ARRIVAL
Emergencies and staying safe
Use 112 for emergencies requiring urgent assistance. Keep university, accommodation, insurer and consulate contacts for other matters.
In this guide
112: emergency assistance
Türkiye’s 112 system coordinates services such as ambulance, police and fire response. Calls are free and the service operates around the clock. State your location and what happened, answer questions and follow instructions. Ask for language support if needed; do not assume the first person answering speaks your language.
What to have ready when you call
Save your address and key contacts before you need them. When calling for help, give your location as clearly as possible and answer the operator’s questions.
- Your address written in Turkish, saved in your phone and on paper
- The city, district, street and building number, as accurately as possible
- A nearby landmark — a mosque, a station, a hospital, a well-known shop
- Your own phone number, to be called back on
- Any medical condition or allergy, noted somewhere findable
- Someone in Türkiye to contact, and someone at home
Everyday precautions in a very large city
Keep belongings secure in crowded places and use identifiable, authorised transport providers. Share a late journey with someone you trust. Store document copies separately, but a copy does not replace an original when an authority requires it. Keep insurance information accessible and identify nearby healthcare facilities.
Earthquake preparedness is normal here
Read AFAD’s earthquake guidance and ask your residence or university about drills, evacuation procedures and the designated assembly area. Include accessibility and personal medical needs in your plan. Keep an emergency bag accessible and learn the recommended actions before an emergency.
Who to go to when something goes wrong
Ask the university’s international office which unit handles your document or student-status question. For passport loss and consular assistance, contact your own country’s consulate and follow its instructions. Ask your insurer about covered facilities and any approval required for planned treatment. Keep these contacts available offline as well as on your phone.
A FEW MORE ANSWERS
Frequently asked questions
Does the 112 operator speak English?
112 provides foreign-language support. State the language you need and give your location clearly; a written Turkish address can help. Follow the call handler’s instructions.
What do I do if I lose my passport?
Contact the police about reporting the loss or theft and ask your consulate how to replace the passport. Notify the university’s relevant unit and ask the migration authority how to update your residence records. Keep the report and any replacement-document receipts.
Sources & references
Use the linked source for current requirements. The dates below record when each source was checked.
Plan your next step.
Bring your questions about programs, documents or settling in to a MEC Education advisor.