Turkey
Summary
The FCDO advise against all travel to:
- areas within 10km of the border with Syria
The FCDO advise against all but essential travel to:
- Sirnak
- the province of Hakkari
For more information on these areas, see Local travel and Terrorism
A 7.8 earthquake hit Gaziantep and neighbouring provinces in the south east of Turkey on 6 February 2023. On the same day a 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit the neighboringneighbouring province of Kahramanmaras. There have been several strong after-shocks. The Turkish government has announced a national emergency in the 10 provinces affected by the earthquake. These are the provinces of Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Malatya, Diyarbakır, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Hatay, Osmaniye, Adana. The Turkish Government has stated that only vehicles which carry aid teams and aid materials will be allowed to enter cities deemed to be inside the area of the disaster.
If you are in Turkey or planning to travel there you should follow the information and advice from local authorities/your tour operator.
If you’re in the Gaziantep, Kahramanmaras or neighbouring provinces and it is safe to do so, contact your friends and family to tell them you are safe.
If you require consular assistance, you should call our 24-hour helpline on +90 312 455 3344 and select the option for “consular services for British nationals,” or send an enquiry via the web contact form.
Some Turkish flight companies such as Turkish airlines/AnadoluJet and Pegasus are offering discounted or free evacuation flights out of the affected area. Please check the information on your airline’s website to see if this applies to your journey.
Some hotels in Turkey are offering free accommodation to individuals affected by the earthquake. Affected persons in need should contact AFAD (Turkey’s disaster and emergency management service) locally for more information and to apply. More details are available on the AFAD website or by calling the Turkish emergency services on 112 who will redirect your call to AFAD.
Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for Turkey’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider. For up to date information on entry restrictions and requirements.
If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.
It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.
Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks in Turkey. Terrorist groups, including PKK, Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL) and far left organisations, continue to plan and carry out attacks. Further attacks could be indiscriminate. Most attacks have taken place in the south-east of the country, and in Ankara and Istanbul. There is a potential that citizens from western countries may be targets or caught up in attacks, particularly in the major cities.
There is currently a heightened threat of terrorist attacks against churches, synagogues, Embassies/Consulates and other places frequented by Westerners in Istanbul. The British Consulate General in Istanbul is currently not open to the public as a precaution. The Turkish authorities are investigating. You should exercise caution and follow the advice of local security authorities, monitor media reports and keep up to date with this travel advice. See Terrorism
If you require consular assistance in Istanbul, you should call our 24-hour helpline on +90 212 334 64 00 and select the option for “consular services for British nationals,” or send an enquiry via the web contact form.
It is illegal to be a member or supporter of a terrorist organisation in Turkey, including expressions of support on social media. Some organisations in the region though not proscribed in the UK, such as the YPG and the Gülen Movement are illegal in Turkey.
If you’re travelling to Turkey for tourist or business purposes, you are able to travel without a visa for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. See Visas
British nationals made over 3.330 million visits to Turkey in 2022. Most visits are trouble free. Be alert to your surroundings and remain vigilant in crowded places popular with foreign nationals, including during festival periods.
Many parts of Turkey are subject to earthquakes. You should familiarise yourself with safety procedures in the event of an earthquake and follow the advice of the local authorities. See Natural disasters
The effect of the attempted coup in July 2016 is still deeply felt in Turkey although the situation is now considerably calmer. A state of emergency imposed after the coup attempt has been lifted, although some restrictions remain in place. See Political situation
You should carry your passport and a printed copy of your visa (if applicable) or residence permit at all times. In some busy areas, especially Istanbul, the Turkish authorities are stopping members of the public to conduct ID checks. See Local laws and customs
There have been reports of an increase in holidaymakers being encouraged to submit a claim for personal injury if they have experienced gastric illness during their stay. You can find more information about the action you can take if you have suffered a personal injury on the Citizens Advice website. You should only consider pursuing a complaint or claim if you have genuinely suffered from injury or illness. If you make a false or fraudulent claim, you may face legal proceedings in the UK or Turkey.
You can contact the emergency services by calling 112. Alternatively, you can call emergency services directly by calling 155 (police), 112 (ambulance) and 110 (fire).
If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission. Consular support is severely limited in parts of Turkey where the FCDO advise against travel, and limited in the areas where the FCDO advise against all but essential travel.