TurkeyTürkiye

Travellers arriving in Turkey may bring 1 L of alcohol duty-free. Anything above the allowance must be declared at the red channel. Travelers arriving in Turkey may import duty-free: 1L of spirits or 2L of wine or beer (17+), 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco (17+). Merchandise (gifts and personal effects): USD $430 (approximately EUR 430) worth of goods per traveler. Turkish residents returning from abroad may import a single personal laptop duty-free. Additional personal goods are assessed at a flat rate. Commercial quantities of goods require formal import procedures.

400 cigarettes per traveller (or proportionally less in cigars / tobacco). Above-limit tobacco must be declared.

Yes. Cash and equivalent bearer instruments above USD 10000 (TRY) must be declared on arrival.

EUR 150 equivalent (~USD 150). Turkey applies a de minimis threshold for postal and courier imports. Goods valued below EUR 150 (approximately USD 165) are exempt from customs duty. VAT (KDV) at 20% applies to all imported goods regardless of value. Turkey is not in the EU customs union despite having a Customs Union agreement with the EU for industrial goods — agricultural products and some other goods are excluded from the Customs Union.

Yes — the standard rate is 20%. It generally applies to commercial imports and to e-commerce parcels above the de minimis threshold.

Prescription medicines for personal use are generally allowed in reasonable quantities (typically 30-90 days' supply), accompanied by the original prescription and ideally a doctor's letter. Some controlled substances need import authorisation. Verify with Ministry of Trade — General Directorate of Customs (Gümrük ve Ticaret Bakanlığı) for your specific medicine.

Gifts are accepted by post but are still subject to Turkey's import rules. Tax-relief gift thresholds (where they exist) are typically much lower than commercial thresholds. Declare honestly on the CN22/CN23 — undervaluation is treated as fraud.

A customs declaration filed with Ministry of Trade — General Directorate of Customs (Gümrük ve Ticaret Bakanlığı), a commercial invoice, packing list, and transport document (AWB or B/L). Add a Certificate of Origin to claim FTA preferential duty. Sector-specific imports (food, plants, animals, medicines, electronics, dangerous goods) need additional permits.

The green channel is for travellers with nothing to declare. The red channel is for travellers carrying anything above allowances or any restricted goods. Spot checks happen at both. Lying or hiding goods can lead to seizure plus penalties.

Narcotics and controlled substances; Pornographic materials; Publications and materials against Turkish national interests or public order. See the full prohibited list on this page.

Precious metals and jewellery — gold import rules strictly enforced (above personal use quantity requires declaration and may be restricted for commercial import); Firearms and ammunition (Police and Ministry of Interior permit required); Medicines and pharmaceuticals (Ministry of Health permit for commercial import; personal supply allowed). Restricted items typically need a permit, certificate, or declaration. See the full restricted list on this page.

Use the red channel at the airport. Most ports of entry into Turkey accept either a paper declaration or, increasingly, an electronic declaration via an app or kiosk. Be ready to show receipts, prescriptions, or permits.

Most countries restrict animal-origin food (meat, dairy) for biosecurity reasons; sealed commercial packaged food is sometimes permitted. Verify with Ministry of Trade — General Directorate of Customs (Gümrük ve Ticaret Bakanlığı)'s agricultural / biosecurity authority before bringing food.

Vape rules are changing fast worldwide; Turkey may have specific restrictions, age limits, or outright bans. Verify on the current Ministry of Trade — General Directorate of Customs (Gümrük ve Ticaret Bakanlığı) guidance before travel — bans have grown markedly since 2023.

Many countries require advance import authorisation for opioids, stimulants, and certain psychiatric medicines. Carry the original prescription, doctor's letter, and original packaging. For controlled substances, contact Turkey's health authority before travel.

Yes. Duty-free purchases at the destination airport on arrival count toward your alcohol and tobacco allowance, even though they were purchased after immigration. Buying duty-free at departure rather than arrival does not bypass the allowance.

Above the de minimis, customs assesses duty and VAT/GST on the goods value (plus, in some regimes, freight + insurance). The carrier or postal operator usually clears it and bills the recipient. Recipients can refuse delivery if they don't want to pay.

Yes. If you don't want to pay duties or taxes, you can refuse the parcel and the carrier will return it to sender or destroy it. This does not affect your tax record but means the goods don't enter Turkey.

Standard clearance for compliant parcels is typically same-day to a few days. Holds for incomplete declarations, biosecurity inspection, sanctions screening, or anti-counterfeit checks can take longer. Provide complete declarations to avoid delays.

Your carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, postal operator) is the first contact — they handle clearance on your behalf. If you need to deal directly with the authority, contact Ministry of Trade — General Directorate of Customs (Gümrük ve Ticaret Bakanlığı) via the contact route on their official site.

Watch for: fake "customs fees" demands by SMS or email; impostor officials at airports; unsolicited phone calls about a "stuck parcel"; payment requests by gift card. Real customs authorities do not ask for payment via SMS link or gift cards. See our scams page for documented patterns.