Turkey: Airport security screening for departing international flight passengers
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa |
| Publication Date | 3 April 2008 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | TUR102800.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Turkey: Airport security screening for departing international flight passengers, 3 April 2008, TUR102800.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4829b5582d.html [accessed 21 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a 31 March 2008 telephone interview, an official at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Ottawa provided the following information on the security screening of departing international flight passengers at Turkish airports.
International flights from Turkey follow international aviation rules (Turkey 31 Mar. 2008). The security screening procedures for passengers departing from Turkey are similar to those carried out at airports in Canada (ibid.).
A departing international flight passenger must have a valid passport to leave Turkey (ibid.). If a visa is required for the country to which he or she plans to travel, it must be in the passport (ibid.).
When first arriving at the airport, the passenger must go to the check-in area (ibid.). The individual must present his or her passport and ticket at the airline check-in counter (ibid.). The passenger is then assigned a seat on the flight and his or her baggage, which is x-rayed, is checked in (ibid.). The website of Istanbul's international Ataturk Airport similarly indicates that security screening includes the x-ray screening of a passenger's bags and personal items when entering into the Departures area (Ataturk Airport n.d.). It also states that the airport has roving security and random searches by dogs (ibid.).
After an individual has checked in for a flight, he or she then proceeds to the ticket/passport control with his or her hand luggage (Turkey 31 Mar. 2008). The traveller must present his or her passport and ticket to the customs police (ibid.). According to the Embassy Official, the passenger's name is checked against a centralized computer system (ibid.). An individual will be stopped if he or she is wanted for anything (e.g., if the individual is a criminal wanted by Interpol or wanted within Turkey) (ibid.). Once the individual has been screened, the police officer may stamp the passport with an exit date; however, the Official noted that this is not always done (ibid.). The individual may then proceed to a passenger waiting area to wait for his or her flight (ibid.).
Before boarding the plane, airline staff will check the individual's ticket one more time (ibid.).
Departure tax
According to the March 2008 Travel Information Manual (TIM) published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Turkish nationals departing Turkey are required to pay a departure tax of 50 US dollars (Mar. 2008, 466). However, the Turkish Embassy Official indicated that, in the last year, the amount of the departure tax has been reduced to 15 US dollars (31 Mar. 2008). Non-residents of Turkey and Turkish citizens living abroad do not have to pay this tax (TIM Mar. 2008, 466; Turkey 31 Mar. 2008). According to the Embassy Official, the Turkish embassy will place a stamp in the passports of Turkish citizens living abroad, so that these individuals do not have to pay the departure tax (31 Mar. 2008).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Ataturk Airport. N.d. "Istanbul International Ataturk Airport."
Travel Information Manual (TIM). March 2008. "Turkey." Badhoevedorp, The Netherlands: International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Turkey. 31 March 2008. Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, Ottawa. Telephone interview with an official.
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Aviationsecuritynews.com, European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Factiva, Turkey – Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Ottawa, Turkey – Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Turkey – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey – Secretariat General for EU Affairs, United Kingdom Home Office, United States Department of State.
