Customs Regulations

On Entry
The following items may be brought into the country duty free
- Personal effects of the tourist.
- One black and white TV, one color TV (maximum 55 cm screen, one color pocket TV (maximum 16 cm screen), one TV-tape-radio combination, one video recording camera and 5 video cassettes (blank); 5 records, 5 tape cassettes or compact discs.
- One video player, cine-projector (8 mm) and 10 rolls of film (blank), one slide projector.
- One pocket computer (maximum main memory capacity Ram 128MB. Byte), electronic playing devices (without cassette - keyboard).
- One portable radio and portable radio-tape player (its specification to be determined by the Ministry of Finance and Customs), one Walkman or pocket tape recorder, one portable compact disc player.
- Games Boys without cassettes and cartridge.
- Binoculars (one pair, except night binoculars)
- Harmonica, mandolin, flageolet, flute, guitar, and accordion (only one of each type, at a maximum total of 3 musical instruments).
- Personal sports equipment.
- Necessary medical items.
- Bicycle, baby buggy, toys.
- 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.
- 200 grams of tobacco and 200 cigarette papers, or 50 grams of chewing tobacco or 200 grams of pipe tobacco, or 200 grams of snuff
(In addition to the above allowances, it is possible to purchase 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, and 500 grams of pipe tobacco from the Turkish Duty Free Shops upon entering the country).
- 1.5kg. coffee, 1.5kg. instant coffee, 500 grams of tea.
- 1 kilo chocolate and 1 kg sweets.
- 1(100 cc) or 2 (70 or 75 cc) bottles of wines and/or spirits.
- Five bottles of perfume (120 ml max. each).
- One portable typewriter.
- One camera with 5 rolls of film.
- First aid, and spare parts for the car.
- Other items necessary during the journey.
- Valuable items and all items with a value of over $ 15,000 must be registered in the owner's passport upon entering Turkey, for control upon exit.
- Antiques brought into the country must be registered in the owner's passport to avoid difficulties on exit.
- Sharp devices (including camping knives) and weapons may not be brought into the country without special permission.
- The bringing into the country, trade, and consumption of marijuana and all other narcotics is strictly forbidden and subject to heavy punishment.
- Gifts, not exceeding 500 DM in value and not for trading purposes, may be brought into the country duty free. In addition, gifts not exceeding 500 OM in value may be posted to Turkey duty free, if the date stamped by the sending post office falls one month before, or one month after the following holidays: Şeker Bayramı, Kurban Bayramı, Christmas, and New Year's.
Note: A certification form showing ownership must accompany Cellular Telephones entering the country. Ownership must be documented in the passport of the owner and will be checked on entry and exit.
For more information contact the Ministry of Transportation, General Directorate at Tel: (312) 212 35 72 - 212 60 10 (10 lines), Fax: (312) 221 32 26 or write to Ulastırma Bakanlığı Telsiz Genel Müdürlüğü, Emek - Ankara.
On exit
- Gifts and souvenirs: for a new carpet, a proof of purchase; for old items, a certificate from a directorate of a museum is necessary.
- Exporting antiques from Turkey is forbidden.
- Valuable personal items can only be taken out of the country providing they have been registered in the owner's passport upon entry, or providing they can show they have been purchased with legally exchanged currency.
- Minerals may only be exported from the country with a special document obtained from the;
MTA Maden Tetkik Araştırma Genel Müdürlüğü
(General Directorate of Mining Exploration and Research)
Etüdler Dairesi 06520, Ankara
Tel: (312) 287 34 30/1622, Fax: (312) 287 91 88

Tax Refund
You can receive a Tax Refund for the goods you purchased in Turkey.
- Refunds will be made to travelers who do not reside in Turkey.
- All goods (including food and drinks) are included in the refunds with the exclusion of services rendered.
- The minimum amount of purchase that qualifies for refund is 5.000.000 TL.
- Retailers that qualify for tax refunds must be "authorized for refund." These retailers must display a permit received from their respective tax office.
- The retailer will make four copies of the receipt for your refund, three of which will be received by the purchaser. If photocopies of the receipt are received the retailer must sign and stamp the copies to validate them. If you prefer the refund to be made by check, a Tax-free Shopping Check for the amount to be refunded to the customer must be given along with the receipt.
- For the purchaser to benefit from this exemption he must leave the country within three months with the goods purchased showing them to Turkish customs officials along with the appropriate receipts and! Or check.
- There are four ways to receive your refund:
- If the retailer gives you a check it can be cashed at a bank in the customs area at the airport. If it is not possible to cash the check upon departure or if you do not wish to cash it then, the customer must, within one month, send a copy of the receipt showing that the goods have left the country to the retailer who will, within ten days upon receiving the receipt, send a bank transfer to the purchaser's hank or address.
- If the certified receipt and check are brought back to the retailer on a subsequent visit thin one-month of the date of customs certification, the refund can be made directly to the purchaser.
- Retailers may directly refund the amount to trustworthy customers upon purchase
- The refund may be made by the organization of those companies that are authorized to make tax refunds.
Additional information:
Maliye Bakanlığı, Gelirler Genel MüdürlügüKDV Şubesi
(Ministry of Finance and Tax Dept. General Directorate, VAT Branch) 06100, Ulus - Ankara
Tel: (312) 310 38 80/725 - 728 - 735, Fax: (312) 311 45 10

Health Regulations for Animals on Entry
For those who wish to bring domestic animals into the country the following are required
- A 'Certificate of Origin' giving the health record of the animal.
- A 'Certificate of Health', issued not more than 15 days before the animal's entry into the country, stating that the animal is in good health and that it has been vaccinated against rabies.
Note: If you have an official certificate, you may bring one cat, one bird, one dog and 10 aquarium fish into the country.
Health Regulations for Animals on Exit
If you wish to take your pet with you when leaving Turkey there are some legal procedures you should bear in mind. First check with the consulates of your transit and final destination countries for their regulation regarding pets then;
- Apply to the Mayor Office (Belediye) of your home district. And ask for "Menşe Belgesi" (certificate of origin). This document officially certified that no rabies and epidemic diseases seen at your area.
- Buy "Damga Pulu" (stamp duty) of 1.950.000 TL,
- 2 days prior to your trip, you should apply to "Gümrük Veteriner Müdürlüğü" (Customs Veterinary Directorate) with "Menşe Belgesi", "Damga Pulu", vaccination card and your pet.
Gümrük Veteriner Müdürlüğü, (Customs Veterinary Directorate)Florya
Tel: (212) 663 60 38

Motorist Rules
General: Those who wish to enter the country with their vans, minibuses, automobiles, station wagons, bicycles, motorcycles, motorbikes, sidecars, buses, motor coaches, trailers, caravans or other transport vehicles, will have to provide the following documentation
- Passport.
- International driving license.
- Car license (document where all details related to the car and the owner's name are registered). If it is somebody else's vehicle a power of attorney should be provided.
- International green card (Insurance card). The TR sign should be visible.
- Transit book "Carnet de passage" (for those who want to proceed to the Middle East).
Period: The vehicle can be brought into Turkey for up to 6 Months. The owner should declare on the opposite form, the date of departure at the border gate and should absolutely leave the country at the date declared. If for any important reason the staying period has to be ended, it is necessary to apply to;
Türkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu
(The Turkish Touring and Automobile Club)
1. Sanayi Sitesi Yanı, 4.Levent, Istanbul,
Tel (212) 282 81 40(7 lines). Fax (212) 282 80 42, or to
Gümrükler Genel Müdürlüğü
(The General Directorate of Customs )
(), Ulus Ankara
Tel (312) 310 38 80,310 38 18, Fax (312) 311 13 46,
before the end of the period declared.

In Case of Accident: The accident should be reported to the police or gendarme. That report has to be certified by the nearest local authority. The owner should apply to the customs authority with his passport and report.
If the vehicle can be repaired, it is necessary to inform the customs authority first and take the vehicle to a garage. If the vehicle is not repairable and if the owner wishes to leave the country without his vehicle, he has to deliver it to the nearest customs office, and the registration of his vehicle on his passport will be cancelled. (Only after the cancellation can the owner of the vehicle leave the country.)
Following an accident, you can telephone:
- Trafik Polisi (Traffic Police), Tel :154,
- Jandarma (Gendarme), Tel :156.
For more information, contact the Turkish Touring and Automobile Club

Formalities for Private Yacht Owners
Yachts require a Transit Log and may remain in Turkish waters for up to two years maintenance or for wintering. There are certain ports licensed by the Ministry of Tourism the storage of yachts for a period of two to five years. For further information and regulations contact the marina concerned.
Upon arriving in Turkish waters, yachts should immediately go for control of the ship to the nearest port of entry which are as follows: Iskenderun, Botaş (Adana), Mersin, Tasucu, Anamur, Alanya, Antalya, Kemer, Finike, Kas, Fethiye, Marmaris, Datça, Bodrum, Güllük Didim, Kuşadası, Çesme, Izmir, Dikili, Ayvalık, Akçay, Çanakkale, Bandırma, Tekirdağ, Istanbul, Zonguldak, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Hopa.
Port Formalities: All the required information concerning the yacht, yachtsmen, members, intended route, passports, customs declarations, health clearance, and any obligatory matters must be entered in the Transit Log. The Transit Log is to he completed by the captain of a yacht under a foreign flag or amateur sailor acting as captain of the vessel.
The Transit Log is completed upon first entering a Turkish port and, generally, it is necessary to contact the Harbor Authority before leaving. For information on tax-free fuel, contact the Marina Harbor Office.
Note: If you have a certificate from the Ministry of Tourism, Yacht Harbor, you may take petrol at no charge, provided you possess an official marina license.

Formalities for Private Plane Owners
General: When coming to Turkey, international air routes should be followed. Private planes may stay for up to three months in Turkey with tourist status, but for longer periods permission should be obtained from;
Gümrükler Genel Müdürlüğü
(The General Directorate of Customs) Ulus Ankara
Tel: (312) 310 38 80, 310 38 18,Fax: (312) 311 1346
The airports of Ankara, Adana, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Trabzon and Dalaman have ties for private planes. It is also possible to hire planes and helicopters in Turkey.
For further information, apply to;
Ulastırma Bakanlığı, Havacılık Genel Müdürlüğü
(The Civil Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport)
Bosna-Hersek Cad., No: 5 - 06338 - Emek, Ankara
Tel: (312) 212 67 30, Fax: (312) 212 46 84, TIx : 44659 Ga-tr.

Latest comments about this article

 By fiddledom  30.3.2005

Reading down this page ,it looks a bit tedious if you want to take a mobile phone as a gift for someone in Turkey, is that the case? I want to spend as little time as possible going through ”channels” on the way in- my experience in other countries is that officials can seriously depress you!!

 By ap  17.3.2004

Because of my type of visa, I think I am entitled to drive a vehicle free of tax. What are the rules for this, and which procedures to follow?

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