Before you land: the paperwork
The good news for British citizens is that there's very little. On a full British citizen passport you do not need a visa for a short visit — you can enter for tourism for up to 90 days in any 180-day period (full details in our UK visa guide). Your passport must be issued less than 10 years before you arrive, valid for at least 150 days from your arrival date, and have at least one blank page for stamps. That's it — no e-visa to buy.
At passport control
After you disembark, you follow signs to passport control. Istanbul's airports are large, modern and signposted in English, so it's easy to navigate. At the desk (or e-gate, if eligible) an officer scans your passport, may ask the purpose of your visit — "holiday" or "visiting for a medical appointment" is fine — and stamps you in. It's quick and routine.
Baggage and customs
From passport control you head to baggage reclaim to collect any checked luggage, then walk through the arrivals hall. For ordinary personal belongings there's nothing to declare. If you're bringing any prescription medicines, keep them in their original packaging.
Meeting your transfer
This is where the worry evaporates: you don't have to find a taxi or work out the metro. Your pre-arranged transfer meets you, and you're driven straight to your hotel — see how airport transfers work. From Istanbul Airport (IST) the drive to the clinic area in Şişli is roughly 40–75 minutes depending on traffic; from Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side it's longer (see the airports guide).
Which airport will I arrive at?
Istanbul has two: IST on the European side (the same side as the clinic, and the more convenient arrival point) and SAW on the Asian side (often cheaper budget fares, longer transfer). We'll advise which to aim for when you book.
A few practical tips
- Keep your passport and hotel details handy for passport control.
- Have a little local currency or a card for a coffee or water — though your transfer is sorted, it's handy.
- Turn on roaming or grab an eSIM so you can message the team on arrival; airport Wi-Fi is also available.
- Don't stress about the language — airport staff and signage handle English, and your transfer driver is expecting you.
That's the whole arrival: passport scan, bags, and a friendly transfer to your hotel. For most patients it's far smoother than they feared.