Istanbul Airport Sunflower Lanyard (Ayçiçeği Yaka Kartı): How to Get It
The Sunflower Lanyard (Ayçiçeği Yaka Kartı) at Istanbul Airport is a free, discreet way to signal that you have a non-visible disability and may need extra time or support. You get it without any medical report: fill in a short request form at an information desk, or pick one up at the Assisted counters in the domestic and international areas. Once you wear it, trained staff across the terminal know to give you patience, clearer directions and help without you having to explain your condition at every step. Istanbul Airport was the first airport in Türkiye to join the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme, and the lanyard stays valid for future trips, here and at any airport in the scheme.
Sunflower Lanyard at IST at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Medical proof | Not required |
| Where to get it | Information desks (request form) and Assisted counters, domestic and international |
| Who it is for | Non-visible conditions: autism, dementia, anxiety, hearing loss, epilepsy, chronic pain and more |
| What it signals | Staff offer extra time, patience and help — you do not need to explain |
| Validity | Keep it for future travel; recognised wherever the Sunflower scheme operates |
What is the Sunflower Lanyard and who is it for?
The Sunflower is a global programme for people whose disability is not visible from the outside: autism spectrum conditions, dementia, anxiety disorders, hearing impairment, epilepsy, long-term pain, speech difficulties and many others. The green lanyard with sunflowers is a quiet signal to trained staff that the wearer may need more time at the checkpoint, simpler instructions, or a calmer route through a crowded terminal. Nobody will ask what your condition is, and wearing it never obliges you to disclose anything.
Istanbul Airport runs the programme as part of its iGA Cares accessibility services and was the first airport in Türkiye to adopt it. That matters in practice: IST is one of the busiest hubs in Europe, and its sheer size is exactly the environment where a discreet signal saves the most stress.
How do I get the lanyard at Istanbul Airport?
Two simple routes, both free and both without paperwork beyond a short form. At any information desk in the terminal, ask for the Sunflower Lanyard and fill in the request form on the spot. Or go to an Assisted counter — they are in both the domestic and international zones — and pick one up there. No medical report, doctor's letter or proof of disability is required, for you or for a family member you are travelling with.
If you would rather arrive prepared, lanyards from other airports and organisations in the Sunflower scheme are recognised at IST too: bring the one you already own and it works the same way. The lanyard is yours to keep, so one visit covers every future trip.
What actually changes once you wear it?
Staff at security, passport control, boarding gates and information points are trained to recognise the sunflower pattern. Expect them to allow extra time rather than hurry you, repeat or simplify instructions, and guide you to quieter routes where possible. It does not skip queues by itself — it is a signal for understanding, not a fast-track pass. If you need step-by-step assistance, wheelchair support or an escort through the terminal, that is a separate, also free, service: see the airport's assistance services for passengers with reduced mobility, which you can combine with the lanyard.
Families travelling with a child who has a non-visible condition can pair the lanyard with the family priority lanes at security, and with the quieter corners of the terminal — the free NapZone rest areas work well when someone needs to decompress before boarding. Travelling with a baby as well? Our infants guide covers strollers, baby care rooms and the family buggy.
Practical tips for a smoother pass through IST
Collect the lanyard before security rather than after: the checkpoint is where extra time helps most, and the information desks landside can issue it on arrival at the terminal. If your connection is tight or the terminal feels overwhelming, tell any staff member wearing an iGA badge that you have the lanyard and where you need to go; they will point you to the calmest workable route. And if you fly often, keep the lanyard in your travel bag permanently — it is recognised at hundreds of airports worldwide, so it earns its place next to your passport.
FAQ
Is the Sunflower Lanyard free at Istanbul Airport?
Yes. It is issued free of charge at information desks and Assisted counters, and you keep it for future trips.
Do I need a medical report to get one?
No. You fill in a short request form; no proof of disability is asked for.
Does the lanyard let me skip queues?
No. It signals to trained staff that you may need extra time, patience or clearer guidance. For queue assistance or an escort, combine it with the airport's free assistance services.
Can I use a Sunflower Lanyard from another airport at IST?
Yes. The scheme is global, and lanyards issued elsewhere are recognised at Istanbul Airport, just as the IST one is recognised abroad.
Who counts as having a hidden disability?
Any condition that is not obvious from the outside — autism, dementia, anxiety, hearing loss, epilepsy, chronic illness and many others. There is no fixed list, and no one will quiz you about it.
About the author
Anastasia Maisuradze is the airport editor for istanbul-ist-international-airport.com. She checks this guide against the official iGA accessibility pages.
