Before traveling to Turkey
You just need to take a PCR test, get a negative result and present it at the airport in English, 72 hours before departure from Russia. If the certificate is in electronic form, check if it has a special QR code. In paper form - QR code and seal of a certified laboratory.
We recommend having a paper version of the certificate with a stamp and signature from the laboratory (clinic).
The PCR test must contain your last name, first name and patronymic. Check the exact date and time of collection (biological material). You can take an urgent PCR test in Turkey in Moscow, for example, right at the airports, which will be very convenient for tourists from the regions (no need to guess the time).
From March 15, all passengers flying into Turkey (except for transit) must fill out an electronic form before departure (72 hours before arrival in Turkey.
Citizens of which countries can enter Turkey using an internal passport?
Citizens of the following countries can enter Turkey without obtaining a visa:
- Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Moldova, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Russia - all countries that were part of the USSR.
- Thailand, Mongolia, Tunisia, Syria, New Zealand, Morocco, Iran, Asia and other countries of the Americas, Asia.
- The vast majority of European countries.
Citizens of many countries, including Estonia, Lithuania, Georgia, and Moldova, can stay on the territory of the Turkish state without a visa for a period of no more than 90 days. Ukrainians and Russians can stay in Turkey without a visa for 60 days for six months. Citizens can travel to Turkey for only 30 days:
- Uzbekistan.
- Tajikistan.
- Latvia.
- Azerbaijan.
- Turkmenistan.
- Kazakhstan.
- Belarus.
But all dates will be revised soon. In order to improve the activities of the tourism sector, the period of stay in Turkey for foreign citizens will be extended to 90 days.
Important detail : when going on vacation, you must make sure that your foreign passport is valid for at least 120 days. Turkish customs officers may not allow a foreigner into the territory of their country if the specified validity period of the document at the time of entry is less than that required by customs rules.
But this rule does not apply to citizens of many other states. For example, citizens of Bulgaria, Germany, Portugal, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain and others can enter Turkey with expired passports.
The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its website published a complete list of countries that are not subject to requirements for the validity of a foreign passport.
Holiday rules and Covid restrictions in Turkey
You must wear a mask in any public place and even while walking down the street.
For tourists and locals, catering is limited in time; restaurants, bars and snack bars are open from 07.00 to 19.00. From March 2, all cafes and bars began to work as before, but with no more than 50% of the room filled (previously they only worked for delivery).
There is a nightly daily curfew (from 21.00 to 5.00), however this does not apply to tourists , but be prepared to explain and show where you are vacationing and in which hotel you are staying. Leave cigarettes in your room; smoking is prohibited throughout the country in any public place.
Last news
The article is updated as new information about holidays in Turkey becomes available.
Date announced for air travel restrictions with Turkey
They still plan to close Turkey, despite alternative options to ensure safety from the import of new strains of coronavirus.
According to the latest data, there will not be a complete closure; restrictions will affect charter flights and cargo. The decision should come into force on April 12.
Turkey's closure in April
The head of the Foreign Ministry and the Minister of Tourism of Turkey are forced to urgently fly to Russia in order to prevent Turkey from being closed to Russians in the near future.
Over the past few weeks, the coronavirus situation in Turkey has deteriorated significantly. Tourists began to bring new strains of coronavirus to Russia and from Turkey as well. In this regard, a decision was made to develop measures that will limit Russia from importing new strains of COVID-19.
V. Zhirinovsky called for stopping air traffic with Turkey.
On Friday, April 9, a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers was held, following which a decision was to be made to close Turkey.
So far, only general measures have been announced that should help prevent the mass import of coronavirus from Turkey.
Tourism industry experts have suggested three scenarios for the development of events regarding tourism in Turkey:
- Turkey will be completely closed to tourists.
- Upon returning from Turkey, you will need to undergo a mandatory two-week quarantine.
- To visit Turkey you will need to be vaccinated against coronavirus.
So far, none of the options have been confirmed. As soon as the authorities’ decision on trips to Turkey becomes known, we will immediately publish it in this article.
Coronavirus outbreak in Turkey in April: booking cancellations and border closures
A large outbreak of coronavirus cases has been recorded in Turkey. Russian tourists bring new strains of COVID-19 from Turkey.
The head of Rospotrebnadzor said that the situation in Turkey is worsening every day. The speech contained hints about the possible closure of Turkey's borders to Russians.
Meanwhile, panic is growing in Turkey, because against the backdrop of the latest statistics and restrictions, experts predict the cessation of air traffic between Russia and Turkey. This is an alarming signal for the tourism industry in Turkey, since Russian travelers make up the bulk of the tourist flow to the country.
Turkish media regard the calls of the Russian authorities not to travel abroad as possible preparations for closing the borders with Turkey in the near future.
Russian tour operators reported that there have been no mass cancellations of bookings yet. They began to buy fewer tours to Istanbul and Cappadocia and cancel trips for upcoming dates. But summer tours continue to be purchased.
Measures are being tightened in Istanbul and Antalya
Istanbul and Antalya are in the red zone for coronavirus. As a result, some restrictions are being tightened.
- There will be a curfew throughout Turkey over the weekend.
- A daily curfew remains in effect from 21:00 to 5:00.
- In safe regions, public catering establishments will continue to operate, but at no more than 50% capacity. However, only food delivery will be available during Ramadan.
- Traditional meals held during the holiday will be cancelled.
- Grocery stores, markets, fruit and meat shops will be open from 10:00 to 17:00.
- Bakeries will be open on weekends and offering delivery.
- Restaurants and cafes will be open for takeaway from 10:00 to 20:00, and food delivery from 10:00 to midnight.
Specific prohibitions and restrictions are not announced regarding foreign tourists. Turkey will probably do everything possible to maintain the flow of tourists in the coming season. However, there are restrictions in the country, and they will still be noticeable.
Checks on Antalya beaches
Due to the fact that Antalya has been assigned a red danger zone, inspections are being carried out in public places. According to the rules, tourists can be on the beach regardless of the situation.
But every tourist entering the street must have a passport with him. The police check the documents of all vacationers. The fact is that local residents are not yet allowed to be on the beaches, so the tourist must confirm that he is on vacation.
Those citizens who do not have documents with them are taken away by the police until the circumstances are clarified.
Türkiye quarantines tourists
It became known that Türkiye has introduced restrictions for some countries. Thus, tourists who arrive from countries where a dangerous strain of COVID-19 has been recorded will have to undergo quarantine. Mandatory self-isolation will be 14 days.
The “dangerous” list includes the following countries: Great Britain, Brazil, South Africa, Denmark.
Russia is not yet included in this list. However, cases of new strains of coronavirus have also been recorded in our country. In this regard, experts do not exclude possible restrictions for Russian tourists.
Antalya assigned a “red” zone
It became known that due to a large increase in the number of new cases of COVID-19, the province of Antalya was transferred to the most dangerous epidemiological zone for coronavirus.
According to the authorities, the number of cases has increased and is 119 people per 100 thousand population.
In other provinces of the country, for example, in neighboring Mugla, the number of cases does not yet exceed 100, but is already approaching this threshold and amounts to 92 per 100 thousand.
In Istanbul, statistics continue to rise and the number of new cases is more than 250.
However, despite such poor statistics, the country remains open and, moreover, is preparing for the summer season. Thus, tourists from Russia have already arrived at the Dalaman resort, thereby marking the early opening of the summer season.
Inspections begin in Antalya from March 20
An outbreak of coronavirus has been registered in Antalya - 100 cases per 100 thousand people are recorded. Such indicators mean that the province will soon be assigned a “red” status.
In this regard, inspections of all enterprises will begin on March 20. During the inspection, special attention will be paid to public catering establishments. Inspectors will monitor compliance with all sanitary standards, including the seating arrangement of visitors, which is rarely observed.
They will check hotels, public transport, markets, salons, beaches, shopping centers. Also, during the check, they will find out whether the HES code is used, which began to be assigned to tourists on March 15.
Officially, there is a fine for not wearing masks, so tourists should be careful during checks, as there is a risk of getting a fine.
Rules for traveling with children to Turkey
Minor citizens of the Russian Federation must have their own foreign passport. The exception is children included in their parents' old passports.
If your child is under 14 years of age, you must bring your birth certificate with you.
Children under 6 years of age are not subject to PCR testing.
Traveling to Turkey with one of the parents is normal. The consent of the other person is not required. Notarized consent for the child’s departure will be required only if the child flies unaccompanied by one of the parents (alone or with relatives).
If the child’s parents are divorced, you need to take into account that one of the parents may file a ban on the child leaving the Russian Federation. To avoid unexpected situations, the editors of the Tut-Tour service recommend getting the notarized consent of the second parent before the trip if the spouses are divorced. An extra piece of paper will not be a big burden, and its cost is insignificant, but it will save your nerves when going through passport control.
Penalties for violating the visa regime in Turkey
For exceeding the period of stay in the country without a visa or the validity period of a visa, the Turkish side provides for fines and/or restrictions on the right to enter the country for a certain time:
- up to 15 days - up to 250 Turkish lira = 165 USD, non-payment (or, as the worst case scenario, open refusal to pay a fine) entails a restriction on the right to enter for up to 5 years;
- over 15 days - fine and ban on entry to Turkey for 1 month;
- over 1 month — a fine of 285 YTL and a ban on entry into Turkey for 3 months;
- over 3 months — a fine of 374 YTL and a ban on entry into Turkey for 6 months;
- over 6 months — a fine of 510 YTL and a ban on entry into Turkey for 1 year;
- over 1 year - fine and ban on entry to Turkey for 2 years;
- over 2 years - fine and ban on entry to Turkey for 5 years.
Useful links:
Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Turkey Recommendations of Rospotrebnadzor of the Russian Federation for tourists
In our service you can purchase any tour to Turkey from well-known tour operators - Anex Tour, Pegas, Tui, Coral Travel, Sunmar - without extra charges For our tourists - cashback 1.5% of the tour cost, payment without commissions with any bank card (including credit cards), receiving miles from travel bank cards (we recommend Tinkoff).
We monitor cheap air tickets to Turkey from Aviasales, Trip.com and other aggregators.
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