Istanbul Tourist Information Official Site
COVID 19 - TURKEY
Strict travel restrictions are required to slow the progression of the epidemic around the world, due to the very active circulation of the Covid-19 virus and its variants (the figures for the pandemic can be viewed on the website of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control ). Therefore, any international travel - from abroad to France and from France to abroad - is strictly regulated until further notice. It is necessary to carefully and imperatively inform oneself of the regulations in force, referring in particular to the Covid-19 alert in the travel advice.
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Measures put in place by the Turkish authorities
A- PCR test
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As of December 29, 2020 at midnight (Turkish time), all passengers aged 6 and over traveling to Turkey by air must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test (any other type of test being excluded) carried out at most late 72 hours before their departure flight for Turkey. It is up to travelers to ask their airline for the details of the application of this measure.
This measure also applies to travelers traveling to Turkey by land or sea transport since December 29, 2020 at midnight.
There is no obligation to test for drivers of heavy goods vehicles, as well as for sea and air crews.
There is no obligation to test for passengers in transit.
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B- Turkish Ministry of Health form
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As of March 15, 2021, all foreign and non-resident passengers in Turkey who wish to enter Turkey must complete the form from the Ministry of Health within 72 hours of entering Turkish territory. This form is available online and a copy must be presented to the transport company (paper or digital medium).
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C- Isolation and quarantine
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Isolation and quarantine measures are applied to people identified as a contact case or who contracted the virus during their stay. The quarantine is 10 days for contact cases and may be shortened in the absence of symptoms and on presentation of a negative test carried out after the 7th day of quarantine. Positive people are placed in solitary confinement for 10 days.
In addition, in order to avoid the entry of a new variant in Turkey, passengers over 6 years old from Brazil, the United Kingdom, Denmark and South Africa via third countries, in transit through Turkey or having stayed in these countries in the 10 days preceding their arrival in Turkey, must present a negative test carried out at the latest 72 hours before their embarkation for Turkey. They are required to observe a quarantine for 14 days, which may be shortened by the production of a second negative PCR test carried out from the 10th day of the quarantine. It should be noted that flights from South Africa, Brazil, Denmark and the UK to Turkey have been suspended since January 22, 2021 until further notice.
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D- Transport
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French nationals are allowed to enter Turkey through air, sea and land borders, with the exception of the borders with Iran. It is strongly recommended to check the regime in force in other countries neighboring Turkey before considering crossing land borders;
passing foreign nationals must complete the form from the Ministry of Health within 72 hours of entering Turkish territory (see above);
Since December 1, 2020, interurban travel by personal vehicle is limited to certain compelling reasons (medical care, death of parents, military obligations, etc.). They are still possible by using public transport, subject to being able to prove a reservation, a transport ticket and an HES code;
the HES code (see below) is required for interurban public transport;
police checks (with thermal cameras) are carried out at the administrative borders of the provinces.
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E- Travel restrictions and specific arrangements
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1. Measures in place since March 1, 2021:
Division into 4 zones according to the level of contamination risk (low = blue, medium = yellow, high = orange, very high = red).
The situation will be reassessed every two weeks.
The map of contamination risk levels is available on the Turkish government website .
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1. The Turkish authorities announced on April 27, 2021 a further tightening of the restrictive measures intended to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures will come into force on Thursday, April 29, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. and are in addition to those already in force.
1.1 They mainly concern the establishment of a total curfew in all 81 provinces of Turkey, from Thursday April 29 at 7:00 p.m. until Monday May 17, 2021 at 5:00 a.m. on weekdays and weekends.
a) Food stores, bakeries and supermarkets will be open every day between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., with the exception of supermarkets which will be closed on Sundays. People living nearby will be able to get supplies there, without using their personal vehicle (except for people with disabilities) or can be delivered to their homes. Travel must be strictly limited on the grounds of exemption from the curfew.
b) Restaurants will only be able to offer a delivery service, 24 hours a day until May 13, until 1 a.m. after that date.
c) All workplaces will be closed, except those explicitly listed in the circular from the Ministry of the Interior https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/81-il-valiligine-tam-kapanma -tedbirleri-genelgesi-gonderildi ] (eg pharmacies). Public institutions - excluding health, security and emergency services - will operate with a maximum of 50% of their staff in face-to-face.
d) The list of persons exempted from curfew measures is detailed in the annex to the circular of the Ministry of the Interior https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/81-il-valiligine-tam-kapanma-tedbirleri- genelgesi-gonderildi ] and mainly concerns the personnel of companies or administrations responsible for ensuring the continuity of production units, supply, health and safety services, agriculture, etc.
e) The curfew measures do not apply to foreign tourists passing through Turkey. They apply to Turkish nationals as well as to foreign residents. As a reminder, failure to comply with the curfew exposes administrative and criminal proceedings, which may include cancellation of the residence permit.
1.2 Interprovincial travel will be prohibited from April 29 at 7:00 p.m. to Monday May 17 at 5:00 a.m., except for exceptions duly listed in the circular of the Ministry of the Interior https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/81-il-valiligine-tam -kapanma-tedbirleri-genelgesi-gonderildi ] and for which prior authorization must be obtained (NB: hotel reservations do not constitute traffic authorization). Public transport between provinces will operate at 50% of their capacity (excluding airplanes).
Travel authorizations may however be issued by the prefectures (according to an online E-BAÅžVURU procedure or by telephone at 199) to respond to specific personal situations (medical emergencies, death, etc.).1.3 Throughout this period, the courses will be distance learning for all levels of education; examinations are postponed to dates to be specified later.
1.4 Police controls will be stepped up to ensure compliance with curfews and restrictions on interprovincial travel (eg checkpoints).
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Health regulations in force:
the obligation to wear a mask in public spaces in all provinces of Turkey;
the obligation to wear a mask in supermarkets, markets and public transport;
respect for social distancing in the public space.
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Persons who fail to comply with the above measures are liable to a fine or even to legal proceedings.
These measures are available on the website of the Ministry of the Interior