A Guide to Consular Emergency Services in Turkey

For foreign citizens living in or traveling to Turkey, consulates and embassies are the primary points of support in situations such as life-threatening danger, legal issues, or urgent document needs.

Here is the Guide to Consular Emergency Services for foreign citizens in Turkey:

1. What Situations Are Considered Emergencies?

Consulates generally provide services outside of regular business hours or on weekends only for situations involving legal or life-threatening danger. Emergency situations include:

• Arrest or Detention: Being detained or arrested by Turkish authorities. In this case, the consulate can help provide an interpreter and inform you about your legal rights.

• Serious Accident, Illness, or Death: A serious accident or illness requiring hospitalization. The death of a citizen in Turkey (helping the family with funeral arrangements and repatriation of remains).

• Lost/Stolen Passport (Urgent Travel): Issuing a temporary travel document for a person who needs to return to their home country urgently due to a lost or stolen passport. (End of a vacation, visa expiration, etc., are not considered emergencies.)

• Financial Emergency: Assistance with a money transfer from family when all your money has been stolen or lost and you need to make a vital payment urgently.

• Natural Disasters and Evacuation: Evacuation coordination and information in situations like earthquakes, floods, or political crises.

2. Emergency Communication Channels

Every embassy and consulate general has an on-duty (emergency) hotline available outside of business hours.

Situation	Communication Channel	Note
For Citizens of Your Own Country	Embassy/Consulate On-Duty Hotline	Each mission publishes a 24/7 emergency phone number on its website. These lines usually only serve citizens of that specific country.
For Turkish Citizens (While Abroad)	Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Call Center	+90 312 292 29 29 (operates 24/7).
General Information for Foreigners	YİMER 157 (Foreigners’ Communication Center)	Provides 24/7 service on topics such as visas, residence permits, international protection, and reporting migrant smuggling.
Life-Threatening Situations	112 (Emergency Call Center)	The single number for Police, Gendarmerie, Fire Department, Ambulance, and Forest Fire services. You can also receive service in foreign languages.

3. Consular Emergency Assistance Procedures

When you request help from your consulate in an emergency, you can generally receive the following services:

• Medical Assistance: Referral to a hospital, contacting your insurance company or family. Helping you organize the process if a medical evacuation (air ambulance, etc.) is required.

• Document Assistance: Issuing a temporary travel document (Emergency Travel Document) to enable your return to your home country if your passport is lost.

• Legal Support: In case of arrest or detention, providing a list of lawyers and visiting you (if permitted).

• Financial Assistance: Helping to deliver money sent from family, friends, or your insurance company, or providing a loan up to the limits set by your country (only for some countries).

• Family Communication: Informing your family in serious situations like illness, accident, or death.

Important Reminder

Remember that consulates:

• Cannot get you out of prison or interfere with Turkish legal processes.

• Will not pay your legal fees or fines.

• Cannot replace your lost or stolen money.

Therefore, it is vital to save your emergency contact number and purchase comprehensive travel health insurance before traveling to Turkey.