Information of Covid-19 – Elite Turkey Tours

Last Updated: December 6, 2021

New Updates:

Travel Requirements have changed. Starting December 6, all air travelers aged two and above, regardless of vaccination status or nationality, must show a negative COVID-19 test. Your negative test result must be from a COVID-19 viral test performed one calendar day before the day of your flight to the U.S. In other words, the testing window can be slightly more than 24 hours before your departure. If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country, and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).
Effective November 29, 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, entry into the United States of noncitizens who are not U.S. LPRs and who were present in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, or Zimbabwe within 14 days prior to their arrival at the port of entry in the United States is suspended, per Presidential Proclamation. Applicants with impending travel due to extreme humanitarian emergencies may visit our webpage for more information. All Centers for Disease Control (CDC) orders pertaining to vaccination and testing requirements still apply. There are very limited exceptions for diplomats (A and G visa holders) and air and sea crew (C1/D visa holders).
Effective November 8, 2021, all non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizen air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.
U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) who are eligible to travel but are not fully vaccinated will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test one (1) day before their flight. U.S citizens and LPRs who are fully vaccinated will need to present airlines with proof of vaccination and of a negative COVID-19 test three (3) days before their flight.
Exemptions will be considered on an extremely limited basis. Please contact your nearest embassy or consulate to apply for an exemption. Please visit the CDC webpages for more information about exemptions and the requirement for proof of negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving in the United States.

Country-Specific Information:

Turkey has confirmed cases of COVID-19 within its borders.
The Turkish Ministry of Health releases Turkey’s daily vaccination and COVID-19 numbers at https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/.
Tourists/Non-Citizens:
Foreigners who are in the country as residents, under protected status, or international status are required to provide a Hayat Eve Sigar (HES) code for inner city public transportation, inter-city bus travel rest stops, hotel reservations, and international and domestic flights.
Grocery and Other Food-Related Shop Curfew Operating Hours:
Grocery and other food-related shops are open normal operation hours.
Dining Establishments:
Dining establishments such as restaurants, patisseries, cafés, and cafeterias are open for in-person dining and delivery services with no restrictions.
Smoking in public spaces is banned.

Education:

Turkey has started face-to-face education as of September 6th. Please contact your school and see the Ministry of Education for the most up to date information.

Other Establishments :

Most services are available in Turkey without restrictions. Starting September 6, 2021 proof of vaccination or a negative PRC test within the past 48 hours will be required to enter some establishments hosting crowded events such as theaters or cinemas. This requirement applies to individuals 18 years old and older including foreign nationals with Turkish residency. Individuals who fail to provide the necessary documentation will not be permitted to enter into these venues or participate in crowded events.
The services of the following establishments will remain suspended temporarily until further notice:
Hookah lounge/cafes

COVID-19 Testing:

Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in Turkey? Yes
If so, are test results reliably available within one calendar day? Yes
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.

COVID-19 Vaccine Information:

Has the government of Turkey approved a COVID vaccine for use? Yes
Are COVID vaccines available in Turkey for U.S. citizens to receive? Yes for U.S. citizens who hold residency in Turkey
U.S. citizens who have residency in Turkey can get vaccinated by going through the same process as Turkish citizens. Prioritization by age group applies to residency holders and the eligibility can be checked at https://enabiz.gov.tr/.
Information on how to register at e-nabiz can be found at the Turkish Ministry of Health’s pamphlet.
Which vaccines are available in Turkey?
The government of Turkey administers SinoVac CoronaVac and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines.
The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.
Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.
For more information, please visit the Government of Turkey’s COVID-19 information page.
Information from the CDC regarding COVID-19 vaccination.

Entry and Exit Requirements:

Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter Turkey? Yes
Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes
A PCR test is required for individuals over the age of 12 years old who are unable to show proof of vaccination.
Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
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.
Travel Requirements have changed. Starting December 6, all air travelers aged two and above, regardless of vaccination status or nationality, must show a negative COVID-19 test. Your negative test result must be from a COVID-19 viral test performed one calendar day before the day of your flight to the U.S. In other words, the testing window can be slightly more than 24 hours before your departure. If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country, and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).
Effective November 29, 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, entry into the United States of noncitizens who are not U.S. LPRs and who were present in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, or Zimbabwe within 14 days prior to their arrival at the port of entry in the United States is suspended, per Presidential Proclamation. Applicants with impending travel due to extreme humanitarian emergencies may visit our webpage for more information. All Centers for Disease Control (CDC) orders pertaining to vaccination and testing requirements still apply. There are very limited exceptions for diplomats (A and G visa holders) and air and sea crew (C1/D visa holders).
Effective November 8, 2021, all non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizen air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.
U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents (LPRs) who are eligible to travel but are not fully vaccinated will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test one (1) day before their flight. U.S citizens and LPRs who are fully vaccinated will need to present airlines with proof of vaccination and of a negative COVID-19 test three (3) days before their flight.
Exemptions will be considered on an extremely limited basis. Please contact your nearest embassy or consulate to apply for an exemption. Please visit the CDC webpages for more information about exemptions and the requirement for proof of negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving in the United States.
Flights from Bangladesh, Brazil, Nepal, South Africa and Sri Lanka are suspended to Turkey.
Passengers must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 72 hours before arrival, if in the past they have been in Afghanistan, Brazil, Nepal, South Africa or Sri Lanka.
This does not apply to passengers younger than 12 years.
Passengers arriving from Egypt and Iran must have a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 72 hours before arrival.
This does not apply to passengers younger than 12 years.
Passengers arriving from a country other than Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, India, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka must:
have a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken at most 72 hours before arrival; or
have a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken at most 48 hours before arrival.
This does not apply to:
passengers younger than 12 years;
passengers with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival;
passengers with a COVID-19 recovery certificate issued at most 6 months before arrival;
merchant seamen.
Passengers arriving into Turkey may be subject to a random PCR test at their final destination in Turkey.
A completed “Traveler Entry Form” must be presented at check-in and upon arrival. The form can be obtained at http://register.health.gov.tr.
Passengers who in the past 14 days have been in Afghanistan, Brazil, Nepal South Africa or Sri Lanka are subject to quarantine for up to 14 days, at their own expense, in a government hotel listed at http://web.shgm.gov.tr/tr/covid-19-tedbirler/6599-izolasyon-otelleri.
Passengers could be subject to self-isolation for up to 14 days.
This does not apply to passenger with a COVID-19 vaccination certificate showing that they were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before arrival.
Medical tourism travelers will need a medical visa and specific health documentation to enter Turkey. Please see the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website for information about how to obtain visas for this purpose.
Residency permit information is available at Turkish Ministry of Interior’s website.
Effective December 1, 2021, dogs vaccinated in the United States by a U.S.-licensed veterinarian may re-enter the United States from Turkey without a CDC Dog Import Permit if the dog:
has a valid (not expired) U.S.-issued rabies vaccination certificate from a U.S.-licensed veterinarian;
has proof of a microchip;
is at least 6 months old;
is healthy upon arrival; and
arrives at an approved port of entry
As a reminder, Effective July 14, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) temporarily suspended the importation of dogs to the United States from designated “high-risk” countries for rabies. Turkey is among these high-risk countries. The Embassy strongly recommends anyone traveling to the United States with a dog to closely monitor the CDC website for updated guidance. the customs information section of TSG

Movement Restrictions:

Is a curfew in place? No. 
The Turkish Ministry of Health releases Turkey’s daily vaccination and COVID-19 numbers at https://covid19.saglik.gov.tr/.
Tourists/Non-Citizens:
Foreigners who are in the country as residents, under protected status, or international status, are required to provide a Hayat Eve Sigar (HES) code for inner city public transportation, inter-city bus travel rest stops, hotel reservations, and international and domestic flights. You can find more information below.
Are there restrictions on inter-city or inter-state travel? Yes.
Starting September 6, intercity travel by bus, plane, train or other public transportation will require proof of vaccination or a negative PC test taken within the past 48 hours. This requirement applies to individuals 18 years old and older including foreign nationals with Turkish residency. Travel using a private vehicle will not require proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test. Individuals who fail to provide the necessary documentation will not be permitted to board public transportation.
Hotel/Lodging/Accommodation Reservations:
A hotel/lodging/accommodation reservation will require a Hayat Eve Sigar (HES) code for Turkish citizens and residents of Turkey. Please find more information below.

Quarantine Information:

Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? No.
-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 will not be required to quarantine or submit a negative PCR test result if they submit a document issued by the relevant country’s official authorities stating that they have been vaccinated at least 14 days before entrance to Turkey and/or have had the disease and were cured within the last 6 months.
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.

Transportation Options:

Are commercial flights operating? Yes
Passengers should check with airlines for up-to-date schedules, work with them to address flight changes, and be prepared for possible cancellations. Passengers should also carefully review transit information and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) landing requirements when booking connecting flights to the United States from Turkey.
Is public transportation operating? Yes
Buses, ferries, and trains are operating but there are limits to passenger capacity on buses and all passengers must wear a mask.
Transit passengers are not required to submit a PCR test in Turkey however they are advised to review the flight restrictions applied by the destination country regarding the PCR test requirements, age limits and the duration.
Passengers failing to submit a digital or paper copy of a negative PCR test result are not permitted to board the flights.
The European Union has created a website for researching transit and travel restrictions for all E.U. countries.
Effective January 15, Istanbul will implement a new law that states the Istanbul Kart for anyone over six (6) years old must be connected with your HES code in order to use public transportation. We highly suggest you buy an Istanbul Kart for each person in your family and pair the Istanbul Kart with HES Code.
Airlines and airports have implemented new procedures for travelers, and passengers must comply with these to travel. For example, masks must be worn in the airport and on airplanes, and arriving passengers are subject to health checks and PCR tests. Please check airport and airline websites for more information and specific guidance.
Turkey does not have a ban on importing or exporting pets. We refer you to the airline websites for more specific details.
Please see the U.S. Embassy Immigrant Visa page and the Non-Immigrant Visa page for further information if you are a visa holder seeking entry to the United States.

HES Codes:

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, (we recommend adding 7 days as a safeguard)
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
the number of days you will be traveling (we recommend adding 7 days as a safeguard)
NOTE: Put a single space between each item (e.g., HES 1234567 1972 14).
On November 12, the government announced that obligatory HES codes are required for entering Usak and Zonguldak provinces.
Airlines also have information on their websites in English about the HES code including:
Turkish Airlines
SunExpress
Pegasus

Fines for Non-Compliance:

We understand that a fine of 900 TL 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.

Consular Operations:

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara, U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul, U.S. Consulate in Adana, and Consular Agency in Izmir are currently providing limited services. Please see information at the following links for more information:
Please see information at the following link for more information:
American Citizen Services Unit
Visa Operations
If you require financial assistance through the U.S. Government’s repatriation loan program please review the Department of State’s information on emergency financial assistance and contact us.

Local Resources: