Which Countries Does Turkey Apply PCR Test For Entrance? (June 2021)
The effects of the Covid-19, which first appeared in China in March 2020 and spread all over the world, and which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, have been mitigated by the measures taken recently. In the last 1.5 year, the interaction between countries has been minimized and the pandemic has been tried to be kept under control. Especially in the period when the pandemic first emerged, many countries, including Turkey, closed their borders and went to various lockdown practices. Currently, citizens of many countries are required to submit a negative PCR test taken in the last 72 hours when entering Turkey. However, with the opening of the tourism season, the PCR test requirement has been abolished for the citizens of some countries who will visit Turkey for tourism purposes. In this article, we will talk about the countries where PCR tests are requested and not requested at the time of entry to Turkey.
Exemptions in the Scope of the Tourism Season
As it is known, Turkey has been requesting a negative PCR test result taken in the last 72 hours from people who will travel to the country within the scope of Covid 19 measures or a document showing that vaccination has been done in the last 14 days. First of all, with the removal of the PCR test requirement together with the reciprocal flight bans for Russian citizens, Russian citizens were granted exemption from entry without a PCR test result. As of June 2021, citizens of Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Israel, Japan, United Kingdom, Latvia, Luxembourg, Ukraine and Estonia have also started to benefit from this exemption. Citizens of countries other than these countries, on the other hand, are required to have an up-to-date negative PCR test result and an Entry Form document with them during their entry into Turkey. However, we would like to remind you that it is useful for foreigners who will travel to Turkey to ask the authorities whether they are within the scope of exemption by calling the consulates or following the authorized institutions within the scope of Covid-19. Because the current exemptions and conditions are updated in 15-day periods, there may be changes in the information given.
What Should Foreigners Consider While Travelling to Turkey?
If you are traveling to Turkey from a country that is not exempt from PCR testing, you must have a negative PCR test result in the last 72 hours, or a document regarding the Covid-19 vaccine you had in the last 14 days. In addition, all foreigners entering Turkey must fill in the Entry Form. In addition, in case of doubt or if your documents are missing, PCR testing can be performed by the authorities, and if your result is positive, the Covid-19 treatment will continue by the Ministry of Health. No PCR test, vaccination certificate or documents proving that the person has had COVID-19 disease in the last 6 months are not requested from children under the age of 6. In addition, the use of face masks is mandatory for travels to Turkey, and there is a HES code application in some closed areas and government offices. You can also find details about foreigners getting a HES code here.
Update 02.03.2022
As a result of the meeting of the Scientific Committee of Turkey and the statements of the Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca, the HES code application was abolished. No institution or organization will request a HES code.
For more information about March 2 Regulations, you can read this article: 2 March 2022 Coronavirus Turkey Scientific Committee Statements
In this article, we considered the countries and exemptions where Turkey has applied the PCR Test at the entrance. You can send us your questions in the comments section.