Visitors can bring personal items, gifts worth up to €430 and set quantities of tobacco, alcohol and food into Türkiye without paying tax. Meat and dairy products are not allowed. Last checked: 4 November 2026 against the Ministry of Trade’s passenger exemption pages and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) customs page. The Ministry’s own sources disagree on one figure, the tax rate above your allowance, and we point that out below.
Green lane or red lane
When you enter, you walk through one of two lanes, and using one counts as your declaration. The MFA says to use the green lane if you carry nothing dutiable and stay within the allowances, and the red lane if you carry dutiable goods or are unsure. Officers can ask you to declare at any time. Our guide to forms and declarations for Türkiye covers the cash rule.
Tobacco and alcohol
These are the quantities listed in the Ministry of Trade’s passenger list (Appendix 9). They apply only to travellers aged 18 or over, and only in your accompanied baggage, not by post or courier.
| Item | Duty-free quantity per passenger |
|---|---|
| Cigarettes | 600 |
| Cigarillos (not heavier than 3 g each) | 100 |
| Cigars | 50 |
| Shredded tobacco | 250 g |
| Pipe tobacco | 250 g |
| Spirits above 22% alcohol | 1 litre |
| Drinks up to 22% alcohol | 2 litres |
These limits apply to what you bring in. What you buy at an Istanbul duty-free shop and carry home is governed by the rules of the country you fly to, so check those too.
Food, perfume and everyday items
- Food: 1 kg each of tea, coffee, instant coffee, chocolate and sugar confectionery. Foods of animal origin, including meat and dairy, cannot be brought in by passengers or by cargo. Plant-based food is exempt up to three kilograms.
- Perfume: up to five bottles of cologne, perfume, essence or lotion, each no larger than 120 ml.
- Clothing and travel items: your own clothing and what you need for the trip.
- Medicine: medication for personal treatment, in reasonable amounts for your stay, with a doctor’s report, prescription or similar document. The UK Foreign Office adds that British prescriptions are not accepted in Turkish pharmacies. Carry medicine in its original packaging.
Electronics and equipment
The list allows one of each of these for personal use: a laptop or PC, a camera, a video camera, a GPS device, a radio, a TV up to 21 inches, a games console, and up to ten recorded discs or similar. One mobile phone is allowed once in three calendar years, if it is used with a line registered to your ID number. Customs charges a one-time “label fee” on some electronics. Sports gear such as a tent, diving set, golf clubs, skis and a bicycle are also on the list. The MFA says valuable items such as a laptop may need a verbal declaration so they can be checked when you leave.
Drones
Drones fall under the civil aviation authority, SHGM, not the customs list. SHGM publishes import and flight-permit rules, and permits are required in many zones. We did not find a simple rule for tourists, so read the SHGM import page and ask your airline before you pack one.
Gifts and what happens above your allowance
Items that are not on the list can come in duty-free if their total value is no more than €430 per passenger, or €150 for passengers under 15. Above that, the Ministry’s FAQ says a flat tax applies to the excess, as long as the goods are worth no more than €1,500 in total: 30% if the goods come directly from an EU country and 60% from other countries. An older Ministry information sheet gives 18% and 20% instead. We cannot say which is current for your trip, so ask customs at the red lane. Above €1,500 the normal import duties apply, and the value is based on your invoice or receipt. Keep your receipts.
Pets
You can bring up to two pets (cats, dogs or birds), or ten aquarium fish. The Ministry lists a vaccination certificate, an official veterinary certificate and a vet passport or identification card. An official vet checks the animal after arrival.
Things you cannot take out
The UK Foreign Office says buying or exporting antiquities is illegal, with a prison sentence of 5 to 12 years, and that some items sold in markets and antique shops can be sold in Türkiye but cannot be exported. It also warns that illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry long prison sentences. If you buy a carpet or an old object, ask the seller for the paperwork. Our tax-free shopping guide explains how VAT refunds work when you leave.
Frequently asked questions
How much cash can I bring?
See our forms and declarations guide. The threshold we found applies when leaving: 25,000 lira, or foreign currency worth more than €10,000.
Do I need to declare my camera or laptop?
One of each is on the personal-belongings list. The MFA says officers may ask for a verbal declaration for valuable items so they can check you take them home.
Can I bring cheese or sausages from home?
The Ministry says products of animal origin cannot enter with passengers. That includes meat and dairy.
