The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely changed the way we travel… if we travel at all. Most foreigners live far away from their families and for many of us planning to visit our families is more stressful than before. Ironically, these days as many finally work remotely, we might actually be more location-dependent than before. Not only are there fewer flights to and from Turkey, but the rules to enter countries regularly change. Most countries, including Turkey, now require a negative PCR test upon arrival.
Where To Go For PCR Testing in Istanbul?
An up-to-date list of all the hospitals and laboratories where you can test yourself for travel purposes in Istanbul is available on via the Health Ministry. The list of the authorized labs all over Turkey is also frequently updated and is available on here via the Health Ministry. I would advise you to check the list and then call the hospital or laboratory in advance. From time to time certain hospital or labs do not do PCR tests for various reasons. Never forget to ask the approximate time to get the results.
At the Airport – But Only If You Travel
According to my friends’ and my personal experiences, the airport testing centers are the fastest and cheapest. In most of the cases, you only need a negative PCR test at the time of arrival to the destination country.
The testing center at the New Istanbul Airport is located one floor below the check-in floor. Currently, there are three private companies doing tests. Prices and waiting times are the same at all of them. You wait a maximum of six hours to get the results. Results are accessible online via E-Nabiz. No appointment is required, however, if you do not have a booked flight from the airport, unfortunately, you won’t be able to enter the airport and therefore get tested. You can get more info and current regulations via the airport webpage.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport also has a testing center, located on the ground floor. According to their web page, results are provided in less than three hours.
Charges and Waiting Time.
The waiting time on PCR test results really differs. Prices, on the other hand, are more or less the same at 250 TL. If you are not a resident in Turkey, prices might be much higher, i. e. 500 TL or even more.
