Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – updated situation in Turkey

On 9 April, the Turkish Ministry of Interior set out new measures (attached the original text in Turkish, informal translation in English and in Greek) related to limit the spread COVID-19. According to the measures, all drivers will be subject to health checks. Individuals who show symptoms related to the disease will not be allowed to enter Turkey.

On 27 April, the Turkish Ministry of Interior set out new measures (attached informal translation both in English and Greek) related to limit the spread COVID-19/ 

On 8 May, the Turkish Ministry of Interior updated the measures related to drivers entering Turkey (unofficial translation here). All of the below mentioned measures are not valid for entry/exit to and from Iran and Iraq.

On 3 June, the Turkish Ministry of Interior updated the measures related to drivers entering Turkey (unofficial translation here) confirming the opening of the borders with Iran and Iraq. International road transport drivers can use Gürbulak Border Gate (between Turkey and Iran, operations started in the morning of 4 June) and Habur Border Gate (between Turkey and Iraq, it will probably open in the afternoon of 4 June) for their transport operations. Once at the border, drivers must comply with procedures set out in the letter

According to the updated measures:

1. the previous obligation for foreign drivers who do not show symptoms of COVID-19 to leave Turkey within 72 hours of entering has been lifted. However, foreign drivers will be obligated to agree with a letter of commitment that they will exit Turkey as soon as possible. In this case only they will not be subject to a 14-day quarantine period.

2. drivers will be allowed to board Ro-Ro vessels if operating between the following ports:

Turkey-Ukraine:

Zonguldak – Chornomorsk (Ilyıchevsky)

Istanbul (Haydarpaşa) - Chornomorsk (Ilyıchevsky)

Karasu – Chornomorsk (Ilyıchevsky)

Turkey-Romania:

Köstence - Karasu

Turkey-Lebanon:

Taşucu - Tripoli

Turkey-Israel:

Mersin - Haifa

All other measures remain in place.

Country list (updated on 23/03 afternoon):

Angola / Algeria / Austria / Belgium / Bangladesh / China / Canada / Czech Republic / Chad / Cameroon / Colombia / Denmark / Djibouti / Dominican Republic / Egypt / Ecuador / Equatorial Guinea / France / Finland / Germany / Guatemala / Hungary / Iran / Italy / Iraq / Ireland / India / Ivory Coast / Jordan / Kuwait / Kenya / Kosovo / Kazakhstan / Lebanon / Latvia / Montenegro / Morocco / Mongolia / Moldova / Mauritania / NCTR / Norway / Netherlands / Niger / Northern Macedonia / Nepal / Oman / Poland / Philippines / Portugal / Panama / Peru / South Korea / Spain / Sweden / Switzerland / Saudi Arabia / Slovenia / Sudan / Sri Lanka / UK / United Arab Emirates / Ukraine / Uzbekistan / Taiwan / Tunisia.

Source: TOBB, UND / IRU