How to Transit at Istanbul Airport, Turkey - Connecting Flight Transfer

The flight transfer facilities at the beautiful Istanbul International Airport enable a seamless transition to your connecting flight. Please be reminded that the airport is huge, it can take up to 60 minutes to walk between gates, do ensure you allocate sufficient time for your transfer.
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0:23 - Single Ticket / PNR Transfer (International to International)
1. Exit your incoming flight. Follow the clearly marked red signs for International Transfer.
2. You will not need to go through immigration or customs. Visa is not required. Your checked baggage will be sent directly to your final destination
3. Proceed to the transfer desk of your connecting airline to Check in for your connecting flight and receive your boarding pass if you have not done so earlier.
4. Go through the security checkpoint. The international transfer security facilities are extensive.
5. Head to Departures.
6. Proceed to your boarding gate and wait for your flight. have your boarding pass and your passport/ID card ready.
1:23 - Separate Tickets/ PNR Transfer
1. Exit your incoming flight. Follow the signs to Baggage Reclaim and Passport Control.
2. Go through the immigration at passport control. Make sure you meet the requirements to enter Turkey; valid passport, visa (if required). All passengers to Turkey must complete the Turkey Traveler Entry Form, 72 hours before departure and obtain a private HES code.
3. Collect your baggage. Check in for your connecting flight and collect your boarding pass.
4. Go through security and immigration again.
5. Head to your boarding gate to board your flight.
2:43 - Arrival & Transfer
International to Domestic Transfer
-Disembark from the aircraft with your cabin baggage only and go through passport control
-Go to the domestic terminal.
-After completing your flight, you can get your baggage from the airport at the arrival (final) point (single PNR)
Ref:
Map: www.turkishair...
www.istairport...

[@saniya7649]

Your video is really helpful! I'll be flying again after 6 years with Turkish airlines for the first time from Germany to Indonesia. Your video will prove to be a gread guidance for my journey ahead! Thanks again :)

[@theresearchfiles]

Happy to be able to help. Have a good trip.

[@chriswareing1991]

thank for posting very helpful i will go there from uk to indonesia my first time doing a connection

[@theresearchfiles]

Glad it was helpful!

[@anastasiamatei5234]

Hi,i have 1 hour transit connection the same company turkish airlines its enough?Or the flight will stop where i will take of?Thnaks many

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, usually with a single PNR booking, the airline will ensure you are able to transit to your connecting flight, you don't have to collect your luggage and pass immigration, and 1 hours should be fine.

[@midonga7211]

It was really helpful thank you❤

[@nevergiveupnevergivein7655]

Flying from Lusaka, Zambia to Turin, Italy via IST with my wife and 2-year-old daughter. Only two affordable flight options. One is a 18:45 layover in IST (not really an option with a young child) and the other is a 1:45 layover in IST. Ticket to be booked on a single PNR. Wondering if transferring with a young child in that time span will be possible, or would we be setting ourselves up to be stranded?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, we were able to transfer to our connecting flight in just 1 hour. I think it might be possible with a stroller :)

[@SetAndABreakDown]

Hello. Thanks for uploading this video. We have a flight from Mumbai -Istanbul - Nevshehir(cappadocia) on a single ticket PNR via Turkish Airlines. If i understood this video correctly, we dont have to go through immigration and baggagle reclaim since our baggage will be checked through to Nevshehir. We just have to go to the Domestic Transfer Desk and go through security with our boarding pass. Correct?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, the video shows transfer from international to international flight. According to Turkish Airlines website: from an international point and continuing to a domestic destination with customs control, whose transfer flight routes are arranged with a single ticket -Disembark from the aircraft with your cabin baggage only and go through passport control to enter the country. -Go to the domestic terminal. -After completing your flight, you can get your baggage from the airport at the arrival point. www.turkishairlines.com/en-tr/any-questions/transfer-transit-passengers/

[@SetAndABreakDown]

Thank You.

[@Itzparadoxe]

i have a 1 hour layover when i arrive, how long did it take to clear up security when you got there? thanks

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, it was pretty quick for us. about 15-20 minutes.

[@theresearchfiles]

Our layover was also only one hour, we had to run because the airport is huge.

[@Itzparadoxe]

@@theresearchfiles gotcha thanks!

[@Itzparadoxe]

@@theresearchfiles thought you didn't need to do security at first as it's a connected flight

[@alegotron]

Hi , I hope you are doing well . quick question -I have flight from DFW (USA) to KRK (Poland)and I have 1.20 hr.connection to the Poland flight . then on my return flightI will have 1.05hr connection back to Dallas flight . is it possible do not miss the flight ? I have single PNR (everything buy Turkish Airlines) and From International I have to go to the Domestic flights transfer , and pass check control , on the way to the Poland .correct ? Thank you.

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, Turkey is not a Schengen country, so from USA to Poland transiting in Turkey will be International to international flight transfer. If your flights are on a single PNR, you can go through the security check and don't have to pass immigration.

[@alegotron]

@@theresearchfilesThank you . so looks like there is No Way to be on next flight for 1.20hr. and for sure on back way for 1.05hr.. why they are selling tickets like this , 80% ?🙄

[@theresearchfiles]

@@alegotron I did an international to international flight transfer with only one hour at istanbul airport with a single pnr. It’s possible. We had to be really fast.

[@mariateresaaguilar6248]

Hi I just want to confirm, I’m flying from Barcelona to Manila via IST. I just need to go security checkpoint (International Transfers) with single PNR, right? Thank you for the answer!

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, yes that's right.

[@mariateresaaguilar6248]

Thank you so much!

[@NahidSultanaUpoma]

I am booking for Dhaka to London flight! Is a 2.5 hour transit enough? I’m really conscious as I’ll be travelling alone😢 also in case the first flight is late, will Turkish airlines wait for the passengers to get on the next flight?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, if the flights are booked under a single PNR, the airline will make sure you are able to transfer to your connecting flight. 2.5 hours should be fine.

[@KajalGuptakjo]

Hi If I have different PNR and need to transfer from international flight from India to Cappadocia, would 3 hours layover be enough for immigration and domestic transfer

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, I would say 3 hours should be enough. But it is hard to be sure, as with different PNR, you have to collect your baggage after immigration, then check in for the domestic flight. www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293974-i368-k13892257-IST_airport_transfer_from_international_to_domestic_flight-Istanbul.html

[@mirar721]

A quick question. If you arrive from a so called secure airport (EU, US, etc) do your still go through security? A couple of other videos have said no.

[@theresearchfiles]

oh, not sure, the website did not mention about it. you can contact the airport to ask, I think. www.istairport.com/en/flights/airport-guides/transfer-passenger-guide/?locale=en&tab=2#external-to-external-lines

[@markrg-n2q]

How much time does it take to transfer in the airport at rush hour? Is it 2/30 h layover enough for international transit,? Are there any free option to find your gate earlier?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, if your flights are booked on the same PNR they will make sure that you have enough time to transit, such as having a staff to guide the transiting passengers to the boarding gate faster, if required.

[@islandliving8199]

What do you mean by a single ticket or multiple ticket? I’m travelling from the US to Ghana and I have a layover in IST. Would that be only one ticket or two? Kindly note that this is a round trip.

[@theresearchfiles]

Single ticket is when you book all your flights on single booking number/ PNR, which is the 6 alphanumeric characters.

[@krishnarao3448]

I hope you are doing well. I will be traveling to Mumbai India from DFW Airport on the 12th of this month using Turkish airlines (Single PNR for both leg of travel). Given attached are the following records required by the destination country (India) USDA Endorsed Health Certificate for export of cat from US to India. NO Objection Certificate from India ; the destination country for import of said pet cat. Veterinary Certificate of health checkup not more than 7 days before travel. Rabies Vaccination Proof. Proof of Microchipping. I will not be entering turkey via Istanbul Airport but mere transiting through it and stay in the transit area until my next flight. My question is, would turkey require any additional documents than these for pet cat's transiting.

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi usually if you are not going through immigration, visa is not required. When I transit through Istanbul airport on single pnr, only passport and boarding pass are required.

[@Kozuken_24]

Hello, this is gonna be my first solo flight with transfer, i'm bit nervous. I have transfer from international to domestic flight, and i have a question: should i go through security check? My transfer will take only hour and 15 minutes, i'm not sure that i gonna make it in time.

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, transferring to domestic flight, you have to go through passport control. If you have to get your luggage, you may not have enough time.

[@SuyogRimal]

Hlo i go delhi to lisbon.but i have transit ticket of istambul around 20hrs in this case i should go immigration or not and reclaim baggage or not

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, if your flights are on a single PNR, usually you don't have go through immigration and collect your baggage.

[@chrischow7082]

If i have already collected my onward boarding pass before getting on my 1st flight, for international transfer at IST airport, is there another route that i do not need to go through International transfer security to get on my 2nd flight? Thanks.

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, I got all my boarding passes before hand, but I still had to go through the security check for the transfer. however for my second transit (on the way home), I did not have to go through the security, after landing, they ushered the transfer passengers to another route, check our boarding passes, and let us through straight to the departure area. I am not sure if it's due to time constraint as we only had less than one hour for the transfer.

[@DesislavaDinkova-kn9jf]

​@theresearchfiles Hy, we have a international flight with 1 houer transfertime but as i understood there will be no attendant to take us to the departure gate. Will be 1 hour enough

[@theresearchfiles]

@@DesislavaDinkova-kn9jf Hi, if flights are on same PNR yes. But you need to go to the gate as soon as possible, the airport is rather big.

[@tobeact4872]

I have a 1 hour 30 minutes layover, I'm from from Abuja to Istanbul to Dublin, honestly this has been really disturbing cos i feel the layover time is too short

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, we had one hour of layover with our flights booked on a single PNR, we managed to make it to the connecting flight, but we had to be really quick.

[@sshah1502]

Do you need a transit visa if a passenger is travelling on the single PNR and transiting through the Istanbul airport?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, If you will not leave the transit lounge at the airport you are not required to have transit visa. Usually with single PNR, you don't have to leave the transit lounge. www.mfa.gov.tr/frequently-asked-questions.en.mfa

[@Pathofhonesty]

Hi , i have a flight from Georgia to belgrade and in between there is a layover for 5 hours in Turkey . Do i need transit Visa or. e visa ?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi usually with flights booked on a single PNR, visa is not required.

[@takouaessid]

Hello, i have only 2 hours to get from international to domestic flight with separate PNR. Do you think i can make it? Flight in 10 days

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi you can read this. It can be possible, depending on the queue. www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293974-i368-k13892257-IST_airport_transfer_from_international_to_domestic_flight-Istanbul.html

[@Capperlee1002]

Hi! Could I check, if I am transitting from a domestic to another domestic flight, is there any need to go through customs or baggage check upon arrival in connecting airport? Going to book a flight on Turkish airlines on a 50 mins transit. Is it possible to make it?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, there will be security check, but no need to go through Customs. If the flights are booked on the same PNR, should be possible.

[@azkmn7]

I have a connecting flight to helsinki the layover time is 1 hr 20 minutes, will I manage the transfer on time?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, I think it should be alright if your flights are on a single PNR and your baggage is checked through.

[@RonBurt-yj2qg]

Do I need a paper boarding pass? Aren’t they all on our phones now?

[@theresearchfiles]

most airlines and airports now accept electronic boarding passes, however, it's always a good idea to check with your specific airline or airport to ensure they accept electronic boarding passes, especially if you're flying to a less common destination.

[@distortdude80]

IST looks quite similar to DXB. I've got a 2 hour connection in IST in a few months time, is there sufficient time?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, I think if your flights are on a single PNR, then yes.

[@srishti5]

I am flying from Mexico to India via Istanbul with Turkish airlines. The layover is for 10hours. I have 2 checked bags, Do I need a transit visa?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, if flights are on same PNR, no.

[@Naveedkhan786]

Bahi apna watsap number Dedo Kam hai apsi I am from Pakistan. About mexico flight information

[@YoutubeDada-bz1es]

Can I transfer Internationally without Passport Control or Immigration Checking if I have tickets with Different PNR but I don't have any check-in luggage to reclaim ?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, According to this discussion, if you are travelling without check-in luggage, you don't have to go through Passport Control, and can get your boarding pass from the Transfer desk. You can refer to this discussion: www.tripadvisor.co.nz/ShowTopic-g293974-i368-k11003651-o210-Is_one_hour_enough_time_for_transfer_Turkish_Airlines-Istanbul.html

[@bilalshah7867]

Hi, I have a 1 hour 20 mins transit to connect to a domestic flight. I am coming from Karachi to Istanbul and then Istanbul to Antalya. The airline is the same. Turkish airline. Is it enough?

[@theresearchfiles]

Usually with the same PNR, the airline will ensure that you are able to transit to your connecting flight, and it will be ok. However if your flights on different PNR, then it may be too tight.

[@himanchalgc8876]

So how do you know whether it's the same pnr or not

[@theresearchfiles]

@@himanchalgc8876 Hi, the PNR is the 6 alphanumeric characters booking number. usually you use it for online check-in or checking your flight status. If your flights are booked together via the airline website, usually you will get a single booking number (PNR).

[@kolisshow326]

Do I need transit visa if I am travelling from Canada to India via turkey with layover of 6 hours?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi you don't need a visa if your flights are on the same PNR.

[@user-farzad665]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@leovenandkids]

Tanong ko lang po, flying from brazil to manila. Transit din sa istanbul mga 3hrs lng, ay need ng pinoy ng transit visa?

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi if you are not going through immigration, you don't need a visa

[@Juxaay140]

I'm having 17hours transit and I don't know where to start my flight Is Today any suggestions

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, with 17 hours you have plenty of time, you can even visit Istanbul if you want to. To go out of the airport, you have to clear immigration and customs. However if you have your flights booked on single PNR, you don't have to go through immigration if just want to stay in the airport airside. Things to do include lounge, restaurants, shopping, hotel, children's playground, etc.

[@jokebhenlik8800]

do we need transit visa if we our ticket has different PNR numbers?

[@theresearchfiles]

Usually with different PNR, you are required to go through immigration to collect your luggage and visa is required (if your passport requires it)

[@jokebhenlik8800]

@@theresearchfiles do I get ine PNR if Im booked with the same airline on both flights?

[@theresearchfiles]

@@jokebhenlik8800 Hi, usually yes, in one booking.

[@Karateman1000]

I'm going from Istanbul to Manila, gates to Manila is mostly in B? What is the process here. First time i will visit this big airport and i see so many bad reviews about customer service so makes me worried

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, It was pretty easy and straightforward for our transfer. There're clear signage. No problem. After exiting the aircraft, follow the signs to international transfer. Go through security check and then board your connecting flight - with same PNR. I am not sure about the boarding gate number though.

[@floremakuissu6115]

Must WE take over all our luggages?

[@floremakuissu6115]

What IS PNR?

[@theresearchfiles]

@@floremakuissu6115 it's the 6 alphanumeric booking number

[@theresearchfiles]

@@floremakuissu6115 usually with a single PNR booking number, your luggage will be checked through and you don't have to collect them during transit.

[@ACLemlem]

Where can i get that map you used in your video

[@theresearchfiles]

Hi, this is the map: www.turkishairlines.com/en-int/istanbul-airport/terminal-maps/

[@arisdr6504]

Istanbul’s airport is humongous.

[@theresearchfiles]

ya it is!