Posted today from F & CDO.
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| Update from GOV.UK for:
Turkey travel advice Change made:
Updated information on quarantine requirements.
Time updated:
3:32pm, 26 January 2021 |
Direct flights from the United Kingdom to Turkey were temporarily suspended from 1 January at 10pm UTC.
If you are due to travel to/from the United Kingdom please contact your travel operator. Further updates will be published when they are available. Check our
advice on things to consider, and be prepared to stay overseas longer than planned.
If you are returning to the UK from Turkey, you will need to self-isolate on your return (unless you are
exempt). Check the
latest guidance for
England,
Northern Ireland,
Scotland and
Wales.
Travel to Turkey is subject to entry restrictions
- The Turkish Government have implemented a series of COVID-19 travel restrictions that are affecting flight operations between the United Kingdom and Turkey
- Direct flights have been temporarily suspended from UK to Turkey
- Flights from Turkey to the UK continue. If you are in Turkey and wish to return to the United Kingdom, direct commercial flights are available from Istanbul with Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Tickets can be purchased direct from the airlines via their normal points of sale. If you held a ticket for a flight on one of these airlines that was cancelled, you should contact them directly to discuss your rebooking options
- If you are in the United Kingdom and wish to return to Turkey, direct commercial flights are no longer available. If you held a ticket for a flight that has been cancelled, please contact your airline or travel agent to discuss your rebooking/refund options
- Airlines are allowed to transport transit passengers from the UK who are travelling on one ticket via Turkey to another international destination. But as flights are operated on a commercial basis by airlines they may be subject to change or cancellation at short notice. You should contact airlines directly for the latest information about your flight
- Travel to Turkey from the UK via a third country is permitted. However, passengers who have been in the UK within the last 10 days will be quarantined for 14 days on arrival in Turkey at locations selected by the local Turkish authorities. In addition, before boarding, all passengers aged 6 years and above will be required to show a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to departure
- Passengers arriving after 25 January 2021 have the option of taking a PCR test on day 10 of their quarantine – if negative, the quarantine can end at that point
- There are different requirements in place for arrivals to Turkey from different countries. You should check the latest COVID-19 travel requirements set by the Turkish authorities with your airline before travelling
- All passengers arriving in Turkey will be subject to a medical evaluation for symptoms of coronavirus, including temperature checks. And all passengers travelling to Turkey aged 6 years and above will be required, before boarding, to submit a negative PCR test result completed within 72 hours prior to their time of flight departure to Turkey
- Passengers who are in transit to another country via Turkey are not required to submit negative PCR tests, unless they are flying from the UK, Denmark or South Africa (transit passengers from these three destinations are still required to show a negative PCR test taken within 72hrs of departure to Turkey)
See
Entry requirements for more information before you plan to travel.
Preparing for your return journey to the UK
If you are due to travel from Turkey to the UK, contact your airline directly.
If you’re returning to the UK from overseas, you will need to:
Check our
advice on foreign travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and
sign up for email alerts for this travel advice.
If you’re planning travel to Turkey, find out what you need to know about coronavirus there in the
Coronavirus section.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO’s
guidance on foreign travel insurance.
Entry requirements
The information on this page covers the most common types of travel and reflects the UK government’s understanding of the rules currently in place. Unless otherwise stated, this information is for travellers using a full ‘British Citizen’ passport.
The authorities in the country or territory you’re travelling to are responsible for setting and enforcing the rules for entry. If you’re unclear about any aspect of the entry requirements, or you need further reassurance, you’ll need to contact the
embassy, high commission or consulate of the country or territory you’re travelling to.
You should also consider checking with your transport provider or travel company to make sure your passport and other travel documents meet their requirements.
Entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)
Entry to Turkey
Turkey has temporarily suspended passenger flights between UK and Turkey. However, limited flights
from Turkey to the UK continue.
Turkey’s international land and sea borders are open. However, short-notice changes, especially temporary closures of land borders, are possible and you should check access locally.
Passengers wishing to transit through airports in Turkey on to a domestic Turkish flight will be required to take another PCR test upon arrival, before catching their onward flight.
You must wear a face mask at all times whilst in an airport, and for the duration of all flights, to and from Turkey.
Testing / screening on arrival
All arrivals into Turkey will be subject to a medical evaluation for symptoms of coronavirus, including temperature checks.
Passengers who have been in the UK within the last 10 days will be quarantined for 14 days on arrival in Turkey at locations selected by the local Turkish authorities. People who arrived after 25 January 2021 have the option of taking a PCR on day 10 of their quarantine – if negative, the quarantine can end at that point.
All passengers from all points of departure to Turkey must have proof of a negative PCR test undertaken within 72 hours prior to departure to Turkey. Without evidence of such a test, passengers will be denied boarding.
Passengers who are in direct transit through Turkey to other destinations do not require a negative PCR test, unless their journey originated in UK, Denmark or South Africa. Passengers transiting Turkey from the UK, Denmark or South Africa will be required on boarding to show a negative PCR test result taken within 72hrs of departure to Turkey.
Data collection
You will need to complete a passenger locator form prior to arriving in Turkey. Details will be provided by your airline.
You will be asked to provide the residential address of where you will stay, within the borders of Turkey, and your contact information.
You may be asked by your airline to provide personal information regarding COVID-19 that may be shared with Ministry of Health and third countries when necessary. Anyone who knowingly provides false information may be prevented from travelling.
Regular entry requirements
Visas
British Citizens travelling to Turkey for tourist or business purposes are able to travel without a visa for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
If you plan to remain in Turkey for a period of more than 90 days, you should either apply for a longer stay visa before you travel, or get a residence permit from the local authorities in Turkey before your 90 day stay has elapsed. If you intend to work in Turkey, ensure you have the correct permits. More information is available from the Turkish Ministry of the Interior. If you don’t abide by the terms of your visa or permit, you may be fined, deported and banned from re-entering the country.
If you’re entering Turkey via a land border crossing, make sure your passport has a dated entry stamp before you leave the border crossing area.
If you hold a different type of British nationality (eg BN(O), British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person or British Subject), check visa requirements with the Turkish Consulate General before you travel. These types of passport are classed as ‘UK Special Passports’ in the Turkish e-Visa system. You’ll need to apply for a visa from the Turkish Consulate General before you travel.
Passport validity
The Turkish government advise that your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from the date you enter Turkey and that there is a full blank page for the entry and exit stamps. You can find more detail about the requirements for entry into Turkey on the website of the
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Travelling with children
If you are leaving Turkey with a child who is a dual British-Turkish national, you may be asked to show the Turkish immigration authorities evidence that the Turkish parent has given permission for the child to travel.
UK Emergency Travel Documents
UK Emergency Travel Documents (ETD) are accepted for entry, airside transit and exit from Turkey within the dates printed on the document. ETDs should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Turkey.