Important update for British nationals

Healthcare and Visa Changes

Visa regulations for British tourists in Turkey – update 9/3/12

The Turkish Authorities revised their visa procedures on 1 February 2012. (Please find below) 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs have now provided us with a written update which states that:-

“…An amendment to the relevant legislation of the Interior Ministry has made it possible for provincial governor’s offices to issue ex officio residence permits for touristic purposes which are valid for up to six months (including six months) in line with general provisions on granting residence permits to foreigners who have arrived in our country on a visa issued by our foreign missions, an on-arrival visa or visa exemption agreements.
Foreigners who exceed the duration of their visa, visa exemption or previously issued residence permits can benefit from the above-mentioned practice on the condition that they pay the penalty for overstaying.
In this respect, while Cabinet Decree No:2011/2306, which took effect on February 1, 2012 set the duration of stay in Turkey for foreigners as 90 days in an 180-day period, foreigners who are visiting our country as tourists can legally stay in our country for a total of nine months through a six-month residence permit which they can receive from governor’s offices upon application. …”

To summarise, British nationals who have arrived in Turkey on a tourist visa and who wish to stay on for a longer period can apply for a tourist residence permit for a stay of up to 9 months.  This provision already appeared in the original regulation (full text from Turkish Police website (in Turkish)) but it seems that the application procedures have now been simplified.      

For further information or to make an application, you should contact your nearest Foreigners Police/Aliens Department (Yabancilar Subesi).    

Consular Services Turkey
9 March 2012

Update on Turkish Health Insurance Regulations as of 30 January 2012

This is an update to our notices of 25 January.  

As we confirmed on 25 January, the Turkish SGK healthcare scheme is not compulsory for British nationals.  We are aware that some local SGK offices claim to be unaware of this change.  We have passed these offices a copy of the confirmation letter from SGK and we have asked the SGK authorities in Ankara to reissue their circular notice about this change.  

For those wanting to register for healthcare, we are aware that some SGK offices are still asking for individual letters from the NHS confirming that you are no longer eligible for NHS cover in the UK.  This is unnecessary as we have already provided the SGK authorities in Ankara with a statement from the NHS that covers all British nationals.  Again, we have asked the SGK authorities to recirculate this letter to all of their offices around Turkey.  

For those who want to join, please contact your local SGK office by 31 January 2012.  

For those of you who are still considering your options, we have been told that you can join at a later date. But as things currently stand, you would have to pay a fine and pay the back months from 1 February 2012.  

For those who prefer to pay for treatment as they need it or to use their own private health insurance, you do not have to join.  You can continue doing as you do currently.  However, if you change your mind and choose to join later, see the paragraph above re: fines and back payment.  

We know that there are still a lot of unanswered questions.  This is not UK legislation and we are not the authority leading on it.  This is not only affecting British nationals, almost all foreign nationals are expected to join.  We are keeping in touch with the relevant Turkish authorities, and have urged the SGK in Ankara, both directly and through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to provide more information on your most commonly asked questions, in English, so that you can make informed decisions.  

We have also asked the Turkish authorities about a number of issues in all this that affect British nationals, both those joining before 31/1 and afterwards.  You will understand that we cannot go into the details of these discussions at the moment. Nor can we predict the outcome. As soon as we have more information, we will provide an update here.  

The British Government attaches the highest priority to protecting the interests of British Nationals overseas. In Turkey, consular services to British and certain other nationalities are provided by the Embassy in Ankara, the Consulate General in Istanbul and our other Consulates.

The services include the issue and replacement of British passports, registration of births and deaths, voter registration, acceptance of notice of marriage and issuance of Certificates of No Impediment. With few exceptions, consular services attract statutory fees.

Occasionally, British people living in or visiting Turkey get into some form of trouble. When British nationals are arrested or imprisoned, consular staff will visit them and offer whatever assistance they properly can. We will also offer help and advice to British nationals in other cases of need.

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Changes to Tourist Visas for British Nationals

Since 2010, Turkish visit visas issued at arrival ports state that they are valid for multiple stays up to a maximum of 90 days in a 180 day period.

Up to 31 January 2012, this rule has not been enforced by the Turkish immigration authorities, who were operating a flexible interpretation of the requirement.

However, from 1 February 2012, the new visa rules will be fully enforced, and you will only be able to stay in Turkey for a total of 90 days in every 180.  We had approached the Turkish Authorities to see if this implementation date could be delayed but unfortunately, it could not.  

If you plan to remain in Turkey for a period of more than 90 days after 1February, you should either enquire about longer stay visas from your nearest Turkish Embassy before departure, or if in Turkey, you should enquire at your local Foreigners Police Department (Yabancilar Sube) before 90 days expires.  If you stay in Turkey for long periods of time, it may be worth considering obtaining a residence permit.  

Be careful not to overstay the 90 day period.  Overstaying is taken very seriously by the Turkish Authorities.  As is current practice, those who overstay the 90 day limit could be fined, detained, deported and banned from re-entering Turkey.