Türkiye
Regulations on entry, stay, residence, and treatment access for people living with HIV
The categories of restriction are:
- No restrictions on entry or staying.
The types of restriction are:
- No restrictions.
Restrictions on entry to Türkiye
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 Türkiye
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 Türkiye
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 Türkiye
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
People living with HIV may be criminalised in Turkey. While there are no HIV-specific laws in force, we are aware of reported prosecutions of alleged HIV ‘exposure’, non-disclosure, and/or transmission under general criminal laws.
Visit the Türkiye 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.
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