It will be important to know the purpose, basic description and scope of Turkish Customs Regulations primarily. A set of rules will be valid for all goods and items which enter into or exit from the Customs Area of the Republic of Turkey in accordance with the Turkish Customs Regulations.
Foreign trade and economic relations of Turkey has become a strong systematics. It promotes trade and integrates it into a certain order depending on strong relationships, and it adds depth to economic relations for countries that provide mutual trade. The trade carried out by countries in terms of bilateral relations has an important value in terms of mutual benefit.
What are the Customs in Turkey? | Turkish Customs Regulations
According to Turkish Customs Regulations, customs procedures are provided with the authorization given to 8 customs regimes. The term customs actually makes sense with the procedures and regimes that take place under the definition. The operation works like a team. One of the coordinates of the system is the customs regime. The customs regime is one of the main points of this system. With 8 customs regimes, the procedures and rules to be implemented on the goods entering or leaving the customs are specified. Therefore, the customs regimes should be known first.
If we simply examine the regimes under the Turkish Customs Regulations;
| Export Regime | Temporary Import Regime |
| Transit Regime | Warehouse Regime |
| Outward Processing Regime | Inward Processing Regime |
| Processing Under Control Regime | Release for Free Circulation Regime |
Customs Terminology | General Definitions on “Customs” in Turkey
In order to have a broader knowledge of Turkish Customs Regulations and to know its particulars, it is important to briefly know the terms and concepts we have mentioned below.
Undersecretariat of Customs: It continues its duty to maintain the global trade and prevent illegal acts such as smuggling. The undersecretariat, which is an official institution affiliated to the Ministry of Customs and Trade, also carries out official transactions such as tax collection and keeping foreign trade records.
Entry Customs Administration and Summary Declaration: These are the units with a hierarchical structure where the procedures determined in accordance with the Turkish Customs Regulations are carried out or some of them are completed, and the dispatching operations are performed.
Import Customs Administration: The goods and items which are entered into or left from the Turkish Customs Territory are analyzed and controlled here. Procedures approved by the customs administration and procedures related to their use are carried out.
Export Customs Administration: Pursuant to the Turkish Customs Regulations, the risk analysis is carried out before the goods or items which have entered into and will exit from the Customs territory are left. Procedures regarding the goods to be processed or used are completed here.
Exit Customs Administration: The exit procedures of the goods to be exited from the Customs Territory of the Republic of Turkey are completed here. It is required to complete these procedures before the exit is carried out. Risk analysis and customs controls will take place here.
All of the procedures such as controls and risk analyses for the goods or items to be imported, exported, entered or exited in Turkey are checked in order by these units.
Customs and Foreign Trade in Turkey | Find to Right Path for Trade in Turkey
With Turkish Customs Regulations, import or export procedures to be performed in Turkey are brought under control. A number of procedures are implemented to prevent an illegal or out-of-control application from taking place. Understanding customs procedures during the international trade in Turkey particularly concerns the counterparty during import, and it is required to have knowledge in this regard. Thus, action will be taken quickly during the implementation and operation of the procedures.
Turkey export regulations should be applied systematically during the procedures. You need to make a declaration to the customs administration for goods or items to be delivered to customs. So the customs declaration is a must. This is the first stage. Here you can find detailed information about the declaration to be made by filling in the customs declaration form.
After the controls for the goods delivered for import purposes in Turkey are carried out by the Customs Administration, the second stage will get involved. However, you should know that the customs administration will examine the sample from the goods in a laboratory environment to carry out all control and risk analysis for the goods. Tax payments must be made after these procedures. After the controls of the Customs Administration, the amount of tax to be paid is determined.
Customs tax payments can be made through GUMKART or commercial banks without the need for cash or checks. Any information that made the payment of fines and payment of taxes in Turkey is located in the electronic system of the Ministry of Commerce.
The goods, which have been taken under control by the Customs and of which procedures are in progress, are delivered following such control and customs tax payments.
Procedures for Goods not Approved to Enter into the Turkish Customs Territory
The goods that are processed in accordance with the Turkish Customs Regulations and are subject to entry into customs to be imported are deemed inappropriate. In this case, the procedure to be implemented should be carefully examined. First of all, it is forbidden to destroy or leave at customs the goods or items that are prohibited to enter or the goods which may cause harm after entry.
Goods that are unable to pass through customs will be shipped to another country in transit and will be sent overseas pursuant to the rules of Customs Regulations. Goods that are not likely to harm people, animals, plants or the environment, but are not suitable for entry, can be left at customs. Products will be discharged here. Goods that do not carry any damaging elements instead of leaving at customs, can be shipped to a different country directly or through free zones or in transit.
What can You not Bring into Turkey? | Turkish Customs Regulations
Certain goods or items are forbidden to enter into Turkey pursuant to Turkish Customs Regulations. However, it is useful to find out the properties of the goods that are forbidden to enter as a result of the inspection carried out primarily from the customs control. In order to be protected from the sanctions to be imposed in accordance with the customs regulations, the goods to be entered into customs must pass these controls beforehand.
- Goods or items prohibited or restricted to enter into Turkey,
- Goods that have not undergone control and conformity control as well as the customs administration,
- Goods that do not have a permit, license, qualification or conformity certificate in order to import the goods, permission may not be granted for above-mentioned goods.
It will be definitely determined by the Customs Administration whether these preliminary controls and measures are taken. Therefore, you must definitely make these controls or checks as an importer.
Turkish Customs Regulations and Import Restrictions
In accordance with Turkish customs and import restrictions and rules, no import of goods which have or may have harm to biological life is accepted. In addition, if it has an archaeological value or historical heritage, the entrance of the goods will be prevented. It is vital for the protection of national treasures.
It is important to check the goods after receiving the Customs Tariff Statistics Position Number. It must be checked whether there is any specified restriction or prohibition on these goods. In addition, it is another criterion that the product to be imported has not been used before and is new. If the product is old or defective, first of all, permission must be obtained from the Ministry of Trade to import it, and then this permission must be forwarded to the customs administration.
The goods directly prohibited to be imported in Turkey are decided primarily by the Ministry of Trade. We have stated that it is forbidden to enter goods or articles that may harm people, animals, plants or the environment.
Accordingly, the import of chemicals and scrap is prohibited. You can find out the legal regulations in this regard through the communiqués and notifications published on the official website of the Ministry of Commerce.
Investment Share of the EU Member States in Turkey Reached up to 66.6%!
It has been announced that foreign trade volume of Turkey with EU member states has recently been aimed at a development. The Customs Union Agreement has been concluded in order to promote commercial and economic relations between Turkey and the EU member countries. When the foreign trade relations with the EU are analyzed, it is observed that it is on the 7th rank in terms of import and 5th rank in terms of export.
According to year-end data of the last year, Turkey has had a surplus for the first time in foreign trade with the EU countries. In addition, when examining foreign direct investment in Turkey, it is determined that foreign investment from EU member countries has a share of 66.6% in foreign trade pie.
Free movement of goods to be traded under the Customs Agreement has been accepted. Thus, trade between the parties has been encouraged. Products with ATR certificate are highly demanded in Turkey and constitute the primary share of preference.
If you wish to start up a company or start a business in Turkey, the measures taken and regulations established in Turkey has placed the rights and security of both domestic and foreign investors at the primary rank in the order of importance. Therefore, you can safely accomplish your activities such as trade, investment and starting up a business in Turkey.
