When can I fly to Turkey?

You might be able to get to your favourite Turkish destination sooner than you think. This week, the Turkish government revealed a list showing which date the citizens of different countries can enter the country. The information shows that from June 1, Turkey will begin to open its doors to tourists. 

When will Turkey open its borders?

• Germany: 15 June. One of the first countries to be allowed to enter Turkey is Germany. German tourists make up a large share of Turkey’s tourist numbers.
• Netherlands: 20 June: Dutch tourists also favour Turkey for holidays, and many settle in Turkey.
• Ireland: 22 June: The Irish have flown to Turkey in increasing numbers as connections between Ireland and Turkey improve.
• Australia: 1 July: Australia’s covid-19 response has been effective, and Australians can fly to Turkey in just over a month.
• China: 1 July: Citizens from China are increasingly buying property in Turkey, and are expected to fly to Turkey in greater numbers than ever before in coming months.
• Russia: 15 July: Russians also favour holidays in Turkey, and buy Turkish properties on the Mediterranean coast.
• India and Pakistan: 10 July: Citizens from the Indian subcontinent will be able to visit Turkey in a few weeks.
• United Kingdom: 15 July: The UK has been hard hit by coronavirus, so Turkey is taking a cautious approach to allowing its citizens entry. However, it’s expected UK visitors will return in large numbers, with Turkey being a favourite destination for holidays and second homes.
• France: 1 August: France was another country hard hit by coronavirus, and flights to Turkey will be some weeks away.
• Spain: 1 August: The Spanish were affected greatly by coronavirus, and flights from Spain to Turkey will resume at the beginning of August.
• Italy: 1 August: Italy’s population was devastated by the pandemic, but the country is now cautiously re-opening.
• US: 1 September: one of the last countries to be allowed to enter Turkey, the US has also been hard hit by the virus.

When will Turkey reopen?

Property Turkey director Cameron Deggin said the opening up of the country, just days away, reflects the success Turkey has had in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.

“In the last two to three months, Turkey has showed itself able to handle the coronavirus pandemic very successfully, with a low mortality rate compared to much of Europe,” Deggin said.

As Europe suffered the brunt of the pandemic, Deggin found himself fielding a greater number of enquiries about property in Turkey.

“Turkey appears to be an attractive, safe haven. I’ve been talking to potential homebuyers in the US and around Europe who are wishing to establish themselves in Turkey, because they’ve noticed Turkey has an exceptional healthcare system.”

The fear of increased taxation as hard-hit countries struggle to recoup economic losses is also a factor, Deggin says.

“They believe that tax rates that Europe and the US are going to be hiked up alongside a downturn in the economy, and want to get money out of US and Europe.”

Read more: How to take a virtual tour of Turkish property

Deggin suggests would-be buyers take advantage of current discounts. “The Lira is still low, and developers are offering significant discounts to get cash flowing again.

“With flights resuming, we’re anticipating a massive uptick in buyers rushing in for great deals. But by the time flights resume as normal in September, it will be too late for some, for example, US buyers who won’t be able to reach Turkey until the end of summer.”

To take advantage of current low prices, Property Turkey was offering virtual tours, aimed at helping buyers connect with some of the current bargains, he said.