The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its Turkey travel advice on September 18, 2026, adding a specific warning about social media posts and public statements that could be interpreted as critical of Turkey, its institutions, or its national flag.
What the FCDO Now Warns
The updated guidance states that travellers - including tourists - can be detained and prosecuted under Turkish law for comments made online or in person that negatively reference Turkey as a nation, its flag, or its officials. The law applies to statements made both inside and outside Turkey: posts published on social media before or during travel could be used as grounds for detention at border control or while in the country.
Turkey’s penal code includes provisions that criminalise “insulting Turkishness” and the national symbols of the state. The FCDO advises that these laws have been applied to foreign nationals, including tourists with no intention of making political statements.
Practical Advice for Travellers
The FCDO guidance does not advise against travel to Turkey, and the country remains a popular destination with tens of millions of visitors each year. However, the updated warning is worth taking seriously:
- Review your social media history before travelling. Posts from years ago could theoretically be flagged.
- Avoid political commentary on Turkey, its government, or national symbols while in the country or in the lead-up to travel.
- Be cautious in private conversations - the same laws apply in person, not only online.
- If detained, the advice is to request consular assistance from your embassy immediately.
Istanbul and Antalya remain major tourist hubs where the overwhelming majority of visitors have no issues. The warning is precautionary guidance, not an indication of widespread enforcement against ordinary tourists.
Context: Turkish Law on National Insults
Turkey’s Article 301 of the Penal Code, which covers “insulting Turkishness,” has been in place for years but has historically been applied primarily to journalists, academics, and public figures rather than tourists. However, the inclusion of the warning in FCDO advice reflects that social media posts have brought ordinary travellers into contact with the law.
The updated advice aligns broadly with warnings issued by other governments, including Germany and Australia, which have carried similar language in their Turkey travel advisories.
Other FCDO Turkey Guidance
The September 18 update also reiterates existing advice:
- Terrorism risk remains, particularly in border areas near Syria
- The FCDO advises against all travel within 10 km of the Syria border
- Petty crime is a risk in major tourist areas of Istanbul and coastal resorts
- UK nationals should register travel with the FCDO’s LOCATE service for emergencies
Check the FCDO Turkey travel advice page for the full current text before travelling. Travel insurance for Türkiye with legal assistance cover is worth confirming given the updated guidance.