As per the latest guidelines, passengers travelling from India or those approaching from other countries in the past 14 days can skip the quarantine process if they could validate it with a certificate of being fully vaccinated with a WHO-approved vaccine. Turkey has dropped COVID-19 restraints for many countries, however, some countries continue to remain on its Red List.
On Thursday, the Turkish interior ministry circulated notice regarding the travel guidelines, it read: passengers arriving in Turkey from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan will either need to provide a negative RT-PCR test or proof of administration of both doses of COVID-19 vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).
What are the rules for Indian passengers?
Indian travellers who have been in the country for at least 14 consecutive days needs to show a negative RT-PCR test report before 72 hours of landing in the airport. In case, if a passenger is unable to do so, then he is subjected to a 10-day quarantine. After completing the quarantine, the passenger will undergo one more RT-PCR test, if the result is negative, the isolation period will be stopped. However, in case if the test result turns out to be positive, the Turkish health ministry will provide them with proper medical care.
What are the guidelines for passengers arriving from Afghanistan?
The travel guidelines for passengers travelling from Afghanistan to Turkey remains unaltered. Passengers aged six or above needs to present a negative RT-PCR test report and will have to stay isolated (institutional quarantine/ hotels). As per the Turkish health ministry, for passengers who have been tested negative for the second round of tests, that is the seventh isolation day, the isolation period for them will be terminated.
Which countries are listed under the ‘Red List’?
The statement issued by the interior ministry read: “The ban on direct flights from South Africa, Sri Lanka, Brazil and Nepal will continue to be in effect until a new decision is made.”
Furthermore, the rules remain the same that is to present a negative RT-PCR test report with attached 10 days of quarantine.
What are the mandates for other countries?
Passengers reaching Turkey from Iran, Egypt, UK and Singapore have to compulsorily get an RT-PCR test report of 72 hours before landing wherein the result should be negative.
Which rules are commonly applied for all countries?
The interior ministry’s sanctioned norms averred: Children aged below 12 are exempted from the mandate of RT-PCR negative test report and also quarantine. Moreover, crew members such as big truck drivers, plane-ship crews and shipmen will also be exempted from the COVID-19 travel curbs.
A note followed in the guideline that passengers kept under quarantine are supposed to bear their own expenses at hotels or governmental institutions in Turkey.