The Turkey entry/health form was discontinued in 2022 and is not required for travel as of August 2026. This page is kept for historical reference only. If you are traveling soon, please check our current entry requirements for your destination.
Turkey Entry Form: No Longer Required
Turkey's pandemic-era entry form and its accompanying HES Code have been gone for years, though a few sites still advertise paid "processing" for it - money spent on nothing, since there's no requirement left to fulfill. Here's the real history: what the form covered, why Turkey built it, and when it was phased out for good.
What Was the Turkey Entry Form?
The Turkey Entry Form was a mandatory online health and travel registration required of people flying into Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Travelers completed it through the official government portal, register.health.gov.tr, within 72 hours of their flight.
It's important to distinguish this defunct form from Turkey's e-Visa, a separate and still-active immigration system available at evisa.gov.tr. The two have never been related: one was a temporary pandemic health measure, and the other is a standard entry visa requirement for travelers from many countries.
Why the Turkish Government Created It
Turkey's Ministry of Health introduced the Entry Form on March 15, 2021, as part of the country's broader COVID-19 border-control strategy. Its purpose was straightforward: track international arrivals, support contact tracing efforts, and reduce the risk of imported COVID-19 cases during a period of widespread global travel restrictions.
Once submitted, the form automatically generated a HES Code, short for "Hayat Eve Sığar" ("Life Fits Into Home"). This code linked into Turkey's domestic COVID-19 tracking system, which was also used for various in-country purposes during the pandemic.
What Information Travelers Had to Submit
The form asked travelers for a combination of personal, travel, and health details, including:
- Personal and contact information
- Travel itinerary and flight information
- Health-related declarations used to assess COVID-19 risk
The resulting HES Code wasn't just a boarding requirement - travelers had to present it at check-in, and once in Turkey, it was also used to access certain venues and register transit cards, such as Istanbul's Istanbulkart.
How the Requirement Changed Over the Pandemic
The Entry Form and HES Code system evolved considerably as global COVID-19 policies shifted:
- 2021
Launched as a standalone entry-tracking form tied to the HES Code system.
- 2 March 2022
Turkey lifted its PCR test, vaccination certificate, and HES Code requirements for entry, as well as for accessing venues and public transportation.
- 2022-2023
The entry form itself was progressively phased out alongside the wind-down of the underlying HES system. By 2023, travelers and residents confirmed that no form was required, and the registration portal was no longer operational.
Is Anything Similar Required to Enter Turkey Today?
No. As of today, there is no COVID-era entry form or HES Code requirement to travel to Turkey. This process was fully discontinued.
That said, don't confuse this with Turkey's e-Visa, which remains a legitimate, active immigration requirement for travelers from many countries. If you're planning a trip, check your eligibility and apply directly through the official portal at evisa.gov.tr.
A word of caution: some third-party websites still advertise paid "Turkey entrance form" or "HES code" processing services. These reference a requirement that no longer exists, and travelers should avoid paying for services tied to a defunct process. If you're preparing for travel elsewhere, browse our active country guides to find the correct, up-to-date requirements for your destination.
Do I still need to fill out a Turkey Entry Form?
No. It was phased out by 2023 along with the HES Code system it supported.
What was the Turkey Entry Form used for?
It supported COVID-19 contact tracing and entry screening. Submitting it generated a HES Code, which travelers used throughout their stay in Turkey.
When was the Turkey Entry Form introduced?
Turkey's Ministry of Health introduced it on March 15, 2021.
Is the Turkey Entry Form the same as the Turkey e-Visa?
No, they're unrelated. The e-Visa is a separate, still-active immigration requirement for travelers from many countries and has nothing to do with the discontinued COVID-19 entry process.
Should I pay a website to process a Turkey entry form for me?
No. There's no current form to process, so any site charging for this service is selling something that doesn't exist anymore.