How does planning begin?
Everything starts with your medical information. When you contact the International Patient Center, your coordinator asks for recent reports, test results and imaging relevant to your condition. These are shared with the appropriate specialist or center so that, before you commit to anything, you understand whether we can help and what the likely pathway looks like.
From that review you receive three things: a proposed treatment plan describing the consultations, tests and procedures involved; an itemized cost estimate; and an indication of how many days you should expect to spend in hospital and in Istanbul. This lets you plan dates, time off work and travel for any companion before a single ticket is booked.
Your coordinator is your single point of contact throughout. You do not need to navigate separate departments yourself — appointments, scheduling and pre-arrival paperwork are arranged on your behalf and confirmed back to you in writing.
Do I need a visa, and what is an invitation letter?
Visa requirements depend on your nationality and the length of your stay, so check the official requirements for travel to Türkiye well ahead of your dates. Many nationalities can enter visa-free or with a straightforward electronic visa, while others apply through a Turkish consulate; your coordinator can point you to the correct official channel but cannot issue the visa itself.
Where a consulate requires proof that you are travelling for medical care, we provide an official invitation letter on hospital letterhead. It typically confirms your appointment, the planned treatment, the expected dates and the name of the hospital, and can usually be issued for an accompanying family member as well. Request it as early as possible, because consular processing times vary.
If your treatment is time-sensitive, tell your coordinator. While we cannot influence consular decisions, we can prioritise the paperwork on our side and clearly document the medical urgency in your invitation letter.
How will I know what it costs?
After your case is reviewed you receive a written cost estimate, normally available in USD, EUR or GBP. A good estimate is itemized rather than a single lump sum: it should make clear which consultations, diagnostic tests, the procedure itself, hospital stay, and surgeon and anesthesia fees are included, and flag anything billed separately.
Because medicine is rarely fully predictable, an estimate is a careful projection, not a fixed quote. If additional tests or treatment become necessary once you are here, your team will explain why before proceeding so there are no surprises on your invoice. Your coordinator confirms the accepted methods and timing of payment in advance.
What should I prepare before I travel?
The single most useful thing you can do is gather your complete medical history in advance: previous reports, discharge summaries, a current medication list and any imaging on disc or in digital form. The more your specialist can see before you arrive, the more focused and efficient your time in Istanbul will be.
Practical preparation matters too — valid travel documents, enough of your regular medication for the whole trip, comfortable clothing suited to the season, and travel or medical insurance appropriate to your journey. Use the checklist below as a starting point and confirm anything specific to your treatment with your coordinator.