Business Customs

Turks living in major cities have adopted cosmopolitan lifestyles. A foreigner visiting any one of the large cities in Türkiye will find themselves in an atmosphere like that of a contemporary European city. Turks are known for their hospitality and visiting businesspeople are encouraged to take the time to know their Turkish counterparts. In general, personal relationships provide an important basis for a successful business relationship. It is normal to allow time for friendly conversation before commencing with a business agenda. Business cards are almost always exchanged, and visitors are usually offered a glass of tea or a cup of Turkish coffee. It is customary to accept these offers.

Travel Advisory

See the latest State Department consular information sheet for Türkiye.

Visa Requirements

A passport and visa are required for U.S. citizens traveling to Türkiye. Foreigners wishing to enter Türkiye must carry a passport valid for six months beyond the date of entry.

U.S. citizens should obtain their visa prior to their arrival in Türkiye. Visa applications can be submitted at Turkish missions abroad or online through the e-Visa application system.

One exception to the visa requirement applies to U.S. citizens traveling to Türkiye by cruise ship. They may enter Türkiye without a visa for a maximum of 72 hours, with permission from local security authorities at the port of entry.

For all tourism and commerce-related entries, the traveler can remain in Türkiye for a total of 90 days within a 180-day period.

Currency

The Turkish currency is the Turkish lira (TL). There are banknotes in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 TL denominations. There are also coins, of which the highest is 1 TL, equal to 100 kurus.

Major foreign currencies can easily be exchanged for TL at banks, post offices (PTT), and foreign exchange offices. 

ATMs are ubiquitous in Turkish cities and towns. Most banks have ATMs in addition to numerous free-standing ATMs at strategic locations. It is possible to withdraw cash from MasterCard, Visa, or other major international credit cards as well as international debit cards.

Major credit cards are accepted at almost all hotels, most restaurants, department stores, grocery stores, and big retailers. However, unlike in the United States, Turkish credit cards typically operate with a PIN. Therefore, while most transactions can be done using a U.S. credit card, some transactions, such as those in taxis, may not be authorized without a PIN.

Banking hours in Türkiye are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. It is also possible to find bank branches that are open on weekends in major shopping malls in large cities.

Telecommunications/Electronics

Cellular phone coverage in Türkiye is extensive and nationwide. Türkiye’s main cellular phone operators are Turkcell, Vodafone, and Turk Telekom. Each offers 3G and 4.5G LTE networks. To avoid international roaming costs, travelers and businesspeople are advised to utilize GSM cellular service prepaid cards. However, some U.S. operators allow unlimited data use in Türkiye, albeit at lower (typically 3G) speeds. Please communicate with your current provider prior to coming to Türkiye to ensure that your U.S. cell phone is usable in Türkiye.

Wi-Fi internet access is common throughout Türkiye. Most hotels, restaurants, cafes, and businesses as well as transportation hubs offer free Wi-Fi. However, in many cases, Wi-Fi use requires registration with a Turkish cell phone number.

In Türkiye, the standard voltage is 220 Volts, and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. Outlets are European style, so travelers from the United States will need a plug adaptor for their U.S. devices.

Transportation

The national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines (THY), together with its subsidiaries, dominate air passenger service and flies non-stop daily to most major European, Middle Eastern, and Asian cities. There are several direct flights to major U.S. cities as well. European airlines also have frequent non-stop flights to Türkiye. Lufthansa offers service to Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara from its Star Alliance Frankfurt and Munich hubs. Although THY dominates domestic air travel within Türkiye, the GoT has liberalized domestic air service, and new airlines also serve the domestic market. Pegasus and Sun Express are among these smaller, private airlines. They offer direct flights, primarily to European countries.

Rail transportation, recently enriched with high-speed train lines, provides transportation between select major Turkish cities.

Networks of long-distance buses operate between many major cities. Car rentals are reasonably priced and in line with European prices. Public transportation is available in major cities; however, businesspeople are advised to use taxis. Metro transportation, though limited to specific routes, is also available in some major cities. In Istanbul, due to very heavy traffic, use of the metro is strongly advised on certain main routes which might otherwise take hours to traverse by vehicle.

Language

The official language spoken by more than 90% of the population is Turkish. Many educated Turks have a command of at least one foreign language, with sufficient fluency to carry out business transactions. Many company executives were educated in Western countries. English is the dominant language for international business, though there is relatively low overall English language penetration in the country.

Health

Medical facilities are available but may be limited outside urban areas. The care provided in Turkish hospitals varies greatly. New private hospitals in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya have modern facilities and equipment, numerous U.S.-trained specialists, and international accreditation. 

Anyone coming to Türkiye should check the latest COVID entry requirement. Travelers to Türkiye should also have comprehensive medical insurance covering expenses in the event of a health emergency. Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, can be found at the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website.  

It is strongly recommended to drink bottled water or water that has been filtered and boiled. Bottled beverages are safe to drink.

Vaccinations recommended for Türkiye and other health precautions can be viewed at the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website.

Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays

Time in Türkiye is UTC/GMT + 3 hours, and following a decree passed in 2016, this does not change. Therefore, Türkiye is seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Daylight Time (spring/summer) and eight hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time (fall/winter).

Business hours are typically from 08:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday.

Annual Turkish Holidays:

January 1 – New Year’s Day (Yeni Yil)

April 23 – National Sovereignty and Children’s Day (Milli Egemenlik ve Cocuk Bayrami)

May 1 – Labor & Solidarity Day (Emek ve Dayanisma Gunu)

May 19 – Ataturk Memorial, Youth & Sports Day (Ataturk’u Anma, Genclik ve Spor Bayrami)

July 15 – Democracy & National Solidarity Day (Demokrasi ve Milli Birlik Gunu)

August 30 – Victory Day (Zafer Bayrami)

October 28 (1/2) & October 29 – Turkish Independence Day (Cumhuriyet Bayrami)

Ramadan Feast (Ramazan Bayrami) – 3.5-day religious holiday at the end of the month of Ramadan*

Sacrifice Feast (Kurban Bayrami) – 4.5-day religious holiday beginning 70 days after Ramadan*

*Dates vary

Please note that the U.S. Mission in Türkiye is closed for both U.S. and Turkish holidays. A current list of U.S. and Turkish Holidays can be found at the U.S. Embassy to Türkiye website.

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

Travelers entering Türkiye on a temporary basis and carrying items such as laptop computers and accessories, display and exhibit materials, catalogs, brochures, pamphlets, and similar advertising materials are permitted to bring these items into Türkiye duty free. For additional information about temporary entry, please see the Trade Regulations and Standards, Temporary Entry section.