Vacation album in Turkey: Family captured because of broken ID!

Vacation album in Turkey: Family captured because of broken ID!

Antalya, Türkei - Sarah Harbich started a trip to Turkey with her daughter and partner Valentina on June 18 to enjoy a short vacation there. But the arrival at Antalya Airport should become an unexpected nightmare for the family. Despite the previous unproblematic handling in Düsseldorf, where they received their boarding passes and passing the passport, a serious problem turned out to be a serious problem at the destination.

Valentina had a damaged Italian ID card that was valid until 2028 but was cut in the middle. After landing, she was taken aside by two police officers and taken to a separate room. While Sarah and her daughter went to the luggage output, Valentina was isolated from the Turkish security forces and felt badly treated there. In order to support her partner in this critical situation, Sarah and her daughter rushed to her, even though they knew that they too had to fly back tomorrow.

unwanted stay in a cell

The family was brought to a small cell with four beds after the incident, where they spent the night. The next morning they were picked up by police officers and brought back to the plane, which brought them back to Düsseldorf. There, two federal police officers were already waiting for the family and clarified that the error was with the airline. This had incorrectly issued on -board tickets for Valentina, although she had a defective ID. Sarah expressed her displeasure with the situation and hopes to receive a reimbursement for the unused journey.

The Federal Foreign Office expressly points out that a damaged identity card can refuse entry into other countries, including Turkey. In connection with the applicable entry requirements, it is important to know that German citizens can enter Turkey without visa. You can stay in the country for up to 90 days within 180 days without a visual entry, provided you have a valid passport or a passport set.

entry requirements for Turkey at a glance

An overview of the entry conditions shows that citizens from different contracting states can travel to Turkey under certain conditions without visa. For many, entry without a visa is unproblematic, but every travel plans must be well prepared. The following points must be observed:

• German citizens need a passport or a valid passer replacement document.
• Entry with a damaged ID can lead to problems.
• An online application for an e-visa can be carried out on the website www.evisa.gov.tr.

The experience of Sarah Harbich and her family illustrates how important it is to find out about the entry requirements in good time in order to avoid such stressful situations. With the right preparations, unexpected complications and predicament can be reduced to a minimum during a precious vacation.