Turkey relaxes requirements for South African travellers

Good news for those wishing to travel to Turkey – the country has relaxed entry requirements for all South African travellers.

Turkish Airlines in South Africa recently issued a statement with news that there will be a relaxation of entry requirements to Turkey for travellers from South Africa.

According to Travel News, in order to be exempt from quarantine, vaxxed travellers must carry their proof of vaccination. This proof must show two doses of vaccine listed by the World Health Organisation (or Turkey for emergency use) or one dose of Johnson & Johnson. The last dose must have been taken a minimum of 14 days before arrival in Turkey. There will be no need for a negative PCR or antigen test.

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What are some other requirements needed for travel to Turkey?

Another way a passenger might be able to board a Turkish Airlines flight is by providing a proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the prior six months, starting from the 28th day of the first positive PCR test result.

Unvaccinated travellers will have to either provide a negative result from a PCR test taken within the 72 hours before arrival in Turkey, or a negative result from an antigen test taken 48 hours before arrival.

Travellers under the age of 12 are will not need to present a PCR or antigen test and vaccine certificates on entry.

All documents, be it vaccine certificates, proof of recovery or PCR or antigen test results, will be checked by the airline before travel and passengers without the relevant documents will not be allowed to board. All travellers wishing to visit Turkey will have to complete a Passenger Locator Form, which can be found here.

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