American Tesol

Turkey - Level 4: Do Not Travel

Do not travel to Turkey due to COVID-19. Exercise increased caution when traveling to Turkey due to terrorism and arbitrary detentions. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Read the Department of State?s COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 4 Travel Health Notice for Turkey due to COVID-19, indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country. Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine. Before planning any international travel, please review the CDC?s specific recommendations for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers.

Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 and related restrictions and conditions in Turkey.

Do not travel to:

Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Turkey. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.

Security forces have detained tens of thousands of individuals, including U.S. citizens, for alleged affiliations with terrorist organizations based on scant or secret evidence and grounds that appear to be politically motivated. U.S. citizens have also been subject to travel bans that prevent them from departing Turkey. Participation in demonstrations not explicitly approved by the Government of Turkey, as well as criticism of the government (including on social media) can result in arrest.

Read the country information page.

If you decide to travel to Turkey:

Sirnak Province, Hakkari Province, and Any Area within six miles (ten kilometers) of the Syrian Border ? Level 4: Do Not Travel

Do not travel to Sirnak province, Hakkari province, or any area within six miles (ten kilometers) of the Turkey/Syria border due to the continued threat of attacks by terrorist groups, armed conflict, and civil unrest. Terrorist attacks, including suicide bombings, ambushes, car bomb detonations, and improvised explosive devices, as well as shootings, and illegal roadblocks leading to violence have occurred in these areas. U.S. government employees are restricted from traveling to these provinces and to any area within six miles (ten kilometers) of the Turkey/Syria border without prior approval.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

Last Update: Reissued with updates to COVID-19 information.

Turkey is a transcontinental Eurasian country located mainly on the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeastern Europe.

Briefings from the Turkish press
How are the signals about the opening of the gates between Turkey and Armenia received at the border? (Source: Sputnik Turkiye) There have been positive messages between Turkey and Armenia in recent ...
Publ.Date : Thu, 16 Sep 2021 12:11:00 GMT

Ataturk\'s legacy sparks row between Greek Cypriots, Turkey
The withdrawal of a book from Greek Cypriot high school classes over a disputed reference to modern Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on Thursday triggered a war of words between Turkey and the ...
Publ.Date : Thu, 09 Sep 2021 08:03:00 GMT

Turkey Using Refugees To Leverage EU, Report Says
"Over the last four years or so, there has been a lot of disagreement between Turkey and the European Union," Tasos Ioannidis of AMG International explained, as reported by Mission Network News. The ...
Publ.Date : Thu, 16 Sep 2021 08:50:00 GMT

Turkey Blasts Cyprus for Ripping Out Textbook Page on Kemal Ataturk
Turkey reacted angrily to the decision by Cyprus to rip out a school textbook page referring to the founder of modern Turkey, Kemal Ataturk.
Publ.Date : Thu, 09 Sep 2021 02:18:00 GMT

Afghan migrants coming up against an increasingly hostile Turkish border
EFE/EPA/SEDAT SUNA A teacher gives Turkish language lessons to migrants from Afghanistan who were caught by Turkish border security forces after crossing illegally into Turkey from Iran at the ...
Publ.Date : Thu, 26 Aug 2021 09:09:00 GMT

Media watchdog RSF funds training for Kurdish journalists in Turkey
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A non-governmental organization, backed by an international press freedom monitor, opened an office in southeast Turkey to ... very meaningful to teach new media ...
Publ.Date : Thu, 26 Aug 2021 17:00:00 GMT

Renowned Kurdish geographer dies in Istanbul at 65
Onen was in intensive care in an Istanbul hospital before passing away, his brother Fuat told Rudaw English ... Turkey on February 24, 1956, Onen spent most of his life as a geography teacher ...
Publ.Date : Sun, 22 Aug 2021 17:00:00 GMT

York teacher, who adopted a golden retriever from Turkey, writes book to bring attention to international pet rescues
The story of the driven high school English teacher and her mischievous dog is featured in Speece?s first book, ?My Journey with Ernie: Lessons from a Turkey Dog,? published independently in ...
Publ.Date : Tue, 17 Aug 2021 08:58:00 GMT

Turkey aims to improve ties with Egypt, UAE
Turkey continued on Tuesday to reach out to regional rivals Egypt and the United Arab Emirates in a renewed bid to mend frayed ties that have stoked regional tensions. Turkish ...
Publ.Date : Tue, 07 Sep 2021 03:20:00 GMT

Minister: 90 percent of hospitalized Covid patients in Turkey not fully vaccinated
teachers and administrative staff to strictly follow the pandemic measures to prevent the further closure of schools. Erol Özvar, head of the Council of Higher Education, who also attended the meeting ...
Publ.Date : Fri, 03 Sep 2021 01:29:00 GMT

Turkish bakery and cafe opens Northwest Side storefront
Kucuker had worked in early childhood education in her home country, but felt her English wasn't strong enough to teach here, but she loved to bake Turkish cuisine to provide reminders of home ...
Publ.Date : Thu, 02 Sep 2021 08:04:00 GMT

Learn more about #English #education in #Turkey - https://t.co/nzbeeDxnmO @tcmeb

— American TESOL, Teach English Abroad (@americantesol) August 6, 2020