We wrote this guide for players and parents who ask the same questions before every event: who issues a FIDE ID, how to sign up for a tournament in another country, and what to do when the entry form is only in Turkish. It is based on the Turkish Chess Federation's licence system and on regulations published by tournament organizers. Rules change from season to season, so the tournament's own regulations always have the final word.

1. Registering for a tournament abroad

Almost every open tournament in Europe has a page on chess-results and takes entries either through a form on its website or by email. The usual steps:

1. Read the invitation. Entry fee, registration deadline, hotel packages and who gets a discount are all listed there. GMs, IMs and WGMs often play for free, sometimes with accommodation; juniors and women frequently get reduced fees.
2. Check your FIDE profile. Make sure your name, year of birth and federation are correct on ratings.fide.com. Organizers copy these details straight into the pairing software.
3. Fill in the form or send an email. If there is no form, use the template below.
4. Pay the fee. Many European events ask for a bank transfer (IBAN and SWIFT); some accept PayPal or card payments online, and some let you pay on site. Hitting the early-bird deadline often saves 10 to 30 euros.
5. Wait for confirmation and find your name on the entry list. If you have paid and you are still missing after a few days, send a polite reminder with your payment receipt.
6. Start early if you need a visa. Schengen appointments can be two or three months out in busy periods. Ask the organizer for an invitation letter in your name; most will send one once your fee is paid.

2. How do I get a FIDE ID?

FIDE IDs are issued through national federations, and FIDE regulations require you to be a citizen or a resident of that country. In practice:

• Ask your national federation's rating officer before your first FIDE-rated event.
• If you are entering a rated event abroad and have no ID yet, tell the organizer when you register; some can arrange the registration with the help of your federation.
• Do not leave this to the last day: a player without a valid ID can prevent a game, or even a whole event, from being rated.

3. Foreign players in Turkey

Turkey has one of the busiest chess calendars in Europe, from weekend rapid events to big summer opens in Antalya, Izmir and Istanbul. Many regional regulations published for the 2025-26 season state that foreign players with a FIDE ID issued by their own federation do not need a Turkish Chess Federation licence. This is not universal: some official championships are restricted to Turkish citizens.

• Look for the clause on "yabancı uyruklu sporcular" (foreign players) in the regulations, called the yönerge.
• Entries are usually made on the regional federation website, for example istanbul.tsf.org.tr or izmir.tsf.org.tr. The forms ask for your name, date of birth, rating, FIDE ID and phone number. The Turkish ID number field is for Turkish citizens only; if the form will not let you continue without it, email the organizer instead.
• Key Turkish words on entry forms: Ad Soyad (full name), Doğum tarihi (date of birth), Son başvuru (deadline), Katılım ücreti (entry fee), Teknik toplantı (technical meeting, usually just before round 1).
• Bring your passport to the registration check before the first round.

4. Turkish players: licence and season visa

If you play for Turkey, you need a Turkish Chess Federation licence with a valid season visa. The season runs from 16 September to 15 September. The first licence is free and is issued by your provincial or district Youth and Sports Directorate; you need a health status certificate from e-Nabız, parental consent if you are under 18, and two passport photos. The 2026-27 visa fee for Turkish citizens is listed as 430 TL on the federation's licence page, where you can also check your status.

5. Registration email template

Copy it, fill in your details and keep it short. Organizers handle hundreds of these messages, and a complete email gets a faster reply than a long one.

Subject: Registration – [Tournament name] – [Your name]

Dear Organizers,

I would like to register for [Tournament name] ([dates]).

Name: [Surname, First name]
FIDE ID: [number]
Federation: [e.g. GER]
Date of birth: [DD.MM.YYYY]
FIDE rating: [rating]
Section / group: [e.g. A Open]

Please send me the payment details. If possible, I would also appreciate an invitation letter for my visa application.

Kind regards,
[Your name]
[Phone]

6. Common mistakes

• A name that does not match your FIDE profile. Use exactly the same spelling; special characters often break in foreign systems.
• The wrong age group. Youth sections are based on year of birth, not your birthday.
• No reference on the bank transfer. Always add your name and the tournament name.
• Leaving it to the last day. Events with a player limit fill up, and late entries are the first to be turned away.

💡 On the mytourneys calendar, open any tournament card and tap "How to register?" to see the registration link, the regulations and the relevant part of this guide on one screen.