Customs: Bringing goods and vehicles into Türkiye

This page is for Turkish citizens who want to bring goods, mobile phones, or vehicles from Russia or Ukraine to Türkiye, or transport household goods when making a permanent return. We compiled passenger allowances, the 2026 phone fee, the rules for arriving with a foreign-plated vehicle, and penalties from the current pages of the Ministry of Trade. For the rules applied when leaving Russia or Ukraine, see R1.8, R9.5, and U7.1.

• Each passenger may bring personal belongings and gifts with a total value not exceeding 430 euros duty-free. For those under 15, this limit is 150 euros.
• Consumables (provided they are carried by the passenger):
  • 600 cigarettes; 50 cigars; 250 grams of cut tobacco or pipe tobacco
  • There are separate litre limits for alcoholic beverages (see the list on the page)
  • Cologne or perfume not exceeding 600 ml, and 5 skincare and makeup products
  • 1 kg of tea, 1 kg of coffee, 1 kg of instant coffee, 1 kg of chocolate, and 1 kg of sugary food
• Those under 18 cannot benefit from the tobacco and alcohol allowance.
• Those entering through land border gates may use this allowance no more than 10 times per month.
• Food: 3 kg of fresh or dried fruit and vegetables and 1 kg of other plant products may be brought as gifts. Meat and dairy products cannot be brought into Türkiye as personal shipments.
• Medicines: If you show a prescription or medical report, you may bring a reasonable quantity appropriate for the duration of your stay.
• Pets: A total of 2 cats, dogs, or birds, or 10 aquarium fish, with a veterinary health report and proof of origin and vaccination.
• If the limit is exceeded: A single fixed duty is applied to goods worth up to 1,500 euros. Since Russia and Ukraine are not EU countries, the rate is 60%; products listed in List IV of the Special Consumption Tax Law incur an additional 20%. Normal import duties apply to goods exceeding 1,500 euros.
• A one-time TRT banderole fee is charged for electronic devices.
• Personal belongings that you could not bring with you may be sent by cargo or post from 1 month before your arrival until 3 months after your arrival. There is no 30 kg or value limit for this shipment, and no tax is charged; you apply to the customs administration with your passport.

• A phone brought from abroad may be brought only as accompanied baggage. A phone arriving by post or cargo is not delivered to its owner.
• You may use the phone you brought for 120 days without registration. If you do not register it within 120 days, the phone is blocked from communication services.
• You may register 1 device in 3 calendar years. The registration right cannot be transferred to another person.
• 2026 fee: TRY 54,258 (the “phone usage permit fee for phones brought by passengers”). The fee may be paid at the tax office or authorized banks, or by credit card through the online tax office.
• Check your registration eligibility on e-Government.
• Pay the fee.
• Complete the registration through the “IMEI Register” service on e-Government.
• You can see the phone’s IMEI number by dialing *#06#. For questions, BTK Consumer Communication Center: 120.
• If a phone forgotten abroad whose IMEI is already registered arrives by post from 1 month before your arrival or up to 3 months after your arrival, it will be delivered once the registration is verified.

• For non-commercial shipments arriving from Russia or Ukraine to a person in Türkiye:
  • A single fixed duty is applied to medicines and food supplements worth up to 1,500 euros when accompanied by a prescription or report; the rate is 60% for goods arriving from outside the EU.
  • The tax rate is 0% for books and printed publications for personal use.
  • The gross weight must not exceed 30 kg.
• The passenger allowance for gifts worth 430 euros does not apply to postal shipments.
• Tobacco, alcoholic products, and mobile phones cannot be brought by post or cargo. Cosmetics also cannot be sent under the allowance.

• Who can bring one: people residing abroad. For this, you must have actually been abroad for at least 185 days during the last year counting back from your entry into Türkiye and must reside there.
  • People staying on ships, on temporary assignments at construction sites, or in hotels are not considered resident abroad even if they complete 185 days.
  • The 185 days do not have to be consecutive. You can view your status through the “Inquiry About Residence Abroad” service on e-Government.
• The vehicle must be registered in your name in the country where you reside (Russia or Ukraine). The facility to bring a vehicle registered in another country is granted only to people living in the EU and EFTA.
• Duration: If you are a Turkish citizen, dual citizen, or Mavi Card holder, your vehicle may remain in Türkiye for up to 730 days. No fee is charged at customs for these procedures.
• Documents required on entry:
  • the vehicle registration certificate
  • your driving licence and passport
  • if necessary, a document proving your residence abroad (residence permit)
  • if necessary, a valid power of attorney or rental agreement
  • a traffic insurance policy valid in Türkiye
• Before setting out, you can notify the customs gate of your information through the “Vehicle Pre-Declaration” application.
• Who may use the vehicle: your spouse, parents, and children living abroad while you are in Türkiye. Relatives living in Türkiye may use it only in an emergency and while you are in the vehicle. The vehicle may not be used at all while you are abroad.
• If you will leave the vehicle in Türkiye and depart: submit an undertaking at the nearest customs directorate or through the “Foreign-Plated Vehicle Procedures” application.
• 2026 penalties:
  • exceeding the period by up to 1, 2, or 3 months: TRY 2,988, TRY 5,976, and TRY 8,964
  • exceeding it by more than 3 months: one quarter of the vehicle’s customs duties
  • leaving the vehicle and departing without notifying customs: TRY 11,952
• A person who completes 730 days cannot bring a vehicle again without spending another 185 days abroad. The “one month per year” exception granted to people living in the EU, EFTA, and the United Kingdom does not apply to people living in Russia and Ukraine.
• There is no customs age limit for the vehicle; right-hand-drive vehicles may also be brought.

• Used household goods: Turkish citizens permanently returning to Türkiye after living abroad for at least 24 months may bring household goods duty-free.
  • If you have lived abroad for at least 5 years during the last 10 years, the 24-month requirement does not apply.
  • The allowance is granted jointly to the family (mother, father, and children under 18); spouses cannot benefit separately. To benefit again, you must live abroad for at least another 24 months.
  • The goods must be brought with you, before your arrival, or within 6 months after your arrival; they may also arrive in several batches.
  • Documents: certificate of transfer of residence, full civil registry record, and list of goods. Ask the representative office to which you are affiliated how to obtain the residence transfer certificate before moving.
  • Materials used for a profession or trade are not covered, except portable tools and devices.
• People residing abroad who buy or rent a home in Türkiye: If you have continuously resided abroad for the last 24 months and own a home or have rented one for at least 1 year, you may bring used household goods duty-free once.
• Duty-free vehicle import: Turkish citizens permanently returning after living abroad for at least 24 months may bring their private vehicle.
  • Only a customs duty exemption is granted; Special Consumption Tax and VAT must be paid.
  • Commercial vehicles are not covered.
  • People who became Turkish citizens through marriage cannot benefit.

• Sending the phone to Türkiye by cargo. A phone arriving by cargo is not delivered.
• Failing to register the phone within 120 days.
• Assuming that the 430-euro gift allowance also applies to postal shipments.
• Bringing meat and dairy products.
• Exceeding the vehicle’s 730-day period and paying an overstay penalty.
• Leaving the vehicle in Türkiye and departing abroad without notifying customs.
• Allowing a relative living in Türkiye to use the vehicle.

• What happens if I do not register the phone I brought from Russia? You can use it for 120 days; afterward, the phone is blocked from communication services.
• How much is the phone registration fee in 2026? TRY 54,258.
• Can I come to Türkiye with my Russia-plated vehicle? Yes. If you reside abroad and the vehicle is registered in your name in Russia, you can bring it for up to 730 days.
• Can my mother use my vehicle? Yes, if your mother lives abroad and you are in Türkiye. If she lives in Türkiye, only in an emergency and while you are in the vehicle.
• Can I bring my household goods duty-free when making a permanent return? Yes, if you have lived abroad for at least 24 months. The allowance is granted jointly to the family.
• How much can my gift be worth? Up to 430 euros duty-free; 150 euros for those under 15.

• Ministry of Trade – Foreign-Plated Vehicle Procedures (YPTİ)
• e-Government – Vehicle Pre-Declaration
• e-Government – Inquiry About Residence Abroad
• e-Government – IMEI registration eligibility inquiry
• e-Government – BTK IMEI registration service
• Ministry of Trade – Customs Guide for Passengers
• Ministry of Trade – Individual customs procedures, frequently asked questions
• Sample power of attorney: customs procedures (Word)