COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Turkey (10 December Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Residents and citizens are allowed to enter the country.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes

• Foreigners are allowed to enter Turkey.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• All incoming passengers will undergo health screening for any symptoms of COVID-19, and only those with symptoms of COVID-19 will be tested.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Those with a positive COVID-19 test result will be treated at a government-designated medical facility or a private medical facility at their own expense.

• In case of positive COVID-19 found in any aircraft/vehicle/vessel, all other individuals connected with the infected person will be subject to 14 days isolation/quarantine.

Insurance required?

• No

• Insurance is not required; however, travellers can purchase insurance package through contracted airlines, various sales points before passport control, tour operators, and online channels.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• Travellers will need to complete a passenger locator form prior to arriving in Turkey. Details will be provided by their airline.

Recommended Border App

• Yes with exceptions

• Not for foreign tourists, however, all Turkish citizens and residents are required to obtain a HES (Hayat Eve Sigar) Code for domestic and international flights, train and ferry travel.

• This code will also be required when checking into accommodation including hotels, motels, boarding houses, pensions, camps etc.

• The submission of the code will be done through the e-Devlet system, the ‘Hayat Eve Sığar’ smartphone application and by SMS.

• Travellers with Turkish citizenship can send message as: HES [Space] Turkish kimlik Number [Space] the last four digits of the series number of your ID [Space] the number of days you will be traveling, plus seven days should be used.

• Travellers with Turkish resident ID can send message as: HES [Space] Turkish kimlik Number [Space] year of birth [Space] the number of days you will be traveling, plus seven days should be used.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• Most domestic and international flights are operating.

• A face mask is mandatory in airports and on flights.

Border restrictions

• Minimal

• Land, sea, and air borders are open for travellers from most countries. The government could close land borders temporarily with short notice, and passengers are asked to check access locally.

• Turkey has opened tourism for travellers from all countries who meet Turkish immigration rules.

• Turkey has resumed usual visa services and is issuing new travel visas online.

• Any traveller who wants to stay in Turkey for 90 days or more must apply for a longer stay visa or get a residential permit before travel from their origin.

• The residency permit can be obtained using this LINK.

Curfew restrictions

• Significant

• Foreigners in the country for tourism purpose are exempted from the curfew and all other restrictions.

• A partial curfew has been imposed during the week from 21:00 to 5:00 until further notice.

• A total lockdown is in place on weekends starting from 21:00 on Friday to 5:00 on Monday.

• Production, manufacturing, supply chains, and health workers are exempt from the weekday and weekend curfews.

• Citizens over the age of 65 are allowed to go out everyday from 10:00-13:00. These restrictions do not apply to foreign tourists.

• Any citizen under the age of 20 is now allowed to go outside from 13:00 to 16:00. These restrictions do not apply to foreign tourists.

• Citizens more than 20 years of age or younger than 65 years of age have to use a contact tracing code.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• People must maintain social distancing and wear a protective face mask when in public.

Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate

• Face masks are mandatory on all public transportation (including metro, buses, and ferries). In some areas, masks are required when travelling in private vehicles with more than one person.

• Those older than 65 or younger than 20 will no longer be permitted to use public transportation.

• Turkish residence and citizens age 65 and older are restricted to their residence place and allowed outside between 10:00 to 13:00 hours (local time).

• Turkish residents and citizens aged 20 and below are allowed outside within 13:00 to 16:00 hours (local time).

• Regular bus services have resumed in most areas with strict precautions.

• Standing passengers are not allowed in urban public transportation vehicles since physical distancing will not be possible.

• All public transport and taxis must have a fibreglass separator in vehicles between passengers and drivers.

• Turkish citizens and residents below the age of 20 do not need a permit to travel within the same city or to undertake intercity travel. When travelling, they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is under 65 years of age. Passengers above the age of 65 can travel within Turkey by obtaining a permit from the Ministry of the Interior. The intercity travel permit can be obtained by calling 199 or through the e-devlet system HERE.

• HES codes are mandatory to enter Usak and Zonguldak provinces.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Supermarkets, shopping centres and beauty centres can operate from 10:00 to 20:00.

• During the weekend curfew, supermarkets, green grocers, bakeries, and butchers will be open from 10:00 until 17:00. With the exception of age groups 65 and over and 20 and under (who remain on more restricted curfews), individuals may shop for their essential needs at the closest store within walking distance (driving is not allowed).

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Turkey residents/citizens must present an HES code for staying in hotels.

Restaurants open?

• No with exceptions

• Restaurants can operate from 10:00 to 20:00 hours (local time) for take-away service only.

• Dining establishment in the airport and hotel restaurants are allowed to open.

Bars and cafes open?

• No with exceptions

• Cafes can operate from 10:00 to 20:00 hours (local time) for take-away service only.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes

• Beaches are open.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes

• Museums and heritage sites are open.

Personal care services open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Barbers, hairdressers are allowed to provide services from 10:00 to 20:00 (local time).

• Turkish baths, saunas, and massage salons are closed.

Events allowed?

• Yes with exception

• People may attend open-air concerts.

• All indoor ceremonies are banned except weddings. Wedding halls can open until 22:00 (local time).

• A maximum of 30 people will be able to attend weddings and funerals. The duration of a wedding ceremony is limited to one hour with strict COVID-19 restrictions. Citizens aged 65 and over and children under the age of 15 who are not first or second-degree relatives of the bride and groom will not be allowed to attend the weddings.

• New Year’s Eve public celebrations will be cancelled.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Face masks are mandatory in crowded public places (specifically in markets and supermarkets). A fine will be imposed on people violating the requirement.

Other

• Some schools have resumed with both online and offline classes.

• Parks, daycare centres, camps, libraries, and most public sites are open.

• Smoking in public spaces is banned in all 81 provinces in Turkey.

• Theatres will remain close until 31 December.

• Movie theaters, soccer fields, tea gardens, internet/electronic game halls, billiard halls, hookah lounges, swimming pools, and amusement parks are closed.

Advies

The COVID-19 epidemic is changing constantly worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country’s embassy for information on your specific travel plans.