Patients from Iraq: urological surgery in Istanbul
Short distances and direct flights make same-day arrival from Iraq possible. This page covers what applies specifically to you.
About 2.5–3.5 hours on a direct flight, depending on your departure city
Direct flight options to Istanbul’s two airports are available from the main Iraqi cities such as Baghdad, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Basra. Schedules change seasonally, so please confirm the current service with your airline.
The medical consultation is held in Arabic. An interpreter is arranged ahead of the appointment; the international patient coordinator works in English. We do not promise round-the-clock Arabic cover — we arrange it for your appointment.
The Iraqi dinar is not used in Turkey. Payment can be made in Turkish lira, euro or US dollars according to the hospital’s arrangement. International bank transfers can take several days, so it is better to arrange them before travelling rather than on the day of surgery.
Visa
Visa rules vary with the type of passport and are updated from time to time. Because wrong information could leave you stranded at the airport, we do not state the rule here; check your own position with the official source.
Why many patients from Iraq arrive the same day
The short distance means you can take off in the morning and reach the hospital in the afternoon. That changes how the trip is planned: rather than booking a long stay before you have been assessed, the examination and imaging day can be arranged first and the operation date set according to the result. Patients who turn out not to need surgery go home after two days without paying for a long stay.
A typical length of stay
For a procedure such as flexible endoscopic kidney stone surgery: day one examination, blood tests and imaging; day two the procedure with discharge the same day or after one night; days three and four rest and a check-up; then home. Radical prostate surgery needs longer — usually seven to ten days because of the catheter period. The exact length is set once your file has been assessed.
Send your reports before you travel
If you have blood tests, imaging or a pathology report from a hospital in Iraq, send them before booking. Many patients travel and then have an investigation repeated that had already been done, which costs a day and money. CT and MRI discs are far more useful than photographs of paper reports, because the surgeon needs the images themselves rather than a description of them.
After you return
Your reports are issued in writing so that your doctor in Iraq can follow them. Follow-up after you go home is done remotely: test results are sent in and reviewed, and the next check is scheduled. If you need urgent care at home, the report states exactly what was done so that the local doctor can act on solid information.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa?
Visa rules vary with the type of passport and are updated from time to time, so we do not state them here in case we mislead you. Check your own position on the official website of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the e-visa site before booking.
Can someone travel with me?
Yes, and it is advisable, particularly after operations that require an overnight stay. Accommodation arrangements usually include one companion. Tell us in advance so that a place can be reserved.
Are the reports written in Arabic?
Medical reports are prepared in English because that is the common language between doctors, and their content is explained to you in Arabic during the consultation. If you need a translated copy, tell us before you are discharged.
What about medication after I get home?
Medicines are prescribed by their generic names, not only by brand name, so that you can find the equivalent available in Iraqi pharmacies. If something is not available, ask before changing it on your own.
Let us review your file
If you have test results, imaging or a pathology report, share them in advance and avoid having investigations repeated unnecessarily.
Back to the international patients page: ME Urology Clinic