Visa Requirements
A visa is required for Westerners to enter Turkey. A multiple entry visitor's visa can be obtained and is valid for 90 days at the port of entry on payment.

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 according to length of overstay: an overstay of one month currently incurs a fine of 166 New Turkish Lira.

Driving (Left/Right)
Right

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 New Turkish Lira) and immediately confiscate their licence for six months.

Rail Safety
On 21 December 2005, two trains collided between the Halkali and Sirkecisurburbs of Istanbul. Fourteen people were injured.

On 23 November 2005, a train collided with a truck crossing the railway line in Tarsus, near Adana in southern Turkey. Nine people were killed and eighteen were injured.

On 22 July 2004, 38 people were killed and over 80 were injured when a high-speed train derailed on the line between Istanbul and Ankara.

Air Safety
The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm

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

Natural Disasters

Many parts of Turkey lie on a major seismic fault line and are subject to earthquakes and tremors. In eastern Turkey, an earthquake in May 2003, measuring 6.4 on the Richter Scale resulted in over 150 deaths. Other recent incidents include:

On 17 October 2005, three earthquakes measuring 5.6, 5.7 and 5.9 on the Richter scale struck Izmir. Minor structural damage was reported, with 6 people sustaining injuries. On 21 October 2005 an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck Izmir. Minor structural damage was reported with 19 people sustaining injuries. Also on 21 October 2005 the seismic Observatory in the district advised residents of Izmir that serious seismic activity in the region will continue for some time.

On 6 June 2005 an earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale occurred in Bingol province, south east Turkey. Initial reports indicate 46 people were injured and several houses suffered structural damage, no fatalities have been recorded.

On 25 January 2005 seven earthquakes measuring between 3.8 and 5.5 on the Richter scale occurred in Hakkari City, south east Turkey. Reports indicate two fatalities and 22 casualties with damage to approximately 80 buildings.

Avalanches in the Palandoken Mountains, Erzurum, northern Turkey, resulted in the death of a British tourist in March 2004, and a Russian tourist on 2 February 2005. On 11 February 2006, an avalanche in the Aladaglar Mountains, Nigde, central Turkey, resulted in the deaths of four mountaineers.

Health

Do not travel without comprehensive medical insurance (including cover for medical repatriation), as private medical treatment is very expensive. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.

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

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
Outbreaks of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in Turkey resulted in four deaths in eastern Turkey in January 2006, believed to have arisen through close contact with infected poultry.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be low. However, as a precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the possibility that the Avian Influenza outbreaks could lead at some point to a human flu pandemic, if the virus mutates to a form which is easily transmissable between people.

Westerners in Turkey should take personal responsibility for their own safety in the event of a future pandemic, including considering their access to adequate healthcare and ensuring travel documents are up to date.

Landmines

Turkey reported that 919,855 mines were laid in known areas across its territory, and that at least 687 mines were in locations suspected to be mine-contaminated

The border with Syria was mined by Turkey in 1956-1959, primarily with antipersonnel mines. Mines were used around security installations and on some sections of the borders with Armenia, Iran and Iraq to prevent illegal border crossings. Landmines were also laid by government forces in east and southeast Turkey during and after intensive armed conflict in 1984-1999 with “the purpose of hindering terrorists from moving into central regions.” In the same period and subsequently, the PKK and associated groups also used mines in these areas

In the east and southeast of the country, mines in and around evacuated villages impede the return of displaced people.

In September 2003, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and its successor groups ended the 1999 unilateral cease-fire, in favor of a future bilateral cease-fire. In 2004, attacks against government forces increased, including use of mines. The media has reported numerous mine incidents in 2005 as the fighting has intensified. Most of these reports cite the PKK/Kongra-Gel as the party responsible for new mine use in Turkey. Media reports primarily indicate use of antivehicle mines, including command-detonated mines, which has resulted in civilian as well as military casualties.

In the Hakkari province, close to the borders with Iran and Iraq, mines were laid around villages, military installations, border areas, water springs, feeding grounds, pathways and mountain caves. Despite the fact that the armed confrontations ceased five years ago, mines continue to pose a serious threat to returnees.