Limits There is no limit on the amount of
foreign currency that may be brought into Turkey, but not more than
5 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). Customs Regulations On
Entry . The following items may be brought into the country duty
free o personal effects of the tourist. o 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. o one video player,
cine-projector (8 mm) and 10 rolls of film (blank), one slide
projector. o one pocket computer (maximum main memory capacity
Ram 128k. Byte), electronic playing devices (without cassette -
keyboard). o 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. o Binoculars (one pair, except
night binoculars) o harmonica, mandolin, flageolet, flute,
guitar, and accordion (only one of each type, maximum 3 musical
instruments). o personal sports equipment. o necessary
medical items. o bicycle, baby buggy, toys. o 200 cigarettes
and 50 cigars. o 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 o (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).
o 1.5kg.
coffee, 1.5kg. instant coffee, 500 grams of tea. o 1 kilo
chocolate and 1 kilo sweets. o 5 (100 cc) or 7 (70 cc) bottles
of wines and/or spirits. o five bottles of perfume (120 ml max.
each). o one portable typewriter. o one camera with 5 rolls
of film. o First aid, and spare parts for the car. o Other
items necessary during the journey. . 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. .
Antiques brought into the country must be registered in the owner's
passport to avoid difficulties on exit. . Sharp instruments
(including camping knives) and weapons may not be brought into the
country without special permission. . The bringing into the
country, trade, and consumption of marijuana and all other narcotics
is strictly forbidden and subject to heavy punishment. . 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 OM 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 . Gifts and souvenirs:
for a new carpet, a proof of purchase; for old items, a certificate
from a directorate of a museum is necessary. . Exporting
antiques from Turkey is forbidden. . 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. . 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. Phone: +90 312 287 3430
/1622, Fax: +90 312 285 4271 Tax Refund You Can Receive a Tax
Refund for the Goods You Purchased In Turkey! . Refunds will be
made to travelers who do not reside in Turkey. . All goods
(including food and drinks) are included in the refunds with the
exclusion of services rendered. . The minimum amount of purchase
that qualifies for refund is 5.000.000 TL. . Retailers that
qualify for tax refunds must be "authorized for refund." These
retailers must display a permit received from their respective tax
office. . 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. .
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. . There are four ways to receive your refund: o 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, .e 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 hank or address. o If the certified receipt and
check are brought back to the retailer on a subsequent visit thin
one-month of the date of customs certification, the refund can be
made directly to the purchaser. o Retailers may directly refund
the amount to trustworthy customers upon purchase o The refund
may be made by the organization of those companies that are
authorized to make tax refunds. Additional information: Ministry
of Finance and Tax Dept. General Directorate, (Maliye Bakanligi,
Gelirler Genel Mudurlugu) KDV Subesi 06100, Ulus - Ankara Phone:
+90 312 310 3880 / 725 - 728 - 735, Fax: +90 312 311
4510
