Vehicles covered by the Touristic Facilitation Scheme

You may access the “Frequently Asked Questions” regarding the “Decree No. 7999 Amending the Decree No. 2009/15481” published in the Official Gazette numbered 32413 and dated 28 December 2023, about those who retired from a foreign pension scheme, via the following link: https://ticaret.gov.tr/data/5d4831d913b8762b40ceade8/sss-emeklilik.20.05.2025.pdf .

You can access the passenger guide for foreign-plated land vehicles brought into Türkiye under the touristic facilitation scheme via the following link: https://ticaret.gov.tr/data/5d4831d913b8762b40ceade8/Rehber-03.01.2025.pdf .

General information on the subject is presented below:

Question 1: Who can bring a vehicle from abroad under the touristic facilitation scheme?

Answer: Pursuant to the Council of Ministers Decree No. 2009/15481 dated 29/9/2009, a person who normally resides outside the Turkish Customs Territory and is a “resident abroad” may temporarily bring under the touristic facilitation scheme their vehicle registered in their name at their place of residence.

Question 2: What does it mean to be a “resident abroad”?

Answer: Being a “resident abroad” means that the person, who normally resides abroad, has de facto been abroad for at least 185 days within a one-year period counted back from the date the person intends to enter Türkiye.

Question 3: Is being abroad for 185 days sufficient to be a resident abroad?

Answer: No. Those who intend to bring a vehicle must have a place of residence abroad and must have established residence abroad. Turkish citizens who work on ships, work temporarily at construction sites, or stay at hotels are not considered “residents abroad”, even if they have spent 185 days within a one-year period prior to the date of bringing the vehicle into Türkiye, since they have not established residence there.

Question 4: How can I estimate the 185-day period?

Answer: A software program estimates this period, using the Turkish National Police's passport entry and exit records. Passport or ID information is entered into the software, where it calculates the duration of stay in Türkiye and other countries by going back a one-year period (365 days) from the intended date of entry into Türkiye. An example is given below:

For a person intending to enter Türkiye via the Kapıkule Border Gate on 7 March 2023, the duration of the person’s stay abroad for a one-year period, retrospective from 7 March 2023 (i.e., between 7 March 2022 and 7 March 2023), is estimated. If they have stayed abroad for more than 185 days and are normally residing abroad, they are considered a “resident abroad”. While estimating, all entries and exits by sea, air, land, or rail, with or without a vehicle, are taken into account. As shown below, it is not necessary to spend the 185 days abroad continuously.

Departure from Türkiye, Entry into Türkiye, Duration of the Stay Abroad, Mode of Transportation

From 7 March 2022 to 5 June 2022 – 90 days - By air

From 15 September 2022 to 14 December 2022 - 90 days - By rail

From 21 January 2023 to 7 March 2023 - 45 days - By road

Total Length of Stay Abroad: 225 days

Question 5: Where can I obtain information on my entries and exits?

Answer: Turkish citizens can access the information on their entries and exits to and from Türkiye with their Turkish passports, through the ‘foreign residency enquiry’ service on the e-Government Gateway (e-Devlet Kapısı) at www.turkiye.gov.tr.

Additionally, individuals can estimate this from the entry and exit dates on their passports.

It needs to be noted that the 185-day period is calculated based on a one-year period counting backwards. Therefore, if a person is abroad and makes inquiries on different dates, and if, during the corresponding period within the last one year, the person was also abroad, the number of days spent abroad in the last one year will not increase.

Question 6: Can a person who has retired from a foreign pension scheme bring a vehicle without being abroad for 185 days?

Answer: The requirement of being abroad for 185 days does not apply to personal land vehicles of individuals who have retired from a pension scheme outside the Turkish Customs Territory, provided that such vehicles are brought into the Turkish Customs Territory for the first time after the retirement date.

Question 7: Are there any restrictions regarding the country from which the vehicle is brought?

Answer: The vehicle must be registered in the country of residence. However, individuals residing in the countries of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association may also bring their vehicles registered in their name in other countries of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association. For example, a person residing in Germany may temporarily bring a vehicle they purchased in France.

Question 8: Can a person who resides in Türkiye and does not meet the requirements to be considered a “resident abroad” use a vehicle that they intend to purchase from Georgia in Türkiye for 2 years?

Answer: Turkish residents are not entitled to bring vehicles from abroad. Some websites and car dealers may provide false information claiming that Turkish citizens can use luxury vehicles purchased abroad at low prices without any problems in Türkiye. They intend to mislead Turkish citizens and contain information completely contrary to the customs legislation. The relevant departments of the Turkish Ministry of Trade detect such illegal uses, which result in penal actions and the deportation of the vehicle.

Question 9: How long can the vehicles that enter Türkiye under the touristic facilitation scheme be used?

Answer: Vehicles owned by Turkish citizens, dual citizens, or Blue Card holders (including retirees), residing outside the Turkish Customs Territory, may be used in Türkiye for up to 730 days.

Question 10: Can foreign nationals also be granted a 730-day period for their vehicle?

Answer: The permitted duration for vehicles of foreign nationals (except Blue Card holders) cannot be longer than the duration of their stay in Türkiye. Foreign nationals without a residence permit are granted a total of 90 days within 180 days. (For example, a Georgian citizen who enters Türkiye through the Sarp Border Gate cannot exceed 90 days in a 180-day period, so their vehicle is granted a maximum of 90 days). The permitted period for the vehicles of foreign nationals holding a residence permit in Türkiye can be as long as the period specified in the residence permit. However, this period cannot be longer than 730 days.

Question 11: Can legal entities be granted 730 days for their vehicles?

Answer: If vehicles (automobiles, minibuses, off-road vehicles, pickup trucks, and motorcycles) owned by legal entities are brought into Türkiye with a power of attorney, a period of up to 90 days is granted.

Question 12: Can those who have used the entire 730-day period or do not meet the “place of residence requirement” enter Türkiye with their vehicles?

Answer: They cannot, until they fulfil the requirements. However, if they reside in the countries of the European Union, the European Free Trade Association, and the United Kingdom, they may bring their personal land vehicles registered in their names in these countries, once a year and for a one-month period.

Question 13: Is there a penalty for exceeding the time limit for a vehicle brought under the touristic facilitation scheme?

Answer: If a vehicle exceeds the time limit, fines of TRY 2,382.00, TRY 4,764.00, and TRY 7,146.00 are imposed for 1 (one), 2 (two), and 3 (three) months of overstay, respectively, valid for the year 2025.

If it is exceeded more than 3 (three) months, a fine of one quarter of the vehicle’s customs duties is imposed as per Article 238 of the Customs Law No. 4458.

Question 14: What documents must be presented to customs authorities for personal vehicles, or for commercial vehicles owned by legal entities, which do not transport goods or passengers?

Answer: The following documents must be submitted: Proof of ownership of the vehicle (or, if not owned by the person entering Türkiye, a power of attorney or rental agreement), the driver's license of the person bringing the vehicle, the insurance policy valid in Türkiye for the vehicle, the passport of the person (official identity card depending on the country), pension certificate translated into Turkish and legalized by a consulate or embassy for those who have retired from a foreign pension scheme, and a notarized or consulate-legalized document translated into Turkish, proving that the persons bringing the vehicles owned by a legal entity are partners or employees of that company.

Question 15: What is "Pre-Declaration for Vehicles"?

Answer: Residents abroad can submit information about themselves and their vehicles to customs authorities via their mobile phones, tablets, or computers prior to their travels. The “Pre-Declaration for Vehicles” application is in force and is accessible at the website of the Turkish Ministry of Trade (https://uygulama.gtb.gov.tr/Tasit1OnBeyan/) or through the “e-Government Gateway” (https://www.turkiye.gov.tr/gtb-tasit-on-beyan), enabling customs procedures to be completed more quickly and smoothly at border crossings. The new procedure is expected to reduce waiting times at the border gates to a minimum.

Question 15: Is the vehicle brought under the touristic facilitation scheme registered in the passport?

Answer: Vehicles brought under the touristic facilitation scheme are registered in the passport, indicating the expiry date.

Question 17: Is it necessary to make payment to the customs authority for these procedures?

Answer: No payment is required by the customs authority for these procedures.

Question 18: Can persons residing in Türkiye (who do not have residence abroad) bring temporary vehicles from abroad?

Answer: It is not possible for a resident in Türkiye to temporarily bring a vehicle from abroad.

Question 19: Can individuals who definitively transfer their place of residence to the Turkish Customs Territory or who have been assigned abroad for duty and return definitively bring their vehicles under the touristic facilitation scheme?

Answer: If individuals who were assigned, studied, or worked abroad, etc. have permanently returned to Türkiye, they are not entitled to bring a foreign-plated vehicle for a period of 2 years under the touristic facilitation scheme, since they have transferred their residence to Türkiye.

Question 20: Can a resident in Türkiye (who does not have a residence abroad) use a vehicle brought by their relative/friend/spouse living abroad?

Answer: A vehicle brought into Türkiye under the touristic facilitation scheme cannot be used by persons residing in Türkiye, nor by persons who are not eligible, even though they reside outside the Turkish Customs Territory. If such cases are detected, criminal action shall be taken under Article 238 of Customs Law No. 4458, both against the vehicle owner and those individuals. Also, the vehicle in question shall be deported.

Question 21: Who can use the vehicle brought into Türkiye under the touristic facilitation scheme other than the eligible person (the person who brought it as the owner or through power of attorney)?

Answer: Vehicles temporarily brought under the touristic facilitation scheme may be used by the spouse, parents, and children of the eligible person residing outside the Turkish Customs Territory, on the condition that the eligible person is in Türkiye. In this case, the vehicle owner does not need to be inside the vehicle. However, if the vehicle owner is abroad, the vehicle in Türkiye must be left parked, and it cannot be used by anyone (including parents, spouse, and children).

Question 22: Can a person residing abroad enter Türkiye with a vehicle registered in the name of another person?

Answer: A vehicle may be brought by proxy by another person residing abroad. If this is the case, both the person bringing the vehicle by proxy and the owner must be residents outside the Turkish Customs Territory and satisfy the 185-day requirement.

For vehicles brought by proxy, a valid power of attorney must be submitted to the customs authority upon entry.

Question 23: Can a person residing abroad enter Türkiye with a vehicle registered to a foreign-based legal entity?

Answer: Vehicles registered to a foreign-based company may be brought into Türkiye only by that company’s employees or partners, acting by proxy.

Question 24: What is the accepted form of power of attorney?

Answer:

• A power of attorney approved by the embassy, consulate, or notary office,

• If the person bringing the vehicle and the owner are present at the customs authority of entry, a power of attorney issued between these persons and approved by the customs authority,

• Documents issued between natural persons and certified by the official authorities of the relevant country, such as customs, municipalities, police, and courts,

• Documents issued by the automobile organizations of the member countries of the Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT) and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA),

• For vehicles belonging to automobile companies and other legal entities, a power of attorney containing the signature and approval of the company owner or board of directors,

• Documents such as a lease agreement for vehicles brought through rent-a-car services

are accepted as "powers of attorney".

Question 25: Can a resident in Türkiye (who does not have a residence abroad) bring a vehicle that belongs to his/her relative/friend/spouse living abroad to Türkiye by proxy?

Answer: It is not possible for a person residing in Türkiye to temporarily bring a vehicle that belongs to another person who resides abroad, even by proxy.

Question 26: Can spouses of foreign nationals who reside in Türkiye bring vehicles?

Answer: For the foreign spouse to bring a vehicle from abroad, they must have stayed abroad for 185 days. In addition, the nationality of the person does not matter in the transactions made under the touristic facilitation scheme. Whether the person is a resident abroad or not is taken into consideration.

Question 27: Is it possible for those who have renounced Turkish citizenship or have dual citizenship to bring vehicles under the touristic facilitation scheme?

Answer: Nationality does not matter in bringing vehicles under the touristic facilitation scheme. It is sufficient to be a resident abroad.

Question 28: Can the vehicles that are registered to a company based abroad and brought under the touristic facilitation scheme be used for the activities of the company’s centre, branch, or agency in Türkiye?

Answer: Vehicles brought under the touristic facilitation scheme may not be used in the activities of a company’s centre, branch, or agency in Türkiye. The vehicle may only be used by the person who brought it, and by that person’s spouse or lineal ascendants or descendants who reside abroad.

Question 29: Can dual passport holders bring more than one vehicle?

Answer: Under the temporary import provisions, only one foreign-plated vehicle for personal use may be brought into Türkiye under the touristic facilitation scheme. Entries and exits with Turkish and foreign passports are treated as a single record.

Question 30: Can a trailer or non-motorized caravan be brought with the vehicle?

Answer: A trailer or a non-motorized caravan can be brought along with a land vehicle for personal use.

Question 31: Is it possible, if, after entering Türkiye with the vehicle, the person leaves the country with the vehicle before the permitted period expires, to return with the same vehicle or another vehicle having stayed abroad for 185 days?

Answer: If individuals who leave the Turkish Customs Territory with their vehicle before using the full temporary import period meet the requirement of being “resident abroad”, they may be allowed to re-enter using the remaining period. The 185-day requirement must be satisfied at each entry.

However, retirees who have left the Turkish Customs Territory with their vehicle without using the entire duration of their temporary import permit are not subject to the 185-day requirement when re-entering the Turkish Customs Territory with their vehicle to use the remaining duration of their permit, provided that they do so within the permit period.

Question 32: When can a vehicle be brought into Türkiye again after the full period has been used?

Answer: A person who has used the entire period may not bring the same or another vehicle into Türkiye until they have been abroad for 185 days from the date of exit. The person must be abroad for 185 days to bring a vehicle again.

Question 33: If a vehicle with an expired permit exits and enters through the border gate, can it stay in Türkiye for another 730 days?

Answer: It is not possible to bring back a vehicle with an expired permit by exiting and entering through the border gate, without having been abroad for 185 days.

Question 34: Can a vehicle with an expired permit be brought back to Türkiye with a change of ownership?

Answer: The procedure is carried out by taking into account the periods during which the owner was abroad. If the purchaser is a resident abroad, the person is permitted to bring the vehicle into the country.

Question 35: After staying in Türkiye for 730 days, can the owner of a vehicle who has left the country come back to Türkiye without the vehicle?

Answer: There is no restriction under customs legislation on the period of stay in Türkiye without a vehicle.

Question 36: Is there any restriction on the age of the vehicle brought under the touristic facilitation scheme?

Answer: In terms of customs legislation, there is no restriction on the age of the vehicle brought under the touristic facilitation scheme.

Question 37: Would it pose an obstacle if the vehicle has right-hand drive?

Answer: There is no restriction under Article 30 of the Highway Traffic Regulation for right-hand-drive vehicles brought under the touristic facilitation scheme.

Question 38: Can a rented vehicle be brought into the country? How much time is given?

Answer: Persons residing outside the Turkish Customs Territory may bring a vehicle into Türkiye on a rental basis. Depending on the person's citizenship and residence status, the period granted for a rented vehicle cannot exceed the period specified in the rental agreement and, in any case, may not be longer than 730 days.

Question 39: Can a person leave their vehicle in Türkiye and travel abroad?

Answer: To leave a vehicle in Türkiye and travel abroad, one of the following procedures must be followed:

1- By applying to the nearest customs authority: Either placing the vehicle under customs supervision or obtaining the commitment letter in Appendix 7 — issued in duplicate, one copy given to the applicant — stating that the person will temporarily leave the country without placing the vehicle under customs supervision and that the vehicle will not be used by anyone else.

2- Submitting a commitment letter through the e-Government service “Submitting or removing a commitment letter for departures abroad without a vehicle.”

Question 40: Is there a penalty for leaving a vehicle in Türkiye and traveling abroad without notifying the customs authority?

Answer: If a foreign-plated vehicle intended for personal use is brought into the Turkish Customs Territory under the temporary importation regime, and the person leaves Türkiye without the vehicle and without informing the customs authority, a single fine of TRY 9,528 shall be imposed — covering all exits made until the date of detection — pursuant to Article 241(6)(e) of the Customs Law for the year 2025.

Question 41: If a person leaves Türkiye without the vehicle, is the time spent abroad counted as part of the vehicle’s permitted stay in Türkiye?

Answer: If a person leaves Türkiye without the vehicle and without placing it under the supervision of the customs authority, the vehicle’s permitted period in Türkiye continues to run.

Question 42: How long can a vehicle remain under temporary custody with the customs authority or at a custodian car park?

Answer: Vehicles left with the customs authority or at a custodian car park may remain under customs supervision for three months from the date of delivery. This period may be extended once for an additional three months upon application to the relevant customs authority. If the vehicle is not collected within this period, or if no application for extension is made, and provided that there is no ongoing judicial or administrative inquiry, investigation, proceeding, or prosecution regarding the vehicle, liquidation provisions shall apply.

Question 43: Can a vehicle brought into Türkiye under the touristic facilitation scheme be surrendered to customs?

Answer: The vehicle may be surrendered to the customs authority by submitting a petition to the nearest customs authority. All legally accrued taxes and penalties related to the vehicle must be paid.

Question 44: Can a vehicle brought under the touristic facilitation scheme be sold in Türkiye?

Answer: A vehicle temporarily brought under the touristic facilitation scheme cannot be sold to any other person, whether resident in Türkiye or not.

Question 45: Can a vehicle that has been taken abroad after using its full period be brought back to Türkiye by the owner’s spouse, children, parents, or a friend, acting by proxy, without remaining abroad for 185 days?

Answer: For a vehicle to be brought back to Türkiye by proxy, it must have remained abroad for at least 185 days.

Question 46: If the vehicle’s insurance is not valid in Türkiye, will entry be permitted?

Answer: A valid insurance policy must be presented upon entry into Türkiye. If the vehicle’s insurance policy is missing or not valid in Türkiye, a new policy may be obtained from an insurance provider near the customs authority.

Question 47: What procedures does the customs authority carry out when a person leaves Türkiye with their vehicle or leaves the vehicle with the customs authority?

Answer: The vehicle’s entry record in the electronic system is closed, and the passport stamp indicating the presence of a vehicle is cancelled.

Question 48: Where can I access the relevant legislation?

Answer: The relevant legislation can be accessed at https://www.ticaret.gov.tr/gumruk-islemleri/mevzuat/tebligler/gecici-ithalat.

Vehicles covered by the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet and Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form

Question 49: What are the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet and Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: The Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet is a document serving as a guarantee, valid only for Türkiye, issued by guarantor organizations for land vehicles intended for personal use and registered in the name of their owners in the country of residence. It applies to persons residing outside the Turkish Customs Territory (except for dual-national Turkish citizens) who come to Türkiye for a temporary assignment or for study, as well as to retired foreigners holding temporary residence permits in Türkiye.

Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form, on the other hand, is a document valid only for Türkiye and issued by customs authorities in return for a guarantee for land vehicles intended for personal use and registered in the name of their owners in their country of residence. It applies to persons residing outside the Turkish Customs Territory (except for dual-national Turkish citizens) who come to Türkiye for a temporary assignment or for study, as well as to retired foreigners holding temporary residence permits in Türkiye.

Question 50: Can foreigners coming to Türkiye temporarily for work or study bring a vehicle into Türkiye for temporary entry and traffic registration under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: Except for Turkish citizens with dual nationality, land vehicles for personal use registered in the names of foreigners residing outside the Turkish Customs Territory who come to Türkiye temporarily to work or study may be granted a temporary import permit to be registered for traffic in the Turkish Customs Territory. These vehicles may be brought into Türkiye during the person’s period of employment or study. However, such persons must meet the requirement of being “resident abroad" as of the date they begin their work or studies in Türkiye and must continue their work or studies without interruption.

Question 51: Can retirees also temporarily bring foreign-plated vehicles into Türkiye for traffic registration under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet and Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: Except for Turkish citizens with dual nationality and Blue Card holders, retired foreigners holding a temporary residence permit in Türkiye may bring their foreign-plated vehicles into Türkiye for traffic registration. Since Blue Card holders are exempt from residence permits and may reside in Türkiye indefinitely, retired Blue Card holders are not entitled to bring vehicles within this scope.

Question 52: Can foreigners who have retired in Türkiye temporarily bring foreign-plated vehicles into Türkiye for traffic registration under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet and Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: No. Foreign nationals who are not retired under a foreign pension scheme are not entitled to bring a vehicle within this scope.

Question 53: Are foreigners who begin working in Türkiye sometime after their arrival entitled to temporarily bring foreign-plated vehicles into Türkiye for traffic registration under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: To bring a foreign-plated vehicle into Türkiye on a temporary basis for traffic registration, individuals must meet the requirement of being “resident abroad” on the date they begin working or studying in Türkiye.

Example-1: A foreign national who arrived in Türkiye on 18.10.2017 and began working on 18.08.2018 is not entitled to bring a vehicle into the country under this scope, because they had spent 304 days in Türkiye during the one-year period preceding the date they began employment.

Example-2: A foreign national who came to Türkiye on 18.10.2017 and began working on 15.02.2018 is entitled to bring a vehicle within this scope, as they had spent 245 days abroad during the one-year period preceding the date they began working.

Question 54: Can a student or worker holding a Blue Card bring a foreign-plated vehicle into Türkiye for traffic registration?

Answer: To bring a foreign-plated vehicle into Türkiye on a temporary basis for traffic registration, individuals must meet the requirement of being “resident abroad” on the date they begin working or studying in Türkiye. However, since the process of finalizing work permit applications submitted to the Ministry of Family, Labor and Social Services by those coming to Türkiye for employment may take time, the requirement of being “resident abroad” is assessed based on the date the work permit application was submitted. Once the work permit is approved and employment is confirmed to have begun, a temporary import permit is granted.

Question 55: Can retired Blue Card holders bring foreign-plated vehicles into Türkiye on a temporary basis for traffic registration under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet and Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: Blue Card holders who retired under a pension scheme outside the Turkish Customs Territory are not entitled to bring vehicles under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form.

Question 56: Do Blue Card holders need to stay abroad after the date they renounced Turkish citizenship in order to bring a foreign-plated vehicle under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: Yes. Individuals who have renounced Turkish citizenship with permission must establish residence abroad and stay abroad for 185 days after the date of renunciation in order to bring a foreign-plated vehicle for traffic registration.

For instance, a person who was a dual Turkish citizen when they started working in Türkiye on 18 September 2017, and who renounced Turkish citizenship with permission on 18 July 2018 and obtained a Blue Card, cannot temporarily bring their foreign-plated vehicle into Türkiye for traffic registration, since they had spent 303 days in Türkiye during the one-year period preceding the date of renunciation. To be eligible to bring a vehicle within this specified scope, they must establish residence abroad after 18 July 2018 and remain abroad for at least 185 days.

Question 57: Can partners of a company in Türkiye bring foreign-plated vehicles into Türkiye under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet and Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: Partners of the company who are authorized to represent and bind the legal entity, and who can prove that this authority is stated in the company's articles of association, may bring foreign-plated vehicles into Türkiye for traffic registration.

Question 58: Can a foreign-plated vehicle brought into Türkiye by a company employee or partner under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form be driven by a driver employed by that company?

Answer: No. Vehicles brought into Türkiye within this scope may be driven only by a person residing in the Turkish Customs Territory who is either employed or duly authorized by the permit holder, provided that the use is not continuous and that the personal-use purpose is explicitly stated in the service contract. Therefore, the salary and social security contributions of any person employed as a driver must be paid by the permit holder.

Question 59: What is the required security deposit amount for the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet and the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: Customs authorities require a security deposit equal to the customs duties on the vehicle in order to issue a Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form. The amount of security deposit required for the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet is determined by the authorized guarantor, the Türkiye Touring and Automobile Association (TURİNG), based on the tax amounts.

Question 60: Within what period must the procedures for vehicles brought under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form be completed?

Answer: To carry out temporary import procedures for vehicles covered by the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form, the owner or their representative must apply to the customs authority together with the vehicle so that its identification can be verified. The application for the temporary traffic registration certificate must be submitted to the customs authority within thirty (30) days from the date of the vehicle’s first entry into the Turkish Customs Territory. Failure to apply within this period will result in action being taken pursuant to the first paragraph of Article 241 of the Law.

Question 61: What documents are required to obtain the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: To obtain the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form, an applicant must be a foreign national.

In addition to the residence permit issued by the Directorate General of Migration Management under the Ministry of Interior of Türkiye, the following documents must be submitted depending on the applicant’s status:

• Work permit (for those in Türkiye to work)

• Certificate of enrolment issued by the educational institution (for students)

• Retirement certificate proving that the applicant receives a foreign pension (for retirees)

Question 62: What do MA - MZ license plates mean?

Answer: They refer to license plates bearing the MA–MZ series issued by the Turkish National Police under the Ministry of Interior for vehicles brought into Türkiye on a temporary basis under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form.

Question 63: Are there any restrictions on the age of a vehicle to be registered with an MA–MZ license plate?

Answer: There is no age restriction for vehicles registered with MA-MZ license plates.

Question 64: Are there any restrictions on the date of purchase of a vehicle to be registered with an MA-MZ license plate?

Answer: A vehicle registered with an MA–MZ license plate may have been registered abroad either before or after the person began working or studying.

Question 65: How much time is granted to vehicles that will be registered with MA–MZ license plates?

Answer: Under this scope, vehicles brought into Türkiye are granted a period not exceeding two years at a time, taking into account the validity of the person’s residence permit, work permit, and duration of study.

Question 66: Where should one apply for an extension of the permit for a vehicle brought under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: To extend the permit for a vehicle brought under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form, the validity of documents such as the work permit and the residence permit must first be extended. For vehicles brought under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet, the renewed documents and other required papers must be submitted to the customs authority through the guarantor organization. For vehicles brought under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form, the application must be made directly to the customs authority.

Question 67: Under what conditions are requests for extension of the validity period of vehicles covered by the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form accepted?

Answer: If vehicle owners can document that the status specified in their temporary import permits remains valid, the permitted period for the vehicle to remain in Türkiye will be extended. Each extension may not exceed 24 months at a time.

Question 68: What steps should be taken if the application for a work permit or residence permit extension has not yet been finalized?

Answer: If the application to extend the work permit or residence permit has not yet been finalized, an application must be submitted to the guarantor organization or the relevant customs authority within the validity period of the current permit, together with supporting information and documents showing that the official application for extension is still pending.

Question 69: What should a person who has brought a vehicle under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form do if their employment or education ends?

Answer: Such individuals must apply to the customs authority within thirty (30) days at the latest to carry out one of the following procedures: export the vehicle from Türkiye, transfer its ownership, or abandon it to customs. Otherwise, a penalty will be imposed in accordance with Article 238 of the Customs Law No. 4458, and the vehicle will be exported from Türkiye.

Question 70: How much is the fee to be paid for procedures carried out under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet?

Answer: No fee is charged by the Ministry of Trade for these procedures. However, a fee is charged by the guarantor organization, and information regarding these fees can be obtained from the guarantor organization (TURİNG) on its website at www.turing.org.tr.

Question 71: Who, other than the vehicle owner, may use a vehicle brought into Türkiye under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form?

Answer: Vehicles brought into Türkiye under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form may be used by the vehicle owner’s spouse or lineal ascendants or descendants (parents and children), as well as by a person residing in the Turkish Customs Territory who is employed by the vehicle owner as a driver under a personal service contract. The names of those authorized to use the vehicle other than the owner must also be indicated on the vehicle’s traffic registration certificate.

Question 72: Can a vehicle brought into Türkiye under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form be sold to another person in Türkiye?

Answer: The transfer of ownership of a vehicle temporarily brought under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form to another person who is also entitled to bring a vehicle under these documents is possible only if it is documented that the ownership transfer has been carried out in the country where the persons have their principal place of residence, or in diplomatic or consular premises considered as the territory of that country, and provided that the vehicle has been placed under the supervision of the customs authority.

Question 73: Is the requirement of being a “resident abroad” applicable in the transfer of a vehicle brought into Türkiye under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form to another foreigner?

Answer: For a vehicle brought under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet or the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Form to be transferred to another foreigner, the person transferring the vehicle must not have had any change in the conditions related to their purpose of coming to Türkiye. The transferee, on the other hand, must meet the requirement of being a “resident abroad” on the date they began working or studying in Türkiye, and their employment or education status must have been continuing without interruption by the date of the transfer.

Question 74: Can dual-national individuals bring a vehicle into Türkiye under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet?

Answer: Pursuant to the Customs General Communiqué on Temporarily Imported Land Vehicles (Serial No: 1), persons with dual nationality are not entitled to bring vehicles into Türkiye under the Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Carnet.

Question 75: How long can a vehicle remain under temporary custody with the customs authority or at a custodian car park?

Answer: Vehicles left with the customs authority or at a custodian car park may remain under customs supervision for three months from the date of delivery. This period may be extended once for an additional three months upon application to the relevant customs authority. If the vehicle is not collected within this period, or if no application for extension is made, and provided that there is no ongoing judicial or administrative inquiry, investigation, proceeding, or prosecution regarding the vehicle, liquidation provisions shall apply.

Question 76: After the expiration of the full period granted for the vehicle and after it has been exported from Türkiye, under what conditions may the same person bring the same vehicle into Türkiye again?

Answer: If a person wishes to bring the same vehicle into Türkiye again after using the entire period granted under paragraphs one and two of Article 6 of the Customs General Communiqué on Temporarily Imported Land Vehicles (Serial No: 1), the following conditions must be met:

• The person must have spent at least 185 days, consecutively or intermittently, outside Türkiye within the last 365 days before the intended date of entry (thereby fulfilling the requirement of being a “resident abroad”);

• The vehicle must have remained abroad continuously for at least 185 days;

• The person must not have brought any vehicle into Türkiye during this period.

If the person has already used an entire 730-day period before, the following cases apply:

1. Both the person and the vehicle have physically remained abroad for 185 days since the date of exit. In this case, a new period of 730 days shall be granted.

2. The vehicle has physically remained abroad for 185 days. However, the person has not spent at least 185 days abroad within the last 365 days before the intended date of entry. Since the condition of being a “resident abroad” has not been met, the person is not entitled to temporarily bring their foreign-plated vehicle into Türkiye.

3. By the date the person intends to re-enter Türkiye with the vehicle, the person has spent 185 days abroad but has made intermittent entries into Türkiye without a vehicle during this period, while the vehicle has remained abroad continuously. In this case, the full 730-day period is granted.

Example 1- A person who stayed in Türkiye with their vehicle for 730 days and left Türkiye on 15 August 2022 would be granted a new 730-day period if they re-enter Türkiye with their vehicle on 20 February 2023, since both the person and the vehicle have remained abroad for more than 185 days.

Example 2- A person who entered Türkiye with their vehicle on 18 July 2020 was granted a 730-day period, valid until 18 July 2022. The person handed the vehicle over to customs and left Türkiye on 18 May 2022, then returned on 19 June 2022. Since leaving the vehicle with customs suspends the validity of the permit, the end date was postponed to 18 August 2022. The person then used the full 730-day period and departed abroad with the vehicle on 18 August 2022. When they attempted to re-enter Türkiye on 19 January 2023, it was determined that the person had physically stayed abroad for a total of 185 days within the previous 365 days, thereby fulfilling the requirement of being a “resident abroad”. However, since the vehicle itself had remained abroad for only 154 days, the permit could not be granted. In this situation, the person may re-enter Türkiye with their vehicle on 19 February 2023.

Example 3- A person who entered Türkiye with their vehicle on 18 July 2020 was granted a period of 730 days, valid until 18 July 2022. The person used the entire 730-day period and departed abroad with their vehicle on 18 July 2022. They re-entered Türkiye without a vehicle on 19 September 2022, stayed for 15 days, and then departed abroad again. When the person attempted to re-enter Türkiye with their vehicle on 19 February 2023, it was determined that they had physically stayed abroad for a total of 185 days within the previous 365 days, thereby meeting the requirement of being a “resident abroad”. Since the vehicle had remained abroad for 185 consecutive days, the 15 days the person spent in Türkiye were not deducted, and a new period of 730 days was granted.