This guide is informational and educational only, and is not legal or medical advice. Requirements change and clinic policies differ, so confirm the details for your own transfer with your clinic and the receiving clinic in Turkey.
The Turkey Route
Turkey is a frequent destination for fertility treatment, and moving embryos there from the UK or Europe follows a clear, well-practised path. The documentation takes the planning; the transport runs to routine. Here is what to expect at each stage.
The Documents You Need
The sending clinic applies for an export licence naming the courier. The receiving clinic in Turkey provides an agreement confirming it will accept the material. No X-ray letters are prepared for both airports so the tank is inspected by hand, and a customs release letter is arranged so the tank can be cleared on arrival. Where the route includes a stopover, each transit point is addressed in the paperwork. We coordinate the whole pack with both clinics.
The cryogenic tank always travels as cabin baggage with the courier. It is never checked in or sent as cargo, which keeps it under the courier's eye and off the hold's X-ray screening throughout.
The Journey Itself
A qualified courier collects your embryos in a cryogenic tank holding minus 196 degrees, with the embryologist verifying them against your records before loading. The courier carries the tank in the cabin, on routes commonly served by Turkish Airlines among others. On arrival, the receiving clinic clears the tank using the customs documentation, and the embryologist verifies the embryos and vessel before storage. You are kept updated throughout.
How Long It Takes
Plan for several weeks. The flight is short, but the export licence and destination paperwork take time to put in place. Starting early, before your treatment dates are set, lets the documentation be done without pressure.
What to Know Before You Start
According to general regulatory frameworks, the destination may have its own import requirements, so it is strongly recommended to confirm these with the receiving clinic in Turkey. Make sure your storage consent is current before you begin, as that has to be in order for embryos to be released. And contact us early, so the documentation and the travel can be arranged together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can frozen embryos be transported to Turkey from the UK or Europe?
Yes, with the right documentation: an export licence naming the courier, an import agreement, customs release for the destination airport, and airline approval for the tank as cabin baggage.
Which airlines are used for transfers to Turkey?
Commonly Turkish Airlines, among others, depending on the connection. Approval to carry the tank in the cabin is obtained directly from the carrier ahead of travel.
Will the embryos be safe on the journey?
Yes. They travel in a cryogenic tank holding minus 196 degrees for far longer than the journey, carried in the cabin by a qualified courier who stays with it the entire way. The receiving clinic verifies them on arrival.
How long should I allow?
Several weeks. The transport is quick, but the export and destination documentation set the timeline. Begin before your treatment dates are fixed.
Embryo Links handles the export licence, customs release and airline approval for transfers to Turkey, with a qualified courier carrying the tank in the cabin throughout. Talk to us about your route.
Chat on WhatsAppLast reviewed: 17 July 2026.