Turkey customs allowance: what can you bring, and how much?

When you arrive in Turkey, many of the things in your luggage are exempt from customs duty as long as they stay within certain quantities. These quantities are set out in Annex 9 of Decision 2009/15481, the “Passenger Personal Items List”. Items not on the list have a separate value allowance. Below is the full list, with a detailed page for each item.

The rules in short

Items on the list are duty-free up to the quantity shown next to them.
For items not on the list that are not commercial, there is an allowance up to a total of 430 EUR; for travellers under 15, 150 EUR.
Above that, up to 1,500 EUR, a flat-rate duty applies: %30 for goods coming directly from the EU, %60 from other countries; for goods on the Special Consumption Tax list (IV), %20 is added.
A single item worth more than 1,500 EUR is subject to the normal import duties.
Travellers under 18 cannot use the tobacco and alcohol allowance.
There is no minimum stay abroad. When entering through a land border, the allowance can be used at most 10 times a month.

A) Consumables — only in your luggage

Items in section (A) can only be brought with you; they cannot be sent later by post or courier.

Item	Duty-free amount	Details
Cigarettes	600	Cigarettes and tobacco
Cigarillos (cigars of max. 3 g each)	100
Cigars	50
Rolling tobacco (with 200 cigarette papers)	250 g
Pipe tobacco	250 g
Drinks above 22% alcohol	1 l	Alcoholic drinks
Drinks at or below 22% alcohol	2 l	Alcoholic drinks
Cologne, perfume, lavender water, essence or lotion + skincare and make-up items	600 ml + 5	Perfume and cosmetics
Tea · instant coffee · coffee · chocolate · sugar confectionery	1 kg each	—

If you wish, you can use the whole 2 kg allowance for chocolate and sugar confectionery (1 kg + 1 kg) on just one of the two.

B) Other items — with you, or from 1 month before to 3 months after arrival

Items in section (B) can come with you, or arrive from 1 month before to 3 months after your arrival in Turkey. Personal belongings you could not bring with you can be sent by post or courier within this period: there is no 30 kg or value limit and no duty is charged; you apply to the courier with your passport to prove your entry date. If the deadline is missed because of force majeure or unforeseen circumstances, the regional customs directorate can grant a one-time extension of up to 6 months.

Group	Duty-free items and quantities
Clothing and travel items	Items for the traveller's own clothing and dress; items for personal use and travel items. Clothing, shoes and bags →
Electronics	1 colour TV up to 55 inches · one video camera and one photo camera (camera) · 1 GPS device (GPS) · 1 laptop or PC with parts and accessories, including flash drives and external disks (laptop) · 1 radio and 1 audio/video recorder or player, with up to 10 records, cassettes, CDs or DVDs in total · 1 electronic game device (game console) · mobile phone: 1 every three calendar years, used with lines registered to your ID number (phone)
Musical instruments	Hand-portable instruments, one of each kind, up to 3 in total. Musical instruments →
Sports equipment	One each of: camping tent, diving gear, non-motorised inflatable boat, sailboard; one pair of swim fins; golf equipment (excluding golf carts); one each of other sports equipment and clothing a traveller can use alone — including parachute and ski gear, excluding jet skis and motorised water sleds. Sports equipment →
Health	A patient's bed; motorised or non-motorised wheelchairs; medicines for personal treatment (medicine); medical devices for personal use (medical devices); gas mask and protective clothing.
Kitchen	Kitchen utensils used during the journey and small household appliances, one of each. Kitchen appliances →
Other	Dates and Zamzam water for pilgrims returning from Hajj and Umrah, in amounts set by the authorities · 1 pushchair and toys for a child passenger (baby items) · 1 iron · 1 bicycle · 1 pair of hand binoculars — night-vision devices excluded (binoculars) · tools and devices for the car and driver when travelling by car · books and printed matter for personal use (books) · pets, only with the traveller: 2 in total, or 10 aquarium fish (pets)

Items not on the list: the 430 EUR rule

Gifts, a newly bought watch or any other product not named on the list fall under this rule. Each traveller may bring such non-commercial items duty-free up to a total real value of 430 EUR; for travellers under 15 the limit is 150 EUR.

If the value exceeds the allowance, a flat-rate duty is charged on the amount above it. For example, on goods worth 800 EUR the taxable amount is 370 EUR, so the duty is 111 EUR from the EU or 222 EUR from other countries.

How is the value of your goods determined?

Customs determines the value from the invoice, receipt or proof of payment you show. If you cannot show one, or the value on it is found to be too low, customs sets the value. Carrying your receipts makes things easier.

Other charges besides customs duty

TRT banderole fee: charged once on electronic devices brought in for non-commercial purposes; the amount depends on the type of device and, for TVs, the screen size.
Phone usage-permit fee: 54,258 TL to use a phone brought from abroad on a Turkish line; registration must be completed within 120 days of entry. Details: phone page.

Frequently asked questions

How much perfume can I bring into Turkey?

Cologne, perfume, lavender water, essence or lotion up to 600 ml, plus 5 skincare or make-up items, are duty-free. These items can only be brought in your luggage, not sent later.

How many cigarettes can I bring into Turkey?

Travellers aged 18 or over may bring 600 cigarettes — three standard cartons of 200. Separately listed are 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, 250 g of rolling tobacco and 250 g of pipe tobacco.

Do duty-free purchases count towards the allowance?

Yes. Passengers entering Turkey may buy at duty-free shops only up to the quantities in this list.

Is there a minimum stay abroad before the allowance applies?

No, there is no time limit linked to how long you stayed abroad. When entering through a land border, the allowance can be used at most 10 times a month.

What is the allowance for items not on the list?

Items not on the list, if not commercial, are duty-free up to a total value of 430 EUR; for travellers under 15 the limit is 150 EUR. The excess, up to 1,500 EUR, is subject to a flat-rate duty: %30 from the EU, %60 from other countries.

Do I pay duty on my phone?

A mobile phone is duty-free, one every three calendar years, with no value limit. But to use it with a Turkish line you must register it within 120 days of entry and pay a usage-permit fee of 54,258 TL.

Can I send my belongings separately?

Yes, items in section (B) of the list can arrive by post or courier from 1 month before to 3 months after your arrival; there is no 30 kg or value limit and no duty, and you apply to the courier with your passport to prove your entry date. Tobacco, alcohol, cosmetics and food in section (A) can only come with you.