Last Updated: April 29, 2021

Please see Turkish Ministry of Interior’s April 26th dated circular for more information.

New Updates:
•    On April 26, 2021, the Turkish Government announced additional restrictions and closures to stop the spread of COVID-19, including a full-time curfew throughout all of Turkey, starting at 19:00 on Thursday, April 29, 2021, and ending at 05:00 on Monday, May 17, 2021, encompassing weekdays and weekends.  
•    The COVID-19 related restrictions apply to all citizens and residents of Turkey; tourists are exempt.  

Grocery and Other Food-Related Shop Curfew Operating Hours:   
•    During the curfew supermarkets, green grocers, bakeries, and butchers will be open from 10:00 until 17:00, individuals may shop for their essential needs at the closest store within walking distance (driving is not allowed).  Most supermarkets and green grocers will be closed on Sundays.  

Dining Establishments:  
•    Until the end of Ramadan, Thursday, May 13, 2021 dining establishments such as restaurants, patisseries, cafés, and cafeterias will be available for 24/7 delivery services only. After this date, they will be available for delivery services until 01:00 hours only.

Intercity Travel:  
•     Intercity travel during the full time curfew will only be allowed if it meets one or more of following exigent or mandatory circumstances listed below and a travel permit has been received.  

- To get to the airport for international flights.

- Attending funeral’s of next of kin.

- Have been discharged from hospital and are returning to their residence of origin.

- Have medical appointments based on a doctor’s report.

- Have come to a given city within the last five days but do not have a place to stay and want to return to their place of residence (must have valid travel ticket, vehicle license plate, or other documents showing their travel, and information).

- Will attend exams announced by Ministry of Education or other central exams.

Hotel/Lodging/Accommodation Reservations:  
•      A hotel/lodging/accommodation reservation during the period when the curfew will be applied will not provide exemption from the curfew and/or intercity travel restrictions. Only individuals who have a travel permit that meets the exigent/mandatory circumstances above will be allowed to travel. Valid travel permits will be required before airline, bus, train, ship tickets can be issued. Information on how to get a travel permit is listed under the Movement Restrictions heading.  
Tourists/Non-Citizens:  
•    Foreign travelers who are in the country for short trips and tourism are exempt from the curfews.
•    Foreigners who are in the country as residents, under protected status, or international status, are subject to the curfew restrictions.

International Flights:  
•    International travel during lockdown hours will be allowed.
•    Valid travel permits will not be required before airline, bus, train, ship tickets can be issued.
•    If you are taking a domestic flight to connect to an international flight you do not need a travel permit. You do need to have information on both flights available to show local authorities if stopped.
•    If you are travelling overland to another city to take an international flight, you no longer need a travel permit for the intercity travel portion, provided you can show proof of your purchased international ticket(s).
•    Please see Turkish Ministry of Interior’s April 26th dated circular for more information.

Country-Specific Information:
•    Turkey has confirmed cases of COVID-19 within its borders.
•    On March 1, 2021 the Government of Turkey announced a four-tier system on local COVID-19 related restrictions. Provinces are now divided into 4 different risk groups: low (blue), medium (yellow), high (orange), and very high (red) based on infection and vaccination rates. To view the map, please visit the following page: https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/.

COVID-19 Testing:
•    PCR testing while staying in Turkey for foreigners is limited to those who have symptoms, or those who may have an entry requirement back to their home country. Testing is paid for by the traveler.  
•    The government of Turkey has updated their website with the list of facilities in Turkey that perform COVID-19 tests. 
•    PCR testing is available at Istanbul Airport. There is no need for an appointment to visit the airport’s testing center, as it is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.  The testing center is in front of Entrance 14 in Arrivals Hall. The test fee is 250 TL or about $35 for all ages. You must arrive at the airport at least 6 hours prior to your flight with a valid ticket and a valid passport, test results take up to 5 hours.
•    PCR testing is now available at Ankara Esenboğa Airport. There is no need for an appointment to visit the airport’s testing center, as it is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The testing center is located in the International Departures Terminal, past the checkpoint, on the ground floor by the First Aid Office. The test fee is 250 TL or about $35 for all ages. You must arrive at the airport at least 7 hours prior to your flight with a valid ticket and a valid passport, as test results take up to 6 hours.
•    Passengers in transit, with less than six months validity left on their passports will not be allowed to depart the airport transit areas in order to obtain a COVID test.  Passengers who are unable to exit the transit area and require a COVID-19 test can request it at the transit area information desk.

Entry and Exit Requirements:
•    A PCR test is required.
•    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 or to a dormitory to self-isolate. 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.   
•    As of March 15, all passengers arriving in Turkey (except the transit passengers) are now required to fill out “Form for Entry to Turkey” at http://register.health.gov.tr within the last 72 hours before their flights.
•    Residency permit information is available at Turkish Ministry of Interior’s website.
•    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. If they have not submitted a PCR test within 72-hours of boarding their flight, or arrived via land border or sea port without a PCR test, they will be required to quarantine where they planned to stay.

•    Passengers failing to submit a digital or paper copy of a negative PCR test result are not permitted to board the flights.

Transportation:
•    Buses, ferries, and trains are operating but there are limits to passenger capacity on buses and all passengers must wear a mask.  
•    During the weekday and weekend curfew, those aged 65 and over and young people under 18 and children will not be allowed to use public transportation vehicles (metro, metrobus, bus, minibus, minibus, etc.).

HES Code:
•    The Government of Turkey requires everyone traveling in Turkey to present a Hayat Eve Sigar (HES) code. All persons must request a HES (Hayat Eve Sigar) Code for domestic and international flights, while staying in hotels, using inner city public transport, and at inter-city bus travel rest stops. This does not apply to foreign tourists.
•    Information on how to obtain this HES code is available at Hayat Eve Sigar web portal. The procedure is as follows:

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE TURKISH CITIZENSHIP: Send a text message to phone number 2023 that includes:

- the letters “HES”

- your Turkish Kimlik number

- the last four digits of the series number of your ID

- the number of days you will be traveling

NOTE:  Put a single space between each item (e.g., HES 1234567 1234 09).

FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT TURKISH CITIZENS BUT ARE RESIDENTS AND POSSES A KIMLIK: Send a text message to phone number 2023 that includes:

- the letters “HES”

- your Kimlik number

- your year of birth

t- he number of days you will be traveling

NOTE:  Put a single space between each item (e.g., HES 1234567 1972 14).

Fines for Non-Compliance:  
•     Fine 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.