Turkey
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- No restrictions on entry or staying.
Restrictions on entry to Turkey
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Turkey based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Turkey does not have any HIV-related restrictions on entry.
Nothing in the list of documents required to request a visa, available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests an HIV-related restriction on entry.
Restrictions on short-term stay in Turkey
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on short-term stay in Turkey based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Turkey does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
Nothing in the list of documents required to request a visa, available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests an HIV-related restriction on short-term stay.
Restrictions on long-term stay in Turkey
We found no evidence of any official restrictions on long-term stay in Turkey based on HIV status.
According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Turkey does not have any HIV-related restrictions on short-term stay.
Nothing in the list of documents required to request a visa, available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggests an HIV-related restriction on short-term stay.
The Ministry of Interior provides a list of supporting documents that should be included with a Residence Permit application and none of those documents makes reference to HIV or the general health of the applicant.
Treatment access in Turkey
The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Turkey. There is some evidence that non-nationals are restricted from accessing treatment in the same way as nationals.
Foreigners have to pay for medication and hospital expenses in Turkey unless they have a Turkish Social Security registration. However, emergency treatment for general health problems is free – this does not apply to HIV-related treatment.
Currently, most antiretroviral drugs are available in Turkey. One can buy all medications in a pharmacy without prescription.
Prescription medications can be brought into Türkiye for personal use, but they cannot be shipped from abroad during a stay. Medications sent from outside the country will be held at customs. Under current law, prescription medicines can only clear customs with special permits. It is advisable to bring enough medication for the entire duration of the stay.
Some hospitals admit and treat patients with HIV. Some of these hospitals are University clinics, others are State hospitals. In every city, there is at least one Medicine Research and Education Clinic so called “Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi” in Turkish where antiretroviral treatment is available.
The HIV Justice Network's Global HIV Criminalisation Database
Visit the Turkey page on the Global HIV Criminalisation Database to see more information about known HIV criminalisation laws in this country, an overview of how the laws are used, and any significant advocacy developments.
UNAIDS Global AIDS monitoring data
This information about access to HIV services comes from UNAIDS https://lawsandpolicies.unaids.org/, a platform to view data on HIV-related laws and policies. This is information provided by national authorities and civil society and may contradict other sources.
Migrant populations
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable documented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable undocumented migrants to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Migrants are able to access HIV services | Yes |
Refugees and asylum seekers
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable asylum seekers to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | N/A |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens | Yes |
| Laws/policies enable refugees to access HIV services under the same conditions as citizens implemented (countries with such laws/policies) | Yes |
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This site focuses on information about HIV travel. Please also consult your own Foreign Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, or the local consulate of the country you are visiting, to see what restrictions there are specifically for you as a citizen of your country, regardless of your HIV status.
