11/06/2020
Effective June 6, all travelers must have a HES code (Hayat Eve Sığar) for domestic and international flights, train and ferry travel. Information on how to obtain this code is available at this site: https://hayatevesigar.saglik.gov.tr/hes.html. The procedure is as follows:
FOR FOREIGNERS WITHOUT A TURKISH ID: Send a text message to phone number 2023 that includes (a) the letters “HES”, (b) your nationality (USA) (c) your passport number, (d) your year of birth, and (d) the number of days you will be traveling, plus 7 days. Put a single space between each item.
Example Text to 2023: “HES USA 12345678 1985 30”
IF YOU HAVE A TURKISH RESIDENT ID: Send a text message to phone number 2023 that includes (a) the letters “HES”, (b) your Turkish kimlik number (c) your year of birth, and (d) the number of days you will be traveling, plus 7 days. Put a single space between each item.
IF YOU HAVE TURKISH CITIZENSHIP: Send a text message to phone number 2023 that includes (a) the letters “HES”, (b) your Turkish kimlik number (c) the last four digits of the series number of your ID, and (d) the number of days you will be traveling, plus 7 days. Put a single space between each item.
Travelers with problems have noted that in place of (d) the number of days, the use of your Surname has worked.
Airlines also have information on their websites in English about the HES code, including:
– Pegasus: https://www.flypgs.com/hes-kodu-nedir-nasil-alinir
– Turkish Airlines: https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/announcements/coronavirus-outbreak/hes-code/