Turkey (Türkiye)

Specific Information

Customs clearance takes approximately four to five business days. All goods must be used; no new items may be imported duty-free under the household goods exemption. Packed-by-owner (PBO) items are not permitted — all goods must be professionally packed. The name on the passport must match the OBL/AWB identically.

Shipment Timing: The shipment must arrive no earlier than two months before the owner's arrival in Turkey, and no later than six months after the owner's last entry into Turkey. For small air shipments entering via paid taxes, the owner must arrive at least one month before or within one month after the goods arrive.

Three-Path Import System for Foreign Citizens (Non-Turkish Nationals):

Option 1 (Permanent Import): Provide a rental contract of at least 12 months (notarized) or an original property title/deed.

Option 2 (Temporary Import): If no rental contract or property deed is available, the owner must have a valid work permit and residence permit, and must pay a refundable customs deposit of approximately 30% above the total declared shipment value, or provide a bank guarantee letter. Import is valid only until the work and residence permits expire.

Option 3 (Taxable Permanent Import): If none of the above documents is available and the shipment value exceeds €1,500, taxes of approximately 20% apply. The shipment must arrive within 30 days of the owner's arrival.

Four-Path Import System for Returning Turkish Citizens:

Option 1: Permanent return certificate from the nearest Turkish Consulate confirming at least two years of residence abroad.

Option 2: Copy of the export declaration form used when the same goods were previously exported from Turkey.

Option 3: Payment of taxes (~20%) if shipment exceeds €1,500 and no certificate or declaration form is available.

Option 4: Notarized rental contract (minimum 24 months) or original property title/deed.

ISPM 15: Turkey requires all wood packaging materials (pallets, crates, dunnage) to comply with ISPM 15 phytosanitary treatment standards. Non-compliant wood packaging may be fumigated or returned at the shipper's expense.

Note on PBO: Turkey strictly prohibits packed-by-owner items. All boxes must be professionally packed and inventoried. Customs officers reserve the right to inspect any shipment.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

Importing a Used Personal Vehicle

Required Documents

• Passport
• Driver's license
• Original vehicle registration
• Original OBL / air waybill
• Proof of valid insurance (card valid in Turkey)
• Permanent return certificate (returning Turkish citizens)
• Copy of work permit (non-citizens coming for work)
• Original residence permit (non-citizens coming for work)
• Diplomatic import permit from the Turkish Ministry (foreign diplomats)
• Official assignment letters (returning Turkish diplomats and government officials)
• Carnet de passage transit book (if transiting to Middle Eastern countries)

Specific Information

Tax is assessed based on the vehicle's age and engine capacity. The vehicle owner must be present at customs during the import application. The vehicle must have been purchased less than three years before being brought to Turkey. Vehicles must arrive no earlier than two months before or no later than six months after the owner's last entry into Turkey. Extensions must be applied for before the approved period expires.

Dual Nationals: Turkish dual nationals do not have the right to import a private vehicle under the household effects exemption.

Non-Citizens Coming for Work: Only temporary import is possible, valid until the work and residence permits expire. A customs deposit based on the vehicle's age and engine capacity is required. Non-citizens entering for marriage, and Turkish citizens who have not cancelled their overseas residency registration, may not import a vehicle.

Driver's Licenses: A foreign driver's license is accepted in Turkey for up to 90 days. Stays beyond 90 days require a notarized Turkish translation of the license. Stays exceeding 12 months require obtaining a Turkish driver's license from the Turkish Security Directorate, Traffic Department (Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü).

Correction to IAM Baseline: The IAM guide states the driver's license acceptance threshold is 90 days, after which only a translation is required. This is accurate for stays up to 12 months; however, permanent residents must obtain a Turkish license. Confirm current requirements with the destination agent.

Pets

Significant Update vs. IAM Baseline: The 2016 IAM guide lists only a vaccination record and a veterinary health record as requirements. Turkey's current regulations are substantially more stringent, including a mandatory rabies titer test, microchip requirement, parasite treatments, and a government-endorsed health certificate. The IAM baseline is materially incomplete on this section.

No import permit is required for pets entering with their owner (commercial imports require a permit). Up to two pets per person may enter tax-free, provided the owner accompanies them or arrives within 30 days of the pet's arrival. If the owner cannot be present, a Power of Attorney plus an original or notarized copy of the passport must be provided to an agent.

Pets not meeting import requirements will be quarantined (at the importer's expense), returned to the origin country, or euthanized. All associated costs are the importer's responsibility.

Minimum Age: Puppies and kittens must be at least seven months old to conform to import regulations. Rabies vaccination cannot be administered before three months of age.

Rabies Titer Test: The titer test result is valid for the life of the pet as long as rabies vaccinations remain current and continuous. Pets entering without a valid titer test face 21 days of quarantine at the importer's expense.

Banned Breeds: The following dog breeds (and their crosses) are prohibited from entry: Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Rottweiler, Neapolitan Mastiff, Spanish Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Roman Fighting Dog, Bandog, Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, and mongrel breeds of similar type. Wolf hybrids, Savannah cats, and Bengal cats are also excluded unless five or more generations removed from the wild pedigree.

Advance Notice: Importers must notify veterinary officials at the port of entry prior to arrival so inspectors are available. This is especially important for arrivals outside normal business hours.

Avian Influenza Restriction: Turkey has imposed trade restrictions on domestic and wild birds originating from certain U.S. states due to avian influenza. Confirm the current list of affected states with the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry before shipping.

Other Animals: Birds, reptiles, amphibians, rodents, rabbits, and tropical fish are not subject to the rabies vaccination requirement but may require a health certificate and must meet other applicable import conditions. Contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for current requirements.

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