Entry and Exit Restrictions – Additional Directive Sent to Governorates! Measures and restrictions are being implemented rapidly in response to the coronavirus. As part of these efforts, the Ministry of Interior has sent an additional directive to the governorates of designated provinces regarding restrictions on vehicle entry and exit. According to the directive, travel permits may be issued by the Travel Permit Boards established at governorates and district governorates for the following groups: patients discharged from hospital after treatment, those traveling to attend the funeral of a first‑degree relative or a sibling of themselves or their spouse, people who arrived in the city within the last five days and have no place to stay, persons who have completed military service, and those released from penal institutions.
For the 31 provinces subject to vehicle entry and exit restrictions, requests for Travel Permits can be submitted directly to the travel permit boards at governorates and district governorates through the Ministry of Interior’s e-Application system. Applications can also be made by phone via the ministry’s Alo 199 hotline. The ministry emphasized in the circular sent to the governorates of all 81 provinces that age restrictions related to entry and exit measures are included. According to the directive, during efforts to combat the coronavirus, in addition to possible air, land and sea entries and exits for the 31 major provinces, citizens born on or after 01.01.2001 are prohibited from going out.
In Which Situations Can Citizens Receive a Travel Permit?
Which situations qualify for a Travel Permit? According to the directive sent by the Ministry of Interior to provincial governorates, the situations where a Travel Permit may be issued are as follows.
- Patients discharged from the hospital who wish to return to their registered residence, those referred with a doctor’s report, or those with a previously scheduled doctor’s appointment or follow‑up,
- Those traveling to attend the funeral of a first‑degree relative or sibling of themselves or their spouse,
- Those accompanying funeral transport when the cause of death is not coronavirus,
- Those who arrived in the city at most five days prior, have no place to stay and wish to return to their residence, provided they document and present proof that they arrived within five days,
- Those who have completed military service and wish to return home,
- Those summoned by a public or private institution with a dated appointment letter,
- Those released from penal institutions,
- Those arriving from abroad whose 14‑day quarantine and observation period at dormitories operated by the Credit and Dormitories Authority has ended.
Where Can We Apply for a Travel Permit?
Where can you apply for a Travel Permit? If you need a Travel Permit, you may apply through the following channels and authorities.
- By calling the Ministry of Interior’s Alo 199 hotline,
- Through the Ministry of Interior’s e-Appointment system,
- Directly to the travel permit boards at governorates and district governorates,
- Issued Travel Permits will be arranged as either one‑way from the departure province or round trip,
- A one‑way Travel Permit is valid for up to 36 hours; a round‑trip permit remains valid for 72 hours,
- For discharged soldiers to reach their destinations, governorates will coordinate with the relevant military units to take necessary measures,
- Travel permits may be used in private vehicles subject to passenger capacity limits, and in commercial vehicles with a D2 passenger permit (maximum 20 passengers) provided that passenger numbers do not exceed half capacity,
- For provinces where entry and exit restrictions have been applied under Article A/1/c of the circular, people who arrived within the last five days, have no place to stay and wish to return to their residence may submit Travel Permit requests between 08:00 on 05.04.2020 (Sunday) and 08:00 on 09.04.2020 (Thursday),
- For citizens aged 65 and over and those with chronic illnesses whose movements have been restricted under the circular dated 03.2020 and numbered 5762, travel permits issued to enable travel under that circular will also be valid for entry and exit to and from the cities where restrictions apply.