Country/Territory profiles

Turkey

Last update: August, 2024

Transparency and Predictability

1. Are laws and regulations published in official journal? (Art 1 TFA)
Yes
2a. Is there an opportunity to comment on new regulations and changes to existing ones prior to implementation? (Art 2.1.1 TFA)
Yes
2b. After the authorities have decided on new or changed regulations is there advance notice of the effective date (or a delayed effective date) to allow traders to make necessary changes and arrangements? (Art 2.1.2 TFA)
Yes
3. Does Customs issue advance (pre-entry) rulings, binding on all Customs ports, on classification and valuation questions?
Yes
4. Is there a public and regularly updated website available with
- a. Laws and regulations? (Art 1 TFA)
  Yes
- b. full description of all Customs procedures? (Art 2 TFA)
  Yes
- c. access to appeal procedure? (Art 2 TFA)
  Yes
- d. all forms and documents required for import and export? (Art 2 TFA)
  Yes
5a. Are there other rules or procedures by Customs or any other government entity that in your experience restrict the operation of express delivery services in your country, such as:
- a. Restrict the use of clearance procedures for express items by weight, quantity or value? (Art 7.8.2c TFA)
  Yes (Import simplified limits; Shipments which come to a person for personal or their family's use (B2C non commercial purposes)and has a value up to 150 EUR and has a weight less than 30 kgs. For 150- 1500 EUR / 30 Kgs, we can organize such clearance by an outsourced broker who are working under an agreement with us. For B2B 22 EUR (no weight or value limit for samples) Export simplified limits max EUR 15000 / 300 Kgs. )
- b. Other? Please specify:
  Yes (The restricted materials are foods of animal origins & beverages, drugs, food contribution materials, all kind of cosmetics and mobile phones, labels and tags. The weight, value and reason for sending is not considered by the customs, these are held for the formal clearance process automatically when it is arrive. )
5b. If the answer to Q5a-a is "yes", what is the
- a. weight
  30 kg
- b. quantity
  N/A
- c. and/or value (local currency / USD)
  150 EURO for B2C, 22 EURO for B2B (no limit for samples) More detailed information is given above.
6. URL for Customs website
http://www.ticaret.gov.tr

Customs Efficiency

1a. Does Customs accept and process electronically the data required for release of shipments in advance of their actual arrival so that they can be released either prior to or immediately after arrival? (Art 7.1 TFA)
Other (add remark) (Sometimes (low value shipments))
1b. Can formalities for final clearance be completed through electronic means post-release?
Yes
2a. When are the following shipments typically released (WCO Immediate Release Guidelines)?
- a. Letters and Documents (Cat. 1 of IRG)
  Other (add remark) (Within 1-2 hours. )
- b. Low-value non dutiable items (e.g de minimis) (Cat 2 of IRG)
  Other (add remark) (Within 4-5 hours after arrival )
- c. Low value dutiable items (Cat. 3 of IRG)
  Other (add remark) (Within 4-5 hours after arrival )
- d. High value dutiable items (Cat. 4 of IRG)
  Other (add remark) (N/A - It is out of our control because it is outside of our permission limits. It depends on the customers or their own brokers. It usually takes 1-3 days. )
3. Is physical release of goods separate from clearance? (Will Customs release goods prior to completion of all formalities and final settlement of accounts?) (Art 7.3 TFA)
Sometimes / Other (add remark) (LV cat 3 shipments)
4. Is full-time (24/7) automated processing for the customs ports at which you operate available?
Yes
5a. Are the official working hours of the Customs office and personnel adapted to commercial needs and applied at local level? (RKC Std 3.1)
Yes (Recently implemented and should improve)
5b. Are there fees for Customs services during normal working hours?
Yes (Stamp tax for cat 2 and cat 3 declarations)
5c. Does Customs and other agencies provide clearance services outside of the official office hours?
Yes (Customs offices provide services outside of official working hours for customs clearance as long as overtime is paid. The standard overtime fee tariff determined by the Ministry is applied. This list is determined and published every year. )
- and if so, is there a published set of fees?
  Yes
5d. Will Customs provide dedicated clearance services away from the Customs office for a fee? (e.g. clearance at Express Consignment Facilities and Hubs)
No
6. For shipments arriving by air, does Customs inspect and release goods at the operator's facility or require their transfer to another facility? (Art 7.8.1a TFA)
Operator's facility
7a. Does Customs apply risk-management and risk-based selectivity to select items for documentary and/or physical examination? (Art 7.4 TFA)
Yes (There is a Customs Risk Management system. According to the risk management system, some shipments are subject to physical control, while others are subject to document control only. In express shipments, this rate varies between 20 - 50%. )
7b. Does any other agency apply risk-management and risk-based selectivity to select items for documentary and/or physical examination? (Art 7.4 TFA)
No
8a. Are there multiple inspections (inspections by agencies other than Customs)?
Yes (Sometimes- security)
8b. Are they fully coordinated? (Art 8.1 TFA; RKC Std 3.35)
Yes
9a. Does the customs administration apply a de minimis regime that allows goods the value of which does not exceed a certain amount to be exempted from duties and taxes? (Art 7.8.2d TFA; RKC Std 4.13)
No
9b. If the answer above is "yes" what is that amount in local currency?
- What is the rough equivalent in USD?
  Not applicable
9c. Is de minimis based on intrinsic value (i. e. the cost of the goods without transport and insurance costs)?
Other (add remark) (N/A)
9d. If the answer to 9a is "yes", are those goods subject to simplified procedures e.g. consolidated release/clearance or 'off manifest'? (Art 7.8.2a TFA)
Not applicable
10a. Does the customs administration apply an informal/simplified entry threshold that allows dutiable goods the value of which does not exceed a certain amount to be exempted from formal declaration procedures (WCO IRG Cat 3) e.g. as in the US for goods valued between $800 and $2500?
Yes (150 EUR (up to 30 kgs private individuals), 22 EUR for B2B, samples to companies and documents are exempt from formal declarations. )
10b. If the answer above is "yes" what is that amount in local currency?
EUR 150 (In regulation EUR currency is used. Daily exchange rate to TRY can be changed)
- What is the rough equivalent in USD?
  160 USD
11a. Does Customs or any other agency require in connection with importation of goods that the importer provide any of the following items:
- a. a consular invoice or a consular visa for a commercial invoice or other trade document (as evidence that particular goods are of a particular origin, or have arrived in a particular importing country, or have been applied to a particular end use)?
  Sometimes (add remark)
- b. a certificate from a pre-shipment inspection agency? (Art 10.5 TFA)
  No
- c. a certificate of origin from a chamber of commerce or similar agency?
  Other (add remark) (Sometimes)
11b. Does Customs or any other agency accept electronic supporting documents? (Art 10.2 TFA)
Yes (They accept electronic invoices. However, in case of doubt, they want the original. )
11c. Does Customs or any other agency accept scanned copies of supporting documents?
Yes (They accept electronic invoices. However, in case of doubt, they want the original. )
12. Is the express carrier allowed to clear import shipments on behalf of the consignee without having to use a third-party licensed customs broker? (RKC Std 8.1)
Other (add remark) (Yes, express carrier can only perform simplified clearance in limits. Formal clearance declarations can only be created by third party customs brokers.)
13a. Are there processing fees for:
- a. express clearance?
  Yes (Only for shipments for B2C customers with a value between 151-1500 EUR. )
- b. on-site Customs facilities?
  Yes (Yes (monthly bonded warehouse overtime fee) )
- c. IT systems?
  No
- d. electronic transmissions by number or volume?
  No
- e. other?
  Yes (Overtime Storage fees)
13b. Are these fees based on the value of the goods? (Art 6.2 (ii) TFA)
Yes (Based on the Customs Brokers Service Commission fee list determined by the Ministry. Additionaly, storage fee is calculated based on goods value, weight and duration of the goods in customs warehouse.)

Post-Release Processes

1a. Is there a limit on the time within which Customs is allowed to demand additional duties? (RKC Std 4.2)
Yes (It cannot demand an additional duty or tax after completed declaration. However, if it detects a deficiency before the declaration process is completed, it can be demanded it and even impose a penalty for the deficiency. )
1b. If the answer above is "yes", what is the time limit?
Other (add remark) (Until the declaration is completed.)
2a. May decisions of local Customs officials be appealed to a higher administrative level? (Art 4 TFA)
Yes
2b. May decisions of local Customs officials be appealed to an independent court? (Art 4 TFA)
Yes
2c. If the answer to either question 2a or 2b above is "yes" is there a time limit for filing such appeals?
Yes
2d. If the answer to question 2c is "yes" what is the time limit?
Other/It depends (add remark) (15 days)
2e. If the answer to either question 2a or 2b is "yes", is there a time limit to rule on such appeals? (Art 4.4 TFA)
Yes
2f. If yes, what is the time limit?
30 days
3. Does Customs regularly use valuation databases with reference prices or other arbitrary uplifts to invoice values? (WCO Guidelines on the use of valuation databases)
Yes
4a. In case of seizures of illicit items (e.g. IPR), does Customs or any other agency require the express carrier to store the seized goods at its own premises and cost?
Yes (They usually ask us to keep it until a court order or administrative decision is made. )
4b. If the answer to question 4a is "yes", how long is the period that the carrier is required to store the goods?
Other (add remark) (Sometimes it can take a week or two, sometimes a year or longer, depending on the outcome of the court or decision. )
4c. If the answer to 4a is yes, does Customs take care of the final disposition of the goods...
Yes (It could be both. Depending on the court decision, the situation may change. )
- ...or is the express carrier required to destroy them?
  Yes (It could be both. Depending on the court decision, the situation may change. )

RKC

1. Signatory to the Revised Kyoto Convention (Customs Reform)
Yes (03/05/2006)

TFA

1. TFA ratified?
Yes (16/03/2016)
2. Has the country set up a National Trade Facilitation Committee?
Yes (Established by order of the Primer Minister)
- a. Who leads it?
  The structure includes a 'Board', a general assembly, a technical committee and 10 working groups (Transparency, Penalties, Risk Management, 7/24, Pre arrival processing, single window, one stop shop, formalities and costs, infrastructure; and reforms.
- b. Is the private sector part of it?
  Yes (Private sector largest associations represented (and Turkish airlines). Each has one vote.)

DISCLAIMER

The Customs Capability Database contains information that the GEA has been able to collect to the best of its ability. It reflects our members' experience of local practice in the countries or territories surveyed. It is not an official source of Customs information. We accept that it may not always be complete or up to date, or that there might be differences of interpretation. Please help us improve it by sending us any additional information or corrections - from authoritative sources - to info@global-express.org. We will revise any entries as soon as new information is available that can be verified and checked against our members' experience of local practice. The name of the country or territory used in the database, as well as the depiction of boundaries and borders on the map, do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the Global Express Association or its members. Colors on the map are indicative and do not imply compliance with specific treaty obligations or lack thereof.