Entry rules to Turkey for tourists in 2021 (July)

general information

New circumstances require the introduction of new measures. And the rules for entering Turkey, like any other country, will now include not only the presence of a foreign passport. Alas.

To begin with, I will say that the Turkish Government is doing everything possible to ensure that there are more Russian tourists under beach umbrellas. On March 13, large-scale vaccination against COVID-19 began for more than 1 million tourism industry workers.

Not surprisingly, it is in March-early April that the weather warms up in Turkey and tourists begin to arrive en masse. During this strange year, generous with restrictions, Turkish hoteliers have missed Russian speech, and we, you see, are tired of sitting at home.

My brother sent me a photo from Side, where he had already had a rest

By the beginning of the beach season (from the second half of May), I am sure there will be fewer doubters. Judging by the forum threads, there are already fewer of them. In my opinion, the Turkish Government is also interested in reviving the tourism sector. And the resumption of the flow of Russian tourists.

What are the requirements to enter Turkey now?

New rules for entry into Turkey for Russians due to coronavirus have been in place since December 2021. Periodically they change or become softer. I will monitor the situation and update this block.

1. A visa to Turkey is still the same - no need.
2. Everyone is asked for a certificate with a negative test for the COVID-19 coronavirus It is not needed only for children under 6 years old. Must be in English. I talk about it in more detail in the article.
3. Or a certificate of vaccination with any Russian vaccine (Sputnik, Epivac, Kovivak) . But keep in mind that more than 14 days must have passed since the second dose. In this case, an entry test to Turkey is not needed.
4. You can also enter with a certificate of someone who has recovered from the disease . If you went to the clinic with Covid, and the tests were recorded for you, then you should have a Certificate of Recovered Illness on the State Services - it is valid for 6 months from the moment of recovery. Print it out and show it at the border.
5. Before the flight, you must fill out an online application for entry into Turkey with your data. Previously, tourists filled it out on the plane and in paper form. We will talk about it a little lower.
6. In the airport terminal, before going through passport control, each passenger's temperature was taken. Now it seems like there is no such thing.
7. It is not necessary to wear a mask on the plane, but upon arrival in Turkey it will become your essential accessory. With the exception of the hotel area and the beach (if it is private). I advise you to take this point more seriously. For not wearing a mask or wearing one on the chin in Turkey, there are quite unpleasant fines, about 900 liras. Although, of course, this is easier at resorts.
8. And also, be prepared for the fact that there is no food on the plane anymore. The maximum they will offer is tea/water/juice.

Already in Turkey, vacationers with suspicious symptoms and elevated temperature will be offered a free PCR test for coronavirus. If the result is positive, they will be sent to the hospital for examination and treatment (as decided by the doctor). Data on the persons who occupied seats on the plane next to the sick person (2 seats in front, behind and on the sides) will be transferred to the Turkish Health Authority. They will also be offered a free coronavirus test.

In general, when purchasing a tour, insurance from the tour operator is most often included in the package. It covers COVID-19 treatment for a minimal amount. But I would advise taking out an additional policy with Cherehapa.

Where to buy tours to Turkey?

And some more photos from my brother from Side

I won’t say anything new - when searching, booking and purchasing tours, I am a fan of online services, and I recommend them. My favorite three:

• Level.Travel
• Travelata
• Onlinetours

Their big advantage (besides saving time and prices directly from tour operators) is the relevance of their offers. If an aggregator has a tour to a specific hotel, then it—the hotel—is definitely open.

But, stick to two rules:

1. look at tours on at least 2-3 aggregators, this way you can beat the price;
2. Be sure to look at the ratings/reviews of the hotel.

I’m currently researching the cost of travel packages on Travelata. The price of all-inclusive tours for a week for two (July) starts from 45,000 rubles.

About entry rules for residents of Russia

It is important for Russian citizens to remember the basic rules for entry into Turkey for Russians. Firstly, the validity of the passport should not be less than 6 months starting from the moment of entry into the country. Compliance with this rule is closely monitored by the border service.

Secondly, the period of stay in Turkey should not exceed 90 days in each half-year. The time spent is counted based on the date indicated in the stamp that is placed in the passport at the border.

There are no special documents required for visa-free stay. However, the tourist will definitely need the following:

1. international passport;
2. return tickets (proves the tourist’s intentions to leave the country at the appointed time);
3. availability of hotel reservation or travel voucher;
4. confirmation of solvency (limit is 300 USD per person);
5. medical insurance (the amount of coverage can be chosen by the tourist independently).

Today, the issue of allowing residents of the Russian Federation to enter Turkey using Russian passports is being actively initiated. Undoubtedly, this will significantly increase the flow of tourists. However, the process of introducing such a regime will take an indefinite amount of time, as it requires solving many security issues.

Restrictions on entry to Turkey for Russian citizens

Due to the protracted political crisis between Russia and Turkey, the ban on travel to Turkey for Russians in 2021 has not yet lost its relevance. The following categories of citizens fall under it:

• all employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• Department of Defense employees;
• law enforcement officers involved in drug trafficking cases;
• migration police workers;
• persons undergoing contract service;
• employees related to the storage of state secrets.

Employees of the above-mentioned structures may be granted permission to travel to Turkey in the following cases:

• carrying out an operation that is impossible in Russia;
• if there is a need to visit a seriously ill relative;
• upon receiving notification of the death of a loved one living abroad.

A strict procedure is followed to obtain clearance. The employee must sign a certificate of permission to travel from his boss and submit it to the human resources department, where his international passport is stored.

Each issue is resolved strictly individually. In order to temporarily lift the travel ban to Turkey in 2021, it is necessary to obtain appropriate permission from the relevant minister. This applies to all officials of law enforcement agencies, regardless of their position.

Where can I get help?

A certificate with a negative PCR test must be translated into English. And the test itself must be done no earlier than 72 hours before arrival in Turkey (not departure). The certificate is required not only by Türkiye, but also by a number of other countries.

To be sure, I advise you to choose some network laboratory near your home, such as Invitro, Hemotest, etc. The test result and certificate will be ready in 1-3 days. And the procedure itself will cost approximately 2000-3500 rubles. Not only in Moscow and large cities, but also in the regions. A full list of laboratories offering this service can be found on the Rospotrebnadzor website.

Attention! When taking the test, be sure to remind the laboratory employee or at the reception that the certificate is needed in English and with a blue stamp.

If it is not possible to do a test before traveling, you can use this service at the airport. I have prepared a small sign for those flying through Moscow. So, the rapid test is available at the following airports:

The certificate can be obtained electronically or in printed form with a stamp. The main thing is to inform us about this in advance when you take the test.

Visas to Turkey

general information

Citizens of the Russian Federation can stay in Turkey without a visa for up to 60 days.
For the trip you only need a passport. Within six months (180 days), you can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days in total.

If you are traveling to Turkey without a visa, you can get a residence permit valid for three months. It can only be obtained once a year.

As is correct, when entering Turkey, border services do not ask for any additional documents or bank statements. However, if tourists are suspicious, additional control is possible with a request to provide travel information. Therefore, we advise you to take with you a confirmation of your hotel reservation, a return ticket and the address information of the inviting persons if the purpose of the trip is private.

Refusal to enter the country is an extremely rare measure used by Turkish border guards in exceptional cases (according to statistics, no more than 0.03% of the total number of guests are denied entry). In any case, citizens of the Russian Federation always have the opportunity to contact the relevant consular office of the Russian Federation in Turkey with a complaint about the actions of local authorities.

Passport validity period

The passport must be valid for at least 120 days from the date of border crossing.

Stay in Turkey for more than 60 days

If you want to stay in Turkey for more than 60 days, you can get a residence permit valid for three months. It can only be obtained once a year.

To obtain a residence permit for a maximum of 3 months, you must contact the Aliens Affairs Department of the Security Directorate (Emniyet Müdürlüğü Yabancılar Şube Müdürlüğü) at your place of residence.

The following documents are required to apply:

• valid passport;
• application form (provided at the Department for Foreigners' Affairs);
• documents confirming the purpose of stay (hotel reservation, rental contract, etc.);
• a document confirming the ability to provide accommodation during the period of stay in Turkey (certificate of bank account, certificate of purchase and sale of currency, etc.);
• 4 photographs for documents;
• Payment for the residence permit form (149 Turkish lira);
• Fee for issuing a residence permit (for 3 months – 10 US dollars).

Documents required to obtain a tourist visa for a period of more than 60 days for citizens of the Russian Federation at the Turkish Consulate in the Russian Federation

Note: a visa can be issued after receiving a response to our request from Turkey, the visa processing time is approximately 2.5 months. When issuing visas, it is necessary to take into account the territorial division by consular districts in accordance with the location of the Turkish Consulates in the Russian Federation (information can be clarified by calling the Consulates), as well as the workload of the corresponding Consulate.

Submitting documents for a visa and obtaining a visa at the Turkish Consulate in Russia can only be carried out by the applicant.

Consular fee – from 60 to 100 USD depending on citizenship. The consular fee is charged to children of any age, regardless of whether they are registered with their parents or have their own foreign passport.

• International passport (valid for at least 3 months from the date of visa expiration);
• A visa application form completed in English (attached) with a photograph attached;
• A copy of the passport page with photo (for children included in the passport: copies of the page with photo + page with the child’s data);
• Certificate of employment (form 2-NDFL), or bank account statement;
• A copy of the contract (agreement) for renting apartments (villas, etc.);
• Book roundtrip air tickets;
• A copy of the internal (Russian) passport - a spread with personal data + registration (for minors - a copy of the birth certificate).

Violations of the visa regime of the Republic of Turkey

The penalties provided for by the Turkish side for violating the 60-day visa-free stay period are divided into two categories: a monetary fine and a restriction on the right to enter the country for a certain time. The severity of sanctions depends on the duration of the violation:

In this case, a fine for illegal presence in Turkey (proportional to the period of violation) must be paid in any case.

Payment of a fine is a standard simplified procedure, which involves depositing the amount calculated on the spot into special cash desks at airports and other border crossing points. If it is impossible to pay the required amount, the tourist leaves the country, being entered into the “black” list of computer records as a person who has temporarily lost the right to re-enter Turkey.

• up to 15 days – up to 250 Turkish lira = 165 US dollars (calculated as double the cost of a residence permit for the same period at average rates); non-payment (or, in the worst case scenario, open refusal to pay the fine) entails a restriction on the right to enter for up to 5 years;
• over 15 days – ban on entry to Turkey for 1 month;
• over 1 month – ban on entry to Turkey for 3 months;
• over 3 months – for 6 months;
• over 6 months - for 1 year;
• over 1 year – for 2 years;
• over 2 years – for 5 years.

Loss of documents

Anyone entering Turkey (and, in principle, any travel outside the Russian Federation) is strongly recommended to have a portable storage medium (“flash memory”) with scanned personal documents recorded on it (or have this information in a protected form in your mail mailbox), as well as several photographs (4x5 cm). Loss or theft of documents in Turkey is not a rare occurrence, although this mainly occurs due to the inattention and elementary negligence of their owners.

In case of loss of documents (in particular, a general international passport), you must immediately contact the nearest police station and request the drawing up of an appropriate report (in large, and especially resort cities, the police provide the services of an interpreter when drawing up a report; resort hotel employees and guides can also help in this regard , representatives of travel companies). The protocol on the loss of documents is certified by an apostille and translated into Russian at the expense of the affected person. When you subsequently apply to the consular office of the Russian Federation in Turkey, in addition to the specified protocol, you must have with you two color photographs, documents remaining in the hands of the victim that establish the identity of the citizen (passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, driver’s license). The victim fills out an application in the prescribed form and receives a certificate of return to the Russian Federation, valid for two weeks and giving the citizen a one-time right to cross the border in one direction (upon arrival in the Russian Federation, it is necessary to submit the certificate of return to the FMS body that issued it within three days a lost passport, or to which a citizen will apply to obtain a new passport).

In cases of complete loss of all documents on hand that establish the identity of a citizen, a certificate of return is issued upon applications of two guarantors, citizens of the Russian Federation, who are personally acquainted with the person who lost the documents. As additional supporting information, an extract from the citizen’s hotel registration (indicating personal data and passport number) and a printout of border control records, which indicate the last name, first name and passport number of the Russian citizen who entered Turkey, can also be accepted.

Additional information on the entire range of consular issues can be obtained on the website of the Russian Embassy in Turkey and the websites of Russian consular offices in the territory of the Republic of Turkey.

How to fill out an entry form for Turkey?

This is what the online application form looks like

If previously tourists filled out a paper form (my brother still found it) on the plane, then from March 15, 2021, to cross the Turkish border, they must do the same online 72 hours before departure.

An entry form into Turkey is required for all tourists over 6 years of age (except for transit passengers with a transfer at the same airport). Without it, you simply will not be allowed on the flight/into the country.

Registration is available on the website at: https://register.health.gov.tr/. There you need to fill out a special electronic form. Let's step by step:

1. Follow the link and select the language.
2. Carefully fill out the fields in Latin letters. In the “Place of Residence” field, select the country in which you are registered/reside. For example, Russia. In the “Company name” field = the name of the airline you are flying with; “Flight number” = flight number from the booking.
3. In the next step, enter information about the place where you plan to stay: city, address (or hotel name). Be sure to click the “Add Address” button.
4. In the next step, indicate the countries you have visited in the last 10 days (don’t forget to click the “Add country” button each time). For those who have been in Russia all these days, you can skip this step.
5. At the last step, carefully check all the entered data and click the “Save” button.
6. Don't forget to download the PDF form of the completed application form. It can be saved, for example, on your phone (even as a screenshot), or printed on paper.

After filling out the form, you will be assigned a special HES code . You will need it when checking into a hotel, traveling on public transport and when visiting, for example, shopping malls.

Türkiye has eased entry rules for Russians

On June 1, new rules for entry into Turkey for tourists who have been vaccinated and have recovered from coronavirus came into force, which also applies to Russians. Now these categories of travelers do not need PCR tests done 72 hours before arrival in the country. The unvaccinated also have a new option.

This information was first published on his Twitter page by the head of Turkish Airlines, Bilal Ekshi, and the new entry rules have already been posted on the company’s official website.

Then, on June 2, the information was confirmed by both the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in its official directory of entry conditions and Russian tour operators.

“Yes, today we received a corresponding notification from our host, General Director of PEGAS Touristik Anna Podgornaya.

According to the innovations that came into force on June 1:

1. Passengers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, South Africa, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and passengers who have been in these countries in the last 14 days, in addition to providing a certificate with a negative result of a PCR test for COVID-19, done no earlier less than 72 hours before arrival in Turkey will be subject to mandatory quarantine for 14 days in places determined by the authorities. The ban on flights from Brazil and South Africa to Turkey is lifted.

2. Passengers traveling to Turkey from the UK, Iran, Egypt and Singapore in any case need a certificate with a negative result of a PCR test for COVID-19, taken no earlier than 72 hours before arrival in Turkey.

3. To enter Turkey from countries not included in the first two points (that is, from Russia - editor's note), several options are now possible:

— for tourists over 6 years of age who have not been vaccinated and have not had coronavirus, they will still need a certificate with a negative result of a PCR test for COVID-19, taken no earlier than 72 hours before arrival in Turkey. Children under 6 years old do not need a certificate. Transit travelers don’t need it either.

However, now, instead of a PCR test, you can also submit a certificate with the results of a rapid test for antigens (not to be confused with antibodies!) for COVID-19, carried out no earlier than 48 hours before arrival in Turkey.

- vaccinated tourists (including with the Sputnik V vaccine, approved for use in Turkey - editor's note) are exempt from the requirement to provide a certificate with the results of the PCR test. Instead, they will need to provide a certificate of full vaccination with two doses, carried out no later than 14 days before entering Turkey.

— tourists who have recovered from COVID-19 and who have presented an official certificate from the health authorities of their state indicating that they have suffered from a coronavirus infection within the last 6 months before the date of entry into Turkey are also exempt from the need to provide a certificate with a PCR test.

4. Upon entry into Turkey, passengers may be subject to random PCR tests (for example, if they have symptoms of the disease). Such passengers will be allowed to travel to their final destination only after receiving the test results. If it is positive, they will be sent to a medical facility. Persons in contact with them are isolated in their hotels.

5. As before, all passengers entering Turkey (except for transit passengers and children under 6 years old) remain obligated to fill out an electronic form on the Ministry of Health website within the last 72 hours before arrival in Turkey. The completed application form, printed or in mobile form (on a smartphone screen), will need to be presented when checking in for a flight to Turkey.

Source: ATOR Bulletin, 03/06/2021

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