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Covid-19 in Turkey
From December 28 – March 1 Turkey requires travellers arriving by air to present a negative PCR test result upon arrival. The Sars-Cov-2-PCR test must have been performed within the past 72 hours. For those arriving through land and sea borders, this requirement takes effect on December 30,2020.
Current Cases
The link below, provides a summary of the current cases in Turkey:
https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/
Entry and Exit Requirements:
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Most Turkish international air, land, and sea borders are open. The land border with Iran remains closed. The border with Syria remains closed.
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COVID-19 control measures for air, land, and sea travel continue. Passengers arriving in Turkey will be required to complete an information form and will be checked for symptoms. Anyone suspected of having COVID-19 will be transported to a hospital for examination. If an individual on a particular aircraft/vehicle/vessel is found to have COVID-19, the information forms completed upon arrival will be used to identify others have been in contact with them; those individuals will then be subject to 14-day isolation/quarantine.
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Tourist travellers do not need any specific health documentation to enter/exit Turkey unless they are arriving for medical treatment.
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Medical tourism travellers need a medical visa and specific health documentation to enter Turkey for medical tourism. Please see Turkish MFA’s website for information about how to obtain visas for this purpose: http://www.mfa.gov.tr/general-information-about-turkish-visas.en.mfa.
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Turkey lifted the ban on importing and exporting of pets as of 1 May. We refer you to the airline websites for specifics. Please see: https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/any-questions/traveling-with-pets/
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The European Union has created a new website for researching transit and travel restrictions for all EU countries, https://reopen.europa.eu/en
Covid Requirements Turkey
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Turkish Citizens and residents under the age of 18 can now go out any time, in the company of a parent. This does not apply to foreign tourists.
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Turkish Citizens and residents above the age of 65 can now go out every day, between 10:00-20:00. This does not apply to foreign tourists.
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Turkish Citizens and residents over 65 can travel within Turkey by obtaining a permit from the Ministry of the Interior. This does not apply to foreign tourists
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All individuals must wear cloth face coverings where people are collectively located, including supermarkets, marketplaces, hair salons, shopping malls, and workplaces as well as in all forms of transportation (including private vehicles) with at least two persons inside.
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The wearing of masks has become mandatory in all public areas in Adıyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Amasya, Ankara, Ardahan, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bartın, Batman, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Çanakkale, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Düzce, Elazığ, Erzurum, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, Giresun, Iğdır, Isparta, İstanbul, İzmir, Kahramanmaraş, Karabük, Kayseri, Kırklareli, Kocaeli, Konya, Kütahya, Malatya, Mardin, Muğla, Muş, Nevşehir, Rize, Osmaniye, Sakarya, Şanlıurfa, Siirt, Sivas, Şırnak, Tokat, Tunceli, Uşak, Yalova, and Zonguldak. A fine of 900 TL will be imposed on those who do not comply with the requirement. Similar to a traffic fine, these fines will be mailed to the individual’s home address, and be payable only at the following government-affiliated banks: Halk Bank, Vakif Bank and Ziraat Bank. For Turkey’s remaining provinces, citizens are required to wear masks in venues such as shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants, cafés, and hairdressers.
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Kindergartens, daycares, and summer camps are open, but require social distancing and restrict the number of people who can enter. Please check with the individual institution for their particular restrictions.
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Local authorities may put in place additional COVID-19 restrictions, including curfews, with little or no advance notice.
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Turkish citizens and residents must request a HES (Hayat Eve Sigar) Code for domestic and international flights, train and ferry travel. This does not apply to foreign tourists.
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Information on how to obtain this code is available at this site: https://hayatevesigar.saglik.gov.tr/hes.html.
Quarantine Information
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Foreign passengers who test positive for COVID-19 on landing flights will be referred to a private hospital by the Ministry of Health – Border Health Unit, whereas Turkish passengers will be referred to a state hospital
Airport Procedures
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Airlines and airports have implemented new procedures for travellers, and passengers must comply with these to travel. For example, masks must be worn in the airport and on airplanes, and arriving passengers are subject to health checks and PCR tests. Please check airport and airline websites for more information and specific regulations:
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Istanbul –SAW: https://www.sabihagokcen.aero/covid-19-en
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Ankara–ESB: http://www.esenbogaairport.com/en-EN/passenger-guide/page/covid19-travel-safe
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Izmir – ADB: http://www.adnanmenderesairport.com/en-EN/passenger-guide/page/covid19-travel-safe
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Antalya-AYT: https://www.antalya-airport.aero/passengers-visitors/covid-19-measures
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Alanya–GZP: http://www.gzpairport.com/en-EN/passenger-guide/page/covid19-travel-safe
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Milas-Bodrum-BJV: http://www.milas-bodrumairport.com/en-EN/passenger-guide/page/covid19-travel-safe
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Flight info for other airports in Turkey: https://www.dhmi.gov.tr/Sayfalar/EN/DefaultEN.aspx
Source: https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/; https://tr.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information-2/ - 7th August 2020
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