Customs Law - What Can You Bring to Turkey

Bringing Your Car to Turkey

There are certain restrictions on bringing your car into Turkey, depending on the type of visa you have. If you are visiting Turkey on a tourist visa, you can bring your car into Turkey but only keep it for a period of six months in 12. If you leave Turkey at any point, you must either take your car with you or leave it in the nearest customs depot, for which you will need to pay a fee.

You cannot bring your car into Turkey on a residence permit unless you also have a work permit and a job in Turkey, or you are retired. You will need to apply for a special plate for foreigners who work in Turkey and your employer will have to submit a letter to the authorities guaranteeing that all customs duties will be paid on the car if it is not removed from Turkey once your employment ends.

If you are retired and have a residence permit, you can bring in and keep your car for as long as you live in Turkey. You should register it with the Turkish Touring and Automobile Club and obtain a temporary ‘entry carnet’ for foreigners from them. See their website for details of the documents you will need to submit.

Once you have obtained your carnet you should go to the nearest customs office where your residency is and register with them.

Buying a car in Turkey

If you don’t want to bring a car into Turkey, you can buy one in the country and have it registered in your own name, provided that you have a residence permit. You will need to have the car insured and hold an appropriate driving licence.

If you have a residence permit, you should have your own licence translated into Turkish and notarized and carry it with you at all times, alongside your original licence. 

1.	What Can You Bring to Turkey
2.	Bringing Household Items to Turkey
3.	Bringing Your Pets to Turkey
4.	Bringing Your Car to Turkey

Share:

Facebook

Return to expat essays page