How to Obtain the e-Government Travel Permit, and Who Is Eligible? The coronavirus pandemic, which continues to affect the world, has forced many countries to adopt precautionary measures. As global deaths from the virus approach 70,000, each country is taking steps to slow transmission and minimize losses. Various measures are being implemented internationally to control and ultimately eliminate the outbreak.
In Turkey, following measures announced personally by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, entry to and exit from provinces with dense populations have been restricted as one of the latest precautions.
Travel restrictions between cities have been finalized for 31 provinces. For those provinces, entry and exit are generally prohibited, but in urgent cases controlled intercity travel can be permitted through an official travel permit.
President Erdoğan emphasized that, except for force majeure situations, people should avoid leaving their city and should not leave their homes unless absolutely necessary. This guidance is part of the national measures responding to the coronavirus outbreak.
In certain urgent situations, travel outside a city is allowed if a travel permit is obtained. Below you will find detailed information on what the travel permit is, who can apply, and how and where to apply for it.
What Is a Travel Permit?
A Travel Permit is an official authorization required for changing cities during the coronavirus measures. Using public or private transport to travel between provinces without this permit can result in administrative fines.
After entry and exit bans were introduced for 31 provinces, intercity travel to other provinces also became subject to permits. Travel between provinces is allowed only with the authorized travel permit.
To facilitate this process, applications for travel permits are handled through the e-Government (e-Devlet) system. According to official announcements, you can apply online through e-Government and obtain a PDF copy of the approved permit.
How Is the Travel Permit Obtained?
To travel from one city to another during the pandemic, obtaining a travel permit has become mandatory. Travelers without a permit are subject to administrative fines.
There is no need to visit district governorates or municipalities in person to apply. Applications are made online via the e-Government portal, and once approved you can download and print the permit in PDF format.
The first step to obtain a travel permit is to log into e-Government. After logging in, go to the Ministry of Interior section and select the e-Application (e-Başvuru) area.
Within e-Application, click the Travel Permit transactions link and complete the form that appears. If your application is deemed appropriate, your travel permit request will be approved.
Permitted usage under the travel permit includes:
- Private vehicles with limited passenger capacity,
- Commercial vehicles with D2 passenger transport permits that have a maximum capacity of 20 passengers,
In both cases, the number of passengers carried must not exceed half of the vehicle’s permitted capacity.
How Are Travel Permit Applications Evaluated?
Intercity travel is conditional on receiving the appropriate travel permit. Those who do not obtain the required permit may be subject to travel bans and administrative fines.
The travel permit application process works as follows:
- Applications are submitted through the e-Government system,
- Submitted applications are forwarded to the Travel Permit Committee for evaluation,
- The committee evaluates the application and applicants are informed of approval or rejection via SMS,
- Applicants whose requests are approved can confirm their application at the service desks located at bus terminals or airports by presenting their Turkish ID number.
Who Can Apply for a Travel Permit?
Travel permits are issued on a limited basis by Travel Permit Committees established by district governorates. The following groups are generally eligible to apply:
- Patients who have been discharged from hospital and wish to return to their residence,
- Those with a doctor’s report or referral, or who have a previously scheduled medical appointment,
- Those traveling to attend the funeral of a first-degree relative who has died (excluding deaths caused by COVID-19),
- Personnel involved in funeral transfer operations not related to COVID-19 deaths,
- Individuals who arrived in the province within the last 5 days and have no place to stay,
- Those who can document that they arrived in the province within the last 5 days,
- Individuals released from penal institutions,
- Students who, after returning from abroad, were placed in dormitories and completed a 14-day quarantine period.