Is it safe to travel to Turkey right now?

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Turkey set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Turkish Embassy in the UK.

Entering Turkey across the land border from Iran

The border remains open visa-free for people travelling on UK or Iranian passports (for stays of up to 90 days). If you are a British national intending to cross the land border from Iran into Turkey, you must request facilitation from the British Embassy in Ankara by contacting the FCDO before travelling to the border. You must state which border point you intend to use and provide personal details (name, date of birth, details of travel document used to enter Turkey). Also indicate whether you are contacting from Iran or from the UK on behalf of a relative.

The Turkish authorities advise that the Iranians have closed the crossing point at Esendere-Serow on the Iranian side to daily traders entering and exiting over the course of a day.

The usual entry requirements will apply, including that British nationals can enter without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

If you intend to leave Iran overland, you do so at your own risk. In Iran, holding a British passport or having perceived connections to the UK can be reason enough for the Iranian authorities to detain you.

Read more FCDO advice If you’re affected by a crisis abroad - GOV.UK.

Passport validity requirements

To enter Turkey, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 150 days after the date you arrive and at least 1 blank page.

If you live in Turkey, your passport must be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive.

If entering at a land border, make sure officials stamp and date your passport at the border crossing.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements

You can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, for business or tourism.

If you hold a British citizen passport, you can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, for business or tourism

If you hold another type of British passport, you will need a visa and should check visa requirements with the Turkish Embassy or Consulate General before you travel.

To enter Turkey for education, employment or medical purposes, or in other special cases, check the information on applying for a visa. If you plan to work in Turkey, make sure you have the correct permits.

Day trips to Greek islands

If you are considering a day trip to a Greek Island, be aware that Greece is in the Schengen Zone and has introduced the European Union (EU) Entry Exit System (EES).

This applies to any non-EU national travelling from Turkey into the EU by land, sea or air (excluding airport transit). EES may take each passenger a few extra minutes to complete, so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border.

Read Greece’s travel advice for further details.

Travelling with children

If leaving Turkey with a dual British-Turkish national child who is 18 or younger, you may need to show permission to travel from the Turkish parent.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Turkey guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Turkey. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to any tax or duty.

Some goods are prohibited – you cannot take them into or out of Turkey. These include:

• controlled drugs
• firearms
• offensive weapons, for example flick knives and self-defence sprays
• endangered animal and plant species
• indecent and obscene material

Taking money into and out of Turkey

There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency or Turkish lira you can take into Turkey.

You must not take Turkish lira worth more than 5000 US dollars out of the country.

If you have other currency worth more than 5000 US dollars to take out of Turkey, you must declare it to Turkish Customs.

You may need to demonstrate where the currency came from.

Some countries have imposed measures in response to the Ebola disease outbreak. These can include restrictions on entry and health screening measures for travellers having recently visited an affected country. If you are suspected of having symptoms, you may be subject to isolation, quarantine and/or travel restrictions. Contact the authorities of the country you are travelling to for more details.

The authorities of a country or territory decide who can enter or exit through its borders. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on your behalf if you do not meet your destination’s entry or exit requirements.

We have obtained the information on this page from local authorities. It can, however, change at any time.

Verify this information with the Foreign Representatives in Canada.

Passport

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you're travelling with.

Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country's entry rules.

Regular Canadian passport

Your passport must be valid for at least 150 days from the date you enter Türkiye. You may be denied entry if there is not enough space for entry and exit stamps in your passport.

Passport for official travel

Different entry rules may apply.

Official travel

Passport with “X” gender identifier

While the Government of Canada issues passports with an “X” gender identifier, it cannot guarantee your entry or transit through other countries. You might face entry restrictions in countries that do not recognize the “X” gender identifier. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

You should also be aware that current systems used by some countries and travel companies may not recognize the “X” gender identifier. You may still be asked to provide your sex/gender information as either male or female when travelling.

Other travel documents

Different entry rules may apply when travelling with a temporary passport or an emergency travel document. Before you leave, verify this information with the closest foreign representative for your destination.

Useful links

• Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics
• Foreign Representatives in Canada
• Canadian passports and other travel documents

Visas

Tourist visa: not required for stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period
Work visa: required
Business visa: required
Student visa: required
Medical visa: required

If you are travelling to Türkiye and need a visa, use the official Government of Türkiye site to apply online and purchase an e-visa before entering the country. Be cautious of third-party websites that offer help with obtaining any type of visa, as they may charge additional fees to provide information and submit applications for you. They do not operate on behalf of the Government of Türkiye.

To qualify for a subsequent visa-exempt entry for a 90-day period, you must leave Türkiye for at least 90 days before being allowed to re-enter for another 90 days.

If you plan to study or work in Türkiye, you must obtain a visa at a Turkish embassy or consulate before your arrival. If you intend to work remotely from Türkiye, you must first obtain a “Digital Nomad” visa by submitting the requested documentation on the Government of Türkiye’s Digital Nomads online portal. If your documents are validated, you will receive a Digital Nomad Identification Certificate that you must present at a Turkish embassy, consulate or visa centre to receive your visa.

If you are travelling to Türkiye to seek medical services, apply for a medical visa through the HealthTürkiye online portal. You should also consult our advice on medical tourism under the Health section before applying for a medical visa.

If you wish to remain in Türkiye for longer than 90 consecutive days, you must obtain a residence permit from the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in the province in which you reside. Residence permit processing can take months. If you overstay, you might be fined, deported or banned from future entry into Türkiye for a specific period. If you previously applied for refugee or asylum status in Türkiye, records will reflect this and may complicate re entry. If that’s your case, consult the nearest Turkish embassy or consulate before travelling.

Useful links

• E-visa application system – Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye
• Digital Nomads online portal – Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye
• HealthTürkiye online portal – Ministry of Health of the Republic of Türkiye
• Residence permit applications – Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Türkiye

Entry and exit stamps

Make sure Turkish immigration officials stamp your passport on arrival. Failure to produce a stamped passport is punishable by a fine, detention and deportation, and can lead to significant delays at departure. Make sure to obtain an exit stamp when leaving Türkiye, including when travelling by sea to nearby islands, to avoid difficulty re-entering Türkiye and a fine.

Dual citizens

Dual Turkish-Canadian citizens must present a valid Turkish passport or piece of identification to enter the country.

Dual citizens

Children and travel

If you leave Türkiye with your child who has dual Turkish-Canadian citizenship and is 18 years old or younger, you may need to show permission for them to travel from the Turkish parent.

Learn about travelling with children.

Yellow fever

Learn about potential entry requirements related to yellow fever (vaccines section).