Turkey

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Turkey, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2.

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Turkey, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120.

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The tax implications for operating in Turkey may be found at the Internal Revenue Service’s United States-Turkey Income Tax Convention For further clarification, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance.

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122.  Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Turkey at 41 out of 100 (78th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  somewhat corrupt).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.  

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations

Articles

The US State Department page for information on TURKEY can be found HERE.

Personal Safety

AUTHORITIES IN TURKEY PAN TO TIGHTEN CERTAIN CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) RELATED RESTRICTIONS. ALL PERSONS NATIONWIDE MUST WEAR PROTECTIVE FACEMASKS AND OBSERVE SOCIAL DISTANCING WHILE IN PUBLIC.  INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL IS ALLOWED; TURKEY'S AIR, LAND, AND SEA BORDERS HAVE REOPENED FOR MOST TRAVELERS. NONESSENTIAL TRAVEL WITH IRAN AND IRAQ REMAINS SUSPENDED. ALL TRAVELERS ARE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO A HEALTH SCREENING ON ARRIVAL. INDIVIDUALS DISPLAYING SYMPTOMS MUST SUBMIT A COVID-19 TEST AND UNDERGO A 14 DAY QUARATINE IF POSITIVE; THE TRAVELER MUST COVER THE EXPENSE OF ALL TESTING AND QUARANTINE RELATED COSTS. AUTHORITIES COULD REIMPOSE, EXTEND, FURTHER EASE, OR OTHERWISE AMEND ANY RESTRICTIONS WITH LITTLE TO NO NOTICE DEPENDING ON DISEASE ACTIVITY OVER THE COMING WEEKS.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail).

If you are traveling to Turkey on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here(link is external). For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic(link is external)

The quality of health care in Turkey is improving but remains variable. The medical system suffers from shortages of equipment and the lack of a continuing education requirement. Private medical facilities are more likely to provide superior care than public facilities. In a health emergency, dial 112 for a public ambulance. The US Embassy has created this list(link is external) of medical providers in the Ankara area, but takes no responsibility for the quality of services.

Air pollution can be a problem in urban areas, especially in Istanbul, Van, Konya, Kars, Denizli, Hatay, Erzurum, Balikesir, Antalya, Edirne, Trabzon, and Izmir. If you have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma, please consult a medical professional prior to your trip and carry appropriate medications.

Travelers should assume the drinking water in Turkey is contaminated by untreated wastewater, industrial wastes, pesticides, or fertilizers. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort or illness, drink only bottled, boiled, or purified water. Travelers should use well-recognized brands of bottled water whenever possible.

Street vendors and other unregulated food distributors often have poor hygiene standards and should be avoided. Travelers should also avoid raw or undercooked meat dishes and unpasteurized dairy products, which frequently harbor bacterial and parasitic pathogens.

Travelers risk contracting a number of serious illnesses in Turkey, including but not limited to:

  • Malaria, transmitted by mosquito bites, in southeastern Turkey from Adana east to the Iraqi border, mainly from July to September.
  • Tuberculosis, mostly in crowded living quarters among lower socioeconomic groups. Avoid crowded places, including mass transit.
  • Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, mostly from April to September in the provinces of Sivas, Tokas, Gumushane, Bayburt, Amasya, Yozgat, Samsun, Cankin, Corum, Karabuk and Kastamonu.

From a crime standpoint, Turkey is relatively safe for travelers, although they are at risk for pickpocketing, mugging, and even assault in tourist areas, particularly in Istanbul. Due to political instability, terrorist attacks may occur in southeastern Turkey, where the Kurdish minority is often at odds with the government, and in Istanbul, where tensions between secular and Islamist political sentiments run high. Turkey’s hostility to the nearby Islamic State (ISIS) is another potential source of political violence. Large political demonstrations are common in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir. They tend to be peaceful, but can become violent, as evidenced by the Gezi Park demonstrations(link is external) of 2013 in Istanbul. On October 11, 2015, some 100 people were killed(link is external) by suicide bombers while attending a pro-Kurdish political rally in Ankara. Multiple bombings in 2016(link is external), including one in June at the Istanbul airport, resulted in dozens of deaths. A failed coup attempt(link is external) by the military in July 2016 left more than 200 people dead.

Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Turkey. Terrorist organizations explicitly target Western tourists and expatriates. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

  • Always carry with you a form of official government photo identification, such as a residence permit or copy of your passport.

Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law.

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. Turkish authorities may not inform U.S. officials of dual nationals arrested in Turkey. 

  • Insulting the State: It is illegal to show disrespect to the name or image of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, or to insult the Turkish Government, flag, President, or security forces, including on social media. Erase any sensitive photos, comments, or other materials from your social media pages, cameras, laptops, and other electronic devices that could be considered controversial or provocative.
  • Drug offenses: Turkish law enforcement is very aggressive in combating illegal drugs. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs are very strict, and include heavy fines and jail sentences between four and 20 years.
  • Cultural artifacts: Turkish law has a broad definition of “antiquities” and makes it a crime to remove any from the country. If you buy antiquities, use authorized dealers and get museum certificates for each item. Failure to have a receipt and certificate at departure can result in your arrest, and jail time. Contact the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Washington for specific information regarding customs requirements.
  • Dual citizenship: U.S.-Turkish dual nationals may be subject to laws that impose special obligations or hardships on Turkish citizens.
    • Male dual nationals over the age of 18 may be subject to Turkish conscription and compulsory military service. Consult officials at Turkish Embassies or Consulates with any questions before entering Turkey.
  • Counterfeit goods: Do not buy counterfeit or pirated goods, even if widely available. They are both illegal to bring back into the United States and to purchase locally.
  • Religious proselytizing: There is no law against religious proselytizing.

LGBTI Travelers: Homophobia, transphobia, and intolerance towards homosexuality are widespread throughout Turkey. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals are not protected by anti-discrimination laws and have been the targets of violence in recent years. References in the law relating to “offenses against public morality,” “protection of the family,” and “unnatural sexual behavior,” are sometimes used as a basis for abuse by law enforcement officials. In addition, the law states that “no association may be founded for purposes against law and morality,” a clause which has been used by authorities in attempts to shut down or limit the activities of associations working on LGBTI matters.