Importing to Turkey | Essential Compliance and Customs Guide

Import Requirements for Türkiye

When importing goods into Türkiye, businesses must ensure all necessary documentation is in place. A certificate of origin may also be necessary, particularly for products subject to preferential trade agreements or specific customs requirements.

Products like electronics and machinery must also bear a CE mark to indicate compliance with European standards. Similarly, specific goods such as telecommunications equipment and electronics may require test reports from recognized bodies to verify their safety and technical standards.

The Turkish government uses the TAREKS system to monitor the safety and quality of imported tech goods, including telecom equipment, batteries, and electronics, which must receive prior approval. Many of these products also require further certification.

Regarding tariffs, Türkiye generally applies low rates, with an average tariff of around 5.8%. However, tariffs can rise significantly depending on the type of product, with some goods facing duties as high as 41.8%.

Population

85.3 M

Biggest Industry by Export

Automotive

Capital City

Ankara

Biggest Industry by Import

Machinery and Equipment

Export Requirements for Türkiye

Exporting from Türkiye is streamlined due to its customs union with the EU. However, exporters must meet certain documentation and compliance requirements.

Turkey’s export controls reflect its growth as a global defense and aerospace hub. The country’s Defense Industries Secretariat has launched a new country-to-country sales model to streamline the export of defense-related items. Additionally, Turkey is tracking and requiring permits for “service-exports” related to the tech sector.

Export Documentation

Commercial Invoice and Packing List
Certificate of Origin
Export Licenses

Export Control Regimes

Türkiye adheres to various international export control regimes, particularly in the export of dual-use technologies, including the Wassenaar Arrangement and the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). These agreements regulate the export of sensitive technologies to prevent the proliferation of weapons and other dangerous technologies.

Türkiye Trade Compliance Pain Points and Challenges

Abolition of Duty-Free Limit

All ecommerce and mail-order tech imports are now subject to customs duties from the first euro. Furthermore, non-commercial items are taxed at 30% for EU-origin goods and 60% for non-EU goods.

Many electronics are also subject to a special consumption tax of 20%. Shipments previously cleared under “simplified customs declarations” are frequently flagged for standard customs clearance, which requires a local customs broker and Turkish Tax ID.

TAREKS & Product Safety Mandates

TAREKS monitors technical compliance in Turkey. Bonded warehouse photos are now mandatory and importers must upload physical images of their goods inside the bonded warehouse into the TAREKS application.

Shipments with wireless capabilities, batteries, or machinery components and certain HS codes will likely require a TAREKS reference number to clear customs.

During physical inspections, a company representative must now sign the sampling report on-site. Refusal to sign results in an immediate and irreversible rejection of the shipment.

Bureaucratic Delays

Compliance with regulations often involves navigating complex bureaucratic processes. Customs processing times can be long, especially for regulated products like pharmaceuticals, electronics, and chemicals.

Language Barriers

Türkiye’s official language is Turkish, and while English is widely spoken in business contexts, official documentation is often required in Turkish. This can be a challenge for non-Turkish-speaking importers, especially when dealing with regulatory bodies.

Complex Compliance Landscape

The interplay of national regulations, EU standards, and international agreements means that companies must stay up-to-date with ever-changing compliance requirements. Importing technology products can be particularly complex, as many tech products must meet stringent safety and performance standards.

Countries Associated with Türkiye

Europe

Greece

Asia

Iraq

Europe

Germany

Turkish Import/Export Solutions and Services

Import and export regulations in Türkiye can be challenging, so it’s crucial to partner with professionals who understand the intricacies of Turkish trade laws. TecEx offers specialized solutions designed to streamline your shipping process and ensure compliance with all local requirements. Our services are tailored to help businesses move goods to and from Türkiye quickly and efficiently.

We handle all aspects of compliance, including the necessary documentation, through comprehensive Import of Record (IOR) services so you can focus on your core business operations. In addition to acting as your IOR, our team also assists with acquiring the necessary licenses and permits from regulatory bodies such as TAREKS, the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE), and the Telecommunications Authority (BTK). These permits are essential for ensuring your products can be legally imported and distributed in Türkiye.

For businesses needing to temporarily import goods—such as trade show samples or equipment for short-term use—TecEx offers expertise in managing temporary import processes. This service ensures that temporary items are handled in accordance with Turkish regulations, minimizing the risk of delays or issues with customs.

Turkish Compliance Regulations

In Türkiye, businesses must navigate a complex regulatory landscape to ensure compliance with local and international trade laws. A key part of this system is the TAREKS (Risk-Based Trade Control System), which is primarily designed to oversee the safety and quality of imported goods. Through TAREKS, businesses can submit products for electronic checks and approvals, particularly for telecom equipment, electronics, and medical devices. This ensures that products meet the necessary standards before entering the Turkish market.

Products sold in Türkiye and those destined for the broader European Union market must comply with CE marking requirements. This marking is a certification that indicates products meet the EU’s health, safety, and environmental standards, which are similarly enforced in Turkey.

Beyond these general regulations, certain industries face more specific compliance obligations. For instance, agencies like the Telecommunications Authority (BTK) and the Turkish Standards Institute (TSE) play crucial roles in certifying products and ensuring that industry-specific regulations are met in the telecommunications, healthcare, and chemicals sectors.

Finally, businesses must account for Türkiye’s tax and duty system. A Value-Added Tax (VAT) is applied to most imported goods, with rates varying according to the product category. In addition to VAT, many imported items are subject to customs duties, depending on the product being brought into the country. This system helps regulate the flow of goods and ensures that the necessary taxes are collected on imports.

International Trade with Türkiye

Türkiye plays a pivotal role in global trade, leveraging its strategic location and customs union with the European Union (EU) to facilitate cross-border commerce. The country has deep trade ties with the EU, the Middle East, and Asia, which shape its import and export regulations. Türkiye’s growing economy is particularly buoyed by the technology and manufacturing sectors, including automotive parts and consumer electronics.

In recent years, Türkiye has become a key destination for technology investments, with its growing startup ecosystem producing successful unicorns and decacorns. These developments make Türkiye an attractive market for high-tech imports. However, Türkiye’s trade regulations require attention to detail and understanding of the country’s diverse regulatory framework, which includes entities like TAREKS, TSE, and BTK.

Ready to Import to Turkey (Türkiye)?

Ship your tech to Turkey with a tailored import/export solution that prioritises compliance and your timelines. Reach out to TecEx today.

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Importing to Turkey (Türkiye)