Turkey keeps Level 2 travel advisory as US warns of arbitrary detentions

What the State Department advisory covers

The U.S. State Department kept Turkey at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution in its travel advisory issued June 9, 2026, citing terrorism, armed conflict and arbitrary detentions. The level and risk indicators didn't change from the prior version, though one area of increased risk was removed.

The advisory says terrorist groups continue to plan attacks and may target tourist sites, transportation hubs, markets, malls, hotels, restaurants, religious sites, parks, airports and major events. It also warns that Turkish authorities have detained and arrested individuals, including Americans, on alleged terror links with scant evidence and minimal due process. Some Americans have been hit with exit bans that prevent them from leaving the country, the department said. Protests not approved by the government can lead to arrest.

A do-not-travel zone applies within 10 km of the Syria and Iraq borders. In March 2026, the department ordered the departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and family members from parts of Turkey.

Who carries the most exposure

Tourists face the broadest exposure in cities and crowded venues flagged in the advisory. Expats and long-term residents carry the heaviest legal risk, since laws passed in 2018 let Turkish authorities detain individuals without charge, according to the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. Digital nomads on extended stays fall into the same bucket around residence permits and any social-media or protest activity that draws scrutiny.

Travelers near the southern border provinces face the strictest restrictions under the 10 km rule.

Practical steps before and during a trip

The embassy says ordinary U.S. passport holders can enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Those planning to work, study or conduct academic research need a visa before arrival. Passports must be valid for six months beyond entry with enough blank pages for stamps.

Key embassy guidance:

• Get an exit stamp when leaving or face a fine and trouble re-entering.
• Carry a passport or ID at all times inside Turkey.
• Residents handle permit issues through the Directorate General of Migration Management; the U.S. embassy can't intervene in Turkish immigration cases.
• Enroll in STEP and consider travel insurance.

Read our full Turkey guide for the complete picture and check more visa updates on the site.