Turkey Travel Guide

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Passports and Visas

All passports must be valid for at least the period of stay. All travelers to Turkey are required to hold return or onward tickets, documents for the next destination and sufficient funds for the period of their stay. Entry may be refused to those of unkempt appearance. Visas on entry incur a fee of around US$20 and must be paid for in cash. Passengers without a clean appearance and unable to show sufficient funds for the duration of their intended stay in Turkey may be refused entry. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Americans

US passport holders must have a valid passport. A visa is required, which can be obtained from the point of entry, valid for 90 days and single entry only.

UK Nationals

UK passport holders must have a valid passport. British Citizens and British National (Overseas) residing in Hong Kong can obtain a multiple-entry visa on arrival for 90 days, but other passport holders must obtain a visa from an overseas Turkish mission prior to arrival.

Canadians

Canadian passport holders must have a valid passport. A visa is required, which is valid for up to 90 days (multiple entry), and can be obtained at the point of entry.

Australians

Australian passport holders must have a valid passport. A visa is required, which is valid for up to 90 days (multiple entry), and can be obtained from the point of entry.

South Africans

South Africans must hold a valid passport. A visa is required which can be obtained on arrival for a period of 30 days (multiple entry). South Africans may be required to show they hold US$50 funds per day for the duration of their intended stay.

Irish Nationals

Irish nationals require a valid passport. A visa is required which can be obtained on arrival for a period of 90 days (multiple entry).

New Zealanders

New Zealand nationals require a valid passport, but no visa is necessary for a stay of up to 90 days.

Healthcare

There are no vaccination requirements, although a typhoid vaccine is recommended for all travelers, unless coming for a short period and only eating in major hotels and restaurants (e.g. business travelers or cruise ship passengers). There is a risk of malaria in the south-eastern part of the country, but not in the main tourist areas in the west and south-west of the country, although mosquitoes can still be an irritation in summer. Most tap water in the larger towns and cities has been chlorinated, but bottled water is still recommended for drinking. Food from street vendors should be treated with caution. Medical facilities and standard of health care are not high in state hospitals and private health insurance is recommended. Modern facilities exist in private hospitals in Ankara and Istanbul.

Safety

Due to the current situation in neighboring Iraq, travelers are advised to be cautious and check with their embassy for a safety update before departing for Turkey.. There is a significant threat from terrorism in Turkey and there have been a number of terrorist incidents, including small explosions, around the country, including in Istanbul and the capital, Ankara. Explosions on the Aegean Coast and the Mediterranean have killed and injured many people, including foreign tourists. Kurdish militant groups, as well as international terrorist groups, are currently active in Turkey and further attacks against the tourism industry in particular are likely. The Turkish economy is heavily reliant on tourism, which Kurdish separatists have repeatedly threatened to target. There are continuing incidents of local terrorism in Eastern Turkey, particularly the south east. Visitors should avoid any public demonstrations. Street crime is relatively low although visitors should guard their valuables at all times. A number of sexual assaults have been reported in coastal tourist areas. Many parts of Turkey lie on a major seismic fault line and are subject to earthquakes and tremors; several fairly recent earthquakes have shaken eastern Turkey, the southwest and southeast.