canada’s embassy to Türkiye is in Ankara; Istanbul hosts a consulate general.
- Buyukdere Caddesi No. 209, Tekfen Tower, Levent 4, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Postal code: 34394
- Telephone: +90 212 385 9700
- Email: ISTBL-CS@international.gc.ca
The location of the Canadian Consulate General in Istanbul on Google Maps:
Consular services for Canadian citizens
According to its published information, the Consulate General of Canada in Istanbul handles the following for Canadian citizens:
- Registration of births abroad
- Adoption procedures
- Citizenship services
- Services relating to the marriage of Canadian citizens in Türkiye
- Passport and notarial services
- Studying abroad
- Pension services
- Visa and immigration enquiries
- Voting from abroad
- Published closure dates for the consulate
Closure dates for the Canadian Consulate in Istanbul
| New Year's Day | January 1 |
|---|---|
| Family Day | February 17 |
| Eid al-Fitr holiday (Turkiye) | March 31 |
| Eid al-Fitr holiday (Turkiye) | April 1 |
| Victoria Day | May 19 |
| Eid al-Adha holiday (Turkiye) | June 6 |
| Eid al-Adha holiday (Turkiye) | June 9 |
| Canadian Civic Holiday | August 4 |
| Labour Day | September 1 |
| Republic Day (Turkiye) | October 29 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 |
| Boxing Day (Canada) | December 26 |
The Canada Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Istanbul
Biometrics for Canadian applications are collected at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre, not at the consulate.
- Address: Haciahmet Mahallesi, Kurtulus Deresi Caddesi No. 29, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Postal code: 34440
- Telephone: +90 212 373 5813
- Email: info.canadatr@vfshelpline.com
The Canada VAC in Istanbul on Google Maps
Getting to the consulate from the city centre
Taksim Square is about 3.5 km from the Canadian Consulate General. The Besiktas and Levent buses listed in the table below cover the route in up to 30 minutes, or about fifteen minutes when the traffic is light.
| Bus | Boarding stop | Destination stop |
|---|---|---|
| 55T, Taksim - Levent route | Taksim Square | Levent |
| 56T, Taksim - Tarabya route | Taksim Square | Tarabya |
By metro, take the M2 line from Taksim towards Haciosman, get off at Levent, and walk for about 5 minutes.
Distance from Taksim Square to the Canada VAC
The VAC is roughly 2.5 km from Taksim Square. A taxi is quickest, but the public transport options below also work. None of them stops directly outside the centre, so get off at the nearest stop and finish the journey on foot or by taxi.
| Bus | Departure stop | Destination stop |
|---|---|---|
| 30D | Taksim Square | Mecidiyekoy - taxi to the VAC office |
| 81 | Taksim Square | Sisli |
By metro, take the M2 line from Taksim towards Haciosman, get off at Sisli, and continue by taxi or on a walk of about fifteen minutes.
Hotels near the consulate and the VAC
If you would rather walk to your appointment than rely on the metro or a taxi, stay near the consulate or the visa application centre. The best-known options are listed below.
Hotels near the Canadian Consulate
| Hotel name | Distance to the Canadian consulate | Price level and amenities |
|---|---|---|
| Sheraton Istanbul Levent (5-star) | 5 minutes | Expensive; pool, gym and spa, complimentary breakfast |
| Wyndham Grand Istanbul Levent | 5 minutes | Mid-range; free internet, private parking, complimentary buffet breakfast |
| Delta Hotels Istanbul Levent | 5 minutes | Expensive; free breakfast and internet - return airport transfer - spa and luxury suites |
Hotels near the VAC
| Hotel | Distance to the Canada VAC | Price level and amenities |
|---|---|---|
| Febor Park Istanbul Levent Hotel | 15 minutes | Mid-range; free private parking, restaurant and bar |
| Levent Lavandula Hotel | 15 minutes | Well-equipped rooms; close to shopping centres and the metro |
| Kings Cross Hotel Istanbul | 10 minutes | Parking, free Wi-Fi, spa services |
What to know before your biometrics appointment
Whichever program you are applying under, once you have completed the online application, uploaded the forms and paid the IRCC fees, you receive a biometric instruction letter so that you can book an appointment. Go to the VFS office on the day of the appointment and arrive at least 30 minutes early. There is a large Starbucks next door if you need somewhere to wait.
When you reach the VFS building, take the stairs down for the Canada section. Queue with your passport, the appointment confirmation with its reference number, and any other relevant documents to hand.
Some applicants are exempt from giving biometrics: children under 14, applicants aged 79 and over, and temporary residence applicants who already gave biometrics for a Canadian application within the past 10 years and whose biometrics are still valid. That 10-year reuse rule applies to temporary residence applications; permanent residence applicants give biometrics for each application. Lawful permanent residents of the United States do not need a visitor visa for Canada at all and travel on their green card together with a passport, so the question does not arise for a short visit. Check your own exemption on the IRCC website rather than assuming it.
Read more: police certificates for Canada
Applying for a Canadian visa with Aval Visa
A trip to Istanbul for Canadian biometrics takes a single day. The steps that come before it are what applicants tend to find slow or confusing.
This guide covers the practical detail of the consulate and the VAC in Istanbul so the trip itself is straightforward. If you need help uploading documents, completing the forms accurately or dealing with the application itself, the Aval Visa team advises on the routes for immigration to Canada, prepares full document checklists, and can review a file and assess the options after a refusal. Every decision, on any application, rests with IRCC.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does the biometrics appointment take? The wait is usually under an hour, and the fingerprints and photograph themselves take about 15 minutes.
- Where else can I give biometrics apart from Istanbul? Other visa application centres in the region include Ankara, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Yerevan and Tbilisi. Which one is cheapest and easiest depends on where you are travelling from and on visa requirements for entry to that country.
- How do I book an appointment at the VFS office? Once your application is complete and the fees are paid online, IRCC issues a biometric instruction letter (BIL) carrying your application number. You then book the biometrics appointment on the VFS website.
- Do I have to upload anything after booking? No. Download the booking confirmation showing the appointment time and reference number, and bring it with you on the day.
