Turkey: Authorities to ease domestic COVID-19-related measures from May 17 /update 41

Event

Turkey will ease domestic COVID-19 measures from May 17. The continuous curfew will be eased to a 21:00-05:00 curfew on weekdays, while a weekend curfew will be imposed from 21:00 on Fridays to 05:00 on Mondays. Residents must remain in their homes during curfew hours except to perform essential tasks or seek medical care. While foreign tourists who are in Turkey on short stays are not subject to the curfew, all other foreigners in the country must comply with the directive.

Intercity travel by air, bus, and rail will be permitted outside curfew hours; however, special permission will be required for travel by private vehicles. Food markets, including greengrocers, butcher shops, bakeries, and confectioners shops, as well as supermarkets, may operate on reduced hours. Restaurants and cafes may only offer delivery and takeaway weekdays 07:00-20:00 and on weekends 07:00-00:00. Bars, gyms, theaters, and other venues and businesses must remain closed. Persons employed in the public sector will be required to work from home to the extent possible.

Persons suspected of contracting COVID-19, or who come into contact with an individual infected with COVID-19, must self-isolate for 10 days; those who test negative for COVID-19 after five days may end self-isolation early. Turkish nationals and residents are required to obtain a government-provided Hayat Eve Sigar (HES) code before international or intercity travel on public transport. Numerous regions, including Istanbul, Ankara, and Agri Province, require residents to present a HES code upon entering public institutions, government offices, or banks. Protective facemasks and social distancing are mandatory in public places nationwide.

International Entry Restrictions
Authorities previously eased international entry restrictions for certain travelers. Effective May 15, travelers arriving from mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Israel, Japan, UK, Latvia, Luxembourg, Ukraine, and Estonia may enter the country without restrictions; these travelers are no longer required to present a negative COVID-19 test upon arrival.

All incoming passengers, other than those in transit, must register via an online form within 72 hours before travel and undergo checks for possible COVID-19 symptoms on arrival. Except where stipulated otherwise, travelers must also produce a negative result from a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test taken no more than 72 hours prior to their flight's or ferry's scheduled departure; transit passengers do not need to provide a negative test result. Any traveler required to submit a negative test result at the point of departure but who is unable to do so will not be allowed to board; non-exempt arrivals without proof of negative testing will be required to quarantine either at their reported address in Turkey or at a government-designated facility.

Additionally, direct flights with Brazil and South Africa remain indefinitely suspended in response to discoveries of variant strains of COVID-19 in these countries; however, transit flights originating in Brazil or South Africa are permitted. Humanitarian, cargo, repatriation, and emergency medical flights are exempt from the suspension; other flights may be exempted at the discretion of the Ministry of Health. All travelers who have visited Brazil, South Africa, or India within 10 days prior to their arrival in Turkey will be required to quarantine for 14 days in a government-selected facility. Moreover, travelers are required to undergo a second COVID-19 test - in addition to the test taken prior to departure - after 10 days and may leave quarantine following a negative result.

Generally, Turkey's air, land, and sea borders are open for most travelers but could be subject to closure at short notice. However, nonessential travel with Iran and Iraq remains suspended.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further tighten, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks, particularly in response to developments regarding variant strains of COVID-19.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions. Reconsider and reconfirm nonemergency health appointments. Plan for queues and delays at available shopping centers.