PASSPORTS AND VISAS
1) Nationals of the following countries can enter Turkey with a valid passport; a-visa is not required:
a) Up to 3 Months
Germany, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Morocco, Fiji, Finland, France, Granada, Iran, Switzerland, Iceland, Jamaica, Japan, Canada, Qatar, Kenya, Kuwait, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Monaco, Norway, Oman, St. Lucia, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Trinidad Tobago, Tunisia, Vatican City, New Zealand, Greece, Ecuador, Sweden, Israel, South Korea, Uruguay.
b) Up to 2 Months
The Republic of Croatia, The Republic of Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania, Macedonia, Indonesia.
c) Up to 1 Month
Bolivia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, The Republic of South Africa.
2) For the countries mentioned above and Bulgaria, a transit visa is not required.
3) Nationals of the following Countries require a visa:
a) U.S.A., Austria, United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Holland, and Portugal, can obtain a sticker visa at border gates (Up to 3 Months).
b) Azerbaijan, White Russia, Armenia, Moldavia, Uzbekistan, Russia, Tadzhikistan, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georcia, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Taiwan can obtain a sticker visa at border gates (Up to I Month).
c) Nationals of Guatemala can obtain a visa for up to 15 days at border gates.
d) Nationals of Jordan, up to 30 days.
e) Nationals of all other countries require a visa, which can be obtained from the nearest Turkish Embassy or Consulate.
N.B. Citizens of Germany, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Spain, Italy, Malta, Switzerland, and Greece may enter Turkey with the proper identity cards in lieu of a passport.
CURRENCY REGULATIONS
Limits: There is no limit on the amount of foreign currency that may be brought into Turkey, but not more than $ 5,000, worth of Turkish currency may be brought into or taken out of the country.
Exchange Slips: The exchange slips for the conversion of foreign currency into Turkish lira should be kept, since you may be required to show these when reconverting your Turkish lira back into foreign currency, and when taking, souvenirs out of the country (to prove that they have been purchased with legally exchanged foreign currency).
CUSTOM REGULATIONS
On Entry
a) The following items may be brought into the country duty free
– personal effects of the tourist.
– one TV, one color pocket TV (maximum 16 cm screen), one TV-tape-radio combination, one video recording camera and 5 video cassettes (blank); 5 records, 5 tape cassettes or compact discs.
– one video player, cine-projector (8 mm) and 10 rolls of film (blank), one slide projector..
– one pocket computer (maximum main memory capacity Ram 128k. Byte), electronic playing devices (without cassette – keyboard).
– one transistor radio and portable radio – tape player (its specification to be determined by the Ministry of Finance and Customs), one walkman or pocket tape recorder, one portable compact disc player.
– binoculars (one pair, except night binoculars)
– harmonica, mandolin, flagella, flute, guitar, and accordion (only one of each type, maximum 3 musical instruments).
– personal sports equipment.
– necessary medical items.
– bicycle, baby buggy, toys.
– 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.
– 200 grams of tobacco and 200 cigarette papers, or 50 grams of chewing tobacco, or 200 grams of pipe tobacco, or 200 grams of snuff.
(In addition to the above allowances, it is possible to purchase 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars, and 500 grams of pipe tobacco from the Turkish Duty Free Shops upon entering the country).
-1.5 kg. coffee, 1.5 kg. instant coffee, 500 grams of tea.
– I kilo chocolate and I kilo sweets.
– 5 (100 cc) or 7 (70 cc) bottles of wines and/or spirits.
– five bottles of perfume (120 ml max. each).
– one portable typewriter.
– one camera with 5 rolls of film.
– First aid, and spare parts for the car.
– Other items necessary during the journey.
b) Valuable items and all items with a value of over $ 15,000, must be registered in the owner’s passport upon entering Turkey, for control upon exit.
c) Antiques brought into the country must be registered in the owner’s passport to avoid difficulties on exit.
d) Sharp instruments (including, camping knives) and weapons may not be brought into the country without special permission.
e) The bringing into the country, trade, and consumption of marijuana and all other narcotics is strictly forbidden and subject to heavy punishment.
f) Gifts, not exceeding 500 DM in value and not for trading purposes, may be brought into the country duty free. In addition, gifts not exceeding 500 DM in value may be posted to Turkey duty free, if the date stamped by the sending post office falls one month before, or one month after the following holidays: Seker Bayrami, Kurban Bayrami, Christmas, and New Year’s.
Note: Cellular Telephones entering the country must be accompanied by a certification form showing ownership. Ownership must be documented in the passport of the owner and will be checked on entry and exit. For more information contact the Ministry of Transportation, General Directorate at Tel:(312) 212 35 72 – 212 60 10 (10 lines), Fax:(312) 221 32 26 or write to Ulastirma Bakanligi Telsiz Gn. Md. Emek – Ankara.
On exit
a) Gifts and souvenirs: for a new carpet, a proof of purchase; for old items, a certificate from a directorate of a museum is necessary,
b) Exporting antiques from Turkey is forbidden.
c) Valuable personal items can only be taken out of the country providing they have been registered in the owner’s passport upon entry, or providing they can show they have been purchased with legally exchanged currency.
d) Minerals may only be exported from the country with a special document obtained from the – MTA (General Directorate of Mining Exploration and Research). Etudler Dairesi 06520, Ankara
Tel: (312) 287 34 30 /ext.# 1622, Fax: (312) 285 42 71
TAX REFUND
You Can Receive a Tax Refund for the Goods You Purchased In Turkey!
1. Refunds will be made to travelers who do not reside in Turkey.
2. All goods (including food and drinks) are included in the refunds with the exclusion of services rendered.
3. The minimum amount of purchase that qualifies for refund is 5.000.000 TL.
4. Retailers that qualify for tax refunds must be “authorized for refund.” These retailers must display a permit received from their respective tax office.
5. The retailer will make four copies of the receipt for your refund, three of which will be received by the purchaser. If photocopies of the receipt are received the retailer must sign and stamp the copies to validate them. if you prefer the refund to be made by check, a Tax-free Shopping Check for the amount to be refunded to the customer must be given along with the receipt.
6. For the purchaser to benefit from this exemption he must leave the country within three months with the goods purchased showing them to Turkish customs officials along with the appropriate receipts and / or check.
7. There are four ways to receive your refund:
a. If the retailer gives you a check it can be cashed at a bank in the customs area at the airport. If it is not possible to cash the check upon departure or if you do not wish to cash it then, the customer must, within one month, send a copy of the receipt showing that the goods have left the country to the retailer who will, within ten days upon receiving the receipt, send a bank transfer to the purchaser’s bank or address.
b. If the certified receipt and check are brought back to the retailer on a subsequent visit within one month of the date of customs certification, the refund can be made directly to the purchaser.
c. Retailers may directly refund the amount to trustworthy customers upon purchase.
d. The refund may be made by the organization of those companies that are authorized to make tax refunds.
For Additional information: Ministry of Finance and Tax Dept. General Directorate, (Maliye Bakanligi, Gelirler Genel Md.lügü) KDV Subesi 06100, Ulus – Ankara
Tel : (312) 310 38 80 /725 – 728 – 735, Fax:(312) 311 45 10
HEALTH REGULATIONS FOR PETS
For those who wish to bring domestic animals into the country the following are required
a) A Certificate of Origin giving the health record of the pet.
b) A ‘Certificate of Health’, issued not more than 15 days before the animal’s entry into the country, stating that the animal is in good health and that it has been vaccinated against rabies.
Note: If you have an official certificate, you may bring one cat, one- bird, one dog and 10 aquarium fish into the country.
MOTORIST RULES
General: Those who wish to enter the country with their vans,- minibuses, automobiles, station wagons, bicycles, motorcycles, motorbikes, sidecars, buses, motor coaches, trailers, caravans or other transport vehicles, will have to provide the following documentation:
1. Passport.
2. International driving license.
3. Car license (document where all details related to the car and the owner’s name are registered). If it is somebody else’s vehicle a power of attorney should be provided.
4. International green card (Insurance card). The TR sign should be visible.
5. Transit book “Carnet de passage” (for those who want to proceed to the Middle East).
Period : The vehicle can be brought into Turkey for up to 6 Months. The owner should declare on the opposite form, the date of departure at the border gate and should absolutely leave the country at the date declared. If for any important reason the staying period has to be extended, it is necessary to apply to;
-The Turkish Touring and Automobile Club (Turkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu) 1.Oto Sanayi Sitesi Yani, 4.Levent, Istanbul, Tel : (212) 282 81 40(7 lines). Fax : (212) 282 80 42, or to
-The General Directorate of Customs (Gumrukler Genel Md.lugu), Ulus Ankara Tel : (312) 310 38 80, 310 38 18, Fax : (312) 311 13 46, before the end of the period declared.
In Case of Accident: The accident should be reported to the police or gendarme. That report has to be certified by the nearest local authority. The owner should apply to the customs authority with his passport and report. If the vehicle can be repaired, it is necessary to inform the customs authority first and then take the vehicle to a garage. If the vehicle is not repairable and if the owner wishes to leave the country without his vehicle, he has to deliver it to the nearest customs office, and the registration of his vehicle on his passport will be cancelled. (Only after the cancellation can the owner of the vehicle leave the country.)
Following an accident, you can telephone as toll free:
-Trafik Polisi (Traffic Police), Tel: 154
-Jandarma (Gendarma), Tel: 156 (Specially if you out of town)
For more information, contact the Turkish Touring and Automobile Club
FORMALITIES FOR PRIVATE YACHT OWNERS
Yachts require a Transit Log and may remain in Turkish waters for up to two years for maintenance or for wintering. There are certain ports licensed by the Ministry of Tourism for the storage of yachts for a period of two to five years. For further information and regulations: Contact the marina concerned. Upon arriving in Turkish waters, yachts should immediately go for control of the ships log to the nearest port of entry which are as follows: Iskenderun, Botas (Adana), Mersin, Tasucu, Anamur, Alanya, Antalya, Kemer, Finike, Kas, Fethiye, Marmaris, Datca, Bodrum, Güllük, Didim, Kusadasi, Cesme, Izmir, Dikili, Ayvalik, Akçay, Canakkale, Bandirma, Tekirdag, Körfez, Istanbul, Zonguldak, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, Hopa.
For tourist attractions about yachting please check our sailing paradise pages
Port Formalities: All the required information concerning the yacht, yachtsmen, crew members, intended route, passports, customs declarations, health clearance, and any other obligatory matters must be entered in the Transit Log. The Transit Log is to be completed by the captain of a yacht under a foreign flag or by an amateur sailor acting as captain of the vessel. The Transit Log is completed upon first entering a Turkish port and, generally, it is necessary to contact the Harbor Authority before leaving. For information on taxfree fuel, contact the Marina Harbor Office. For further information on sailing in Turkey see the section “Recreation.”
Note: If you have a certificate from the Tourism Ministry Yacht Harbor, you may take full petrol at no charge, provided you possess an official marina license.
FORMALITIES FOR PRIVATE PLANE OWNERS
General: When coming to Turkey, international air routes should be followed. Private planes may stay for up to three months in Turkey with tourist status, but for longer periods permission should be obtained from;
-The General Directorate of Customs (Gumrfikler Genel Mudurlugu), Ulus Ankara,
Tel: (312) 310 38 80, 310 38 18, Fax: (312) 311 13 46
The airports of Ankara, Adana, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Trabzon and Dalaman have facilities for private planes. It is also possible to hire planes and helicopters in Turkey.
For further information, apply to;
-The Civil Aviation Department of the Ministry of Transport (Ulastirma Bakanligi, Sivil Havacilik Gen. Mud.). Bosna-Hersek Cad., No: 5 – 06338 – Emek, Ankara.
Tel: (312) 212 67 30, Fax: (312) 212 46 84, Tlx: 44659 Ga-tr.
