This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Local Laws and Customs section. The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Terrorism

There is a high threat from terrorism in Turkey. On 20 November 2003, terrorist attacks against the British Consulate-General and the headquarters of HSBC in Istanbul caused 33 deaths and injured hundreds. On 15 November 2003, bomb attacks on two synagogues in Istanbul killed 23 people and wounded more than 300. Responsibility for the attacks has been claimed by the Turkish militant group IBDA-C, jointly with Al Qa'ida. Recent examples include:

In May, a small bomb exploded outside a MacDonald’s branch in Istanbul and four small bombs exploded outside HSBC branches in Ankara and Istanbul. There were no casualties.

You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. Please read “Security and General Tips” and “Risk of Terrorism when Travelling Overseas”.

There has been an increase in terrorist incidents in the south-east of Turkey following the ending of the PKK/Kongra-Gel terrorist group’s "unilateral ceasefire" in June 2004. Turkish military operations against this group continue. There is a need for increased vigilance in this region. Security forces continue to enforce restrictions on movement in areas bordering Iraq. You risk arrest if you fail to comply with these restrictions.

Crime

Street robbery and pickpocketing are common in the main major Istanbul tourist areas. You should be wary of approaches from strangers offering to change money or offering food and drink, which may be drugged.

A number of sexual assaults have been reported in coastal tourist areas (eg Marmaris, Bodrum, Antalya, Izmir).

Political Situation

Turkey is a stable democracy. Demonstrations occur regularly in major cities and should be avoided.

Local Travel

Security Forces continue to enforce restrictions upon movement in areas bordering Iraq. You will risk arrest if you fail to comply with these restrictions.

Road Safety

You should take particular care when travelling by road throughout Turkey, as road conditions and driving standards can be poor. Serious traffic accidents are common particularly at night.

For a stay of more than six months an international Driving Licence is required.

Do not drink and drive. The Police will breathalyse drunk drivers, fine them on the spot (currently 340 million Turkish lira) and immediately confiscate their licence for six months.

Rail Safety

On 11 August 2004, two trains collided near the town of Gebze, in north west Turkey. According to the Turkish authorities eight people were killed and over 80 were injured in the accident. No British nationals are reported among the dead or injured.

On 22 July 2004, 38 people were killed and over 80 people were injured when a high-speed train derailed near Pamukova on the line between Istanbul and Ankara. No British nationals are believed to have been injured in the accident.

Turkey has strict laws against the use, possession or trafficking of illegal drugs. If you are convicted of any of these offences, you can expect to receive a heavy fine or a prison sentence ranging from four to 24 years.

 

The export of antiquities is prohibited and carries a prison sentence from five to ten years.

 

The use of metal detectors is against the law.

 

Dress modestly if visiting a mosque or a religious shrine.

 

Do not take photographs near military or official installations. You should seek permission before photographing individuals.

 

Homosexuality is not illegal but is not widely tolerated: public displays of affection could result in prosecution for public order offences.

 

It is an offence to insult the Turkish nation or the national flag, or to deface or tear up currency.

You may obtain a multiple entry visitor's visa valid for 90 days at the port of entry on payment of ten pounds sterling, cash (Scottish currency is not accepted). For further information on entry requirements, you should check with: Turkish representation in UK.

 

Your passport should be valid for at least six months on entry into Turkey.

 

If you take employment without the appropriate permission, you may be escorted from the country by the police authorities or, in some cases, deported.

 

If you overstay your visa you will receive a substantial fine upon departure. This varies from according to length of overstay: an overstay of one month currently incurs a fine of 160 million Turkish lira.

 

If a parent travels on his/her own with a dual national Turkish child, written permission from the Turkish parent, certified by a notary, must be shown to the immigration authorities on departure, otherwise the child will not be permitted to leave Turkey.

Do not travel without comprehensive medical insurance (including cover for medical repatriation), as private medical treatment can be expensive. Please refer to the Embassy website for details of English speaking hospitals and doctors, http://britishembassy.org.tr.

If you visit rural areas you should ensure that inoculations are up to date.

For further information on health, check the Dept of Health's website at:
www.dh.gov.uk

NATURAL DISASTERS

Many parts of Turkey lie on a major seismic fault line and are subject to earthquakes and tremors. In 2003, there were nine significant earthquakes including an earthquake in Bingol, eastern Turkey on 1 May 2003, which measured 6.4 on the Richter Scale causing over 150 deaths.

A number of earthquakes hit the southwest of Turkey in the Bodrum region on 3 - 4 August including two earthquakes measuring 5.4 and 5.1 on the Richter scale. No deaths and no significant damage were reported. On 11 August, an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale hit the town of Sivrice, in the province of Elazig, in the Southeast. On 2 July 2004, an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale hit remote villages in the province of Agri, Eastern Turkey, Killing 18 and injuring over 30. On 25 March 2004, there was an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale in Cat town in the province of Erzurum, eastern Turkey killing nine and injuring 46.

In March 2004, an avalanche in the Palandoken Mountains, Erzurum, northern Turkey, resulted in the death of a British tourist following the heaviest snowfall for 70 years.

In addition to the Embassy in Ankara there are Consulates in Istanbul, Izmir and Antalya and honorary Consulates in Bodrum, Marmaris and Bursa. Full contact details are on the Embassy website, http://britishembassy.org.tr.

 

Residents or long term visitors should register with the Embassy/nearest Consulate on arrival, but there is no need for short-term visitors to do so.

 

The British Embassy in Ankara, the Consulates in Istanbul, Izmir and Antayla and any of the British Honorary Consulates can provide Emergency Passport services. Full passport services are only available at the British Embassy. Applications may be lodged however at any of the British Consulates in Turkey.

 

ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas. Local currency can also be obtained from banks and exchange bureaux, known as DOVIZ in Turkish.

 

It is illegal not to carry photograph ID in Turkey. It is therefore advisable to carry a photocopy of your passport with you at all times.

Turkey Country Profile