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Currency
RegulationLimits:
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
personal effects of the tourist.
one TV, one colour 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.
one video player, cine-projector (8 mm) and 10 rolls of
film (blank), one slide projector.
one pocket computer (maximum main memory capacity Ram
128k. Byte), electronic playing devices (without
cassette - keyboard).
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.
Binoculars (one pair, except night binoculars)
harmonica, mandolin, flageole, flute, guitar, and
accordion (only one of each type, maximum 3 musical
instruments).
personal sports equipment.
necessary medical items.
bicycle, baby buggy, toys.
200 cigarettes and 50 cigars.
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
(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).
1.5kg. coffee, 1.5kg. instant coffee, 500 grams of tea.
1 kilo chocolate and 1 kilo sweets.
5 (100 cc) or 7 (70 cc) bottles of wines and/or spirits.
five bottles of perfume (120 ml max. each).
one portable typewriter.
one camera with 5 rolls of film.
First aid, and spare parts for the car.
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). Etüdler
Dairesi 06520, Ankara
Tel: (312) 287 3430 /1622, Fax: (312) 285 42 71
Tax Refund
You Can Receive a Tax
Refind for the Goods You Purchased In Turkey!
Refunds will be made to
travellers 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 "authorised
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:
If the retailer gives you a check it can he 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.
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.
Retailers may directly refund the amount to trustworthy
customers upon purchase
The refund may be made by the organisation of those
companies that are authorised to make tax refunds.
Additional information: Ministry of Finance and Tax Dept.
General Directorate, (Maliye Bakanligi, Gelirler Genel
Müdürlügü) KDV Subesi 06100, Ulus - Ankara
Tel: (312) 3103880/725 - 728 - 735, Fax: (312) 311 45 10
Health Regulations for Pets
For those who wish to bring
domestic animals into the country the following are
required:
Pets have to be 3 months
and older
An International Certificate of Health issued within 15
days before the travel
The Identification Card
Vaccination Card
Note: If you have an official certificate, you may bring
one cat, one bird, one dog and 10 aquarium fish into the
country. To get information for the importation of pets,
please see the Consular Services.
Motorist Rules
General: Those who wish to
enter the country with their vans, minibuses,
automobiles, station wagons, bicycles, motorcycles,
motorbikes, sidecars, buses, motor coaches, trailers,
caravans or other transport vehicles, will have to
provide the following documentations:
Passport.
International driving license.
Car license (document where all details related to the
car and the owner's name are registered). If it is
somebody else's vehicle a power of attorney should be
provided.
International green card (Insurance card). The TR sign
should be visible.
Transit book "Carnet de passage" (for those who want to
proceed to the Middle East).
Period: The vehicle can be brought into Turkey for up to
6 Months. The owner should declare on the opposite form,
the date of departure at the border gate and should
absolutely ve the country at the date declared. If for
any important reason the staying period has to be ended,
it is necessary to apply to;
The Turkish Touring and
Automobile Club (Türkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu) 1.
Sanayi Sitesi Yani, 4.Levent, Istanbul, Tel (212) 282 81
40(7 lines). Fax (212) 282 80, or to
The General Directorate of Customs (Gümrükler Genel
Müdürlügü), Ulus Ankara Tel (312) 310 38 80,310 38 18,
Fax (312) 31113 46, before the end of the period
declared.
In Case of Accident: The
accident should be reported to the police or gendarme.
That report has to be certified by the nearest local
authority. The owner should apply to the customs
authority with his passport and report.
If the vehicle can be
repaired, it is necessary to inform the customs
authority first and take the vehicle to a garage. If the
vehicle is not repairable and if the owner wishes to
leave the country without his vehicle, he has to deliver
it to the nearest customs office, and the registration
of his vehicle on his passport will be cancelled. (Only
after the cancellation can the owner of the vehicle
leave the country.)
Following an accident, you
can telephone:
Trafik Polisi (Traffic
Police), Tel :154,
Jandarma (Gendarme), Tel :156.
For more information, contact the Touring and Automobile
Association of Turkey.
Formalities for Private
Yacht Owners
Yachts require a Transit
Log and may remain in Turkish waters for up to two years
maintenance or for wintering. There are certain ports
licensed by the Ministry of Tourist the storage of
yachts for a period of two to five years. For further
information and regulations contact the marina concerned.
Upon arriving in Turkish
waters, yachts should immediately go for control of the
ship to the nearest port of entry which are as follows:
Iskenderun, Botas (Adana), Mersin, Tasucu, Anamur,
Alanya, Antalya, Kemer, Finike, Kas, Fethiye, Marmaris,
Datça, Bodrum, Güllük Didim, Kusadasi, Çesme, Izmir,
Dikili, Ayvalik, Akçay, Çanakkale, Bandirma, Tekirdag,
Istanbul, Zonguldak, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu, Giresun,
Trabzon, Rize, Hopa.
Port Formalities: All the
required information concerning the yacht, yachtsmen,
members, intended route, passports, customs declarations,
health clearance, and any obligatory matters must be
entered in the Transit Log.
The Transit Log is to he
completed by the captain of a yacht under a foreign flag
or amateur sailor acting as captain of the vessel.
The Transit Log is
completed upon first entering a Turkish port and,
generally, it is necessary to contact the Harbour
Authority before leaving. For information on tax-free
fuel, contact the Marina Harbour Office.
Note: If you have a
certificate from the Tourism Ministry Yacht Harbour, you
may take petrol at no charge, provided you possess an
official marina license.
Formalities for Private
Plane Owners
General: When coming to
Turkey, international air routes should he followed.
Private planes may stay for up to three months in Turkey
with tourist status, but for longer periods permission
should be obtained from
The General Directorate of
Customs (Gümrükler Genel Müdürlügü), Ulus Ankara, Tel:
(312) 3103880,3103818,Fax: (312) 311 1346
The airports of Ankara, Adana, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya,
Trabzon and Dalaman have ties for private planes. It is
also possible to hire planes and helicopters in Turkey.
For further information,
apply to:
The Civil Aviation
Department of the Ministry of Transport (Ulastirma
Bakanligi, Havacilik Gen. Müd.). Bosna-Hersek Cad., No:
5 - 06338 - Emek, Ankara. Tel: (312) 212 67 30, Fax:
(312) 212 46 84, TIx : 44659 Ga-tr.
Underwater Diving
Diving for purposes of
sport, with proper equipment and in non-restricted areas,
is permitted. Foreign divers should have official
documentation of their specifics and training and must
be accompanied, when diving, by a licensed Turkish guide.
The limit for diving with
diving gear is 30 metres. For educational purposes, this
limit is extended to 42 metres. Dives exceeding 30
metres must be carried out with proper diving and
medical equipment. In arder to protect Turkish
archaeological and cultural values. It is strictly
forbidden to transport Turkish antiquities or natural
specimens.
Postal System
Turkish post-offices are
easily recognized by their black PTT letters on a yellow
background. Major post offices are open from 8:00 a.m.
till 12:00 p.m., Monday/Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. till
7:00 p.m., Sunday. Small post-offices have the same
hours as the government offices.
Postal charges vary for
different services depending on destination. Post
restante letters should be addressed "postrestant" to
the central post-office Merkez Postanesi, in the town of
your choice. You have to show your identification card
to collect your letters.
All PTT branches have the
facilities to exchange money at the current
international exchange rates, as well as international
postal orders and travellers' cheques. There is also an
express postal service (APS) operating to 90 countries
for letters , documents and small packages. A wide
variety of special stamps are available in all PTT
centers for philatelists.
To phone from PTT telephone
booths, which are extensively found in all areas;
telephone cards , and tokens (";jeton") in three sizes
are used. Local, inter-city and international calls can
be made from all PTT offices. Besides these main offices
there are also mobile PTT services in the touristic
areas. For the area codes of major cities and touristic
areas in Turkey, please see the "Area Codes" list.
Foreign countries area codes are indicated in the
International Telephone Codes list.
Some important service
numbers are;
155 Police
112 Emergency
110 Fire
118 Unknown Numbers
161 PTT Information.
Tourist
Health
Turkish Tourist Health
Society (Turizm Sagligi Dernegi-Hacettepe Üniversitesi
Tip Fakültesi Plastik ve Rekonstrüktif Cerrahi Ana Bilim
Dali, Sihhiye 06100 ANKARA Tel: (312) 311 93 93-310 98
08) perfoms the functions below, to provide the
travellers in the entire country, mainly in the
touristic regions, with proper health care:
to secure food hygiene
to prevent environmental pollution
to ensure hygiene and healthy working-conditions in
touristic establishments.
Working Hours
Government Offices
Monday-Friday (8:30-12:30) , (13:30-17:30)
Saturday-Sunday (closed)
Banks
Monday-Friday (8:30-12-00) , (13:30-17:00)
Saturday-Sunday (closed)
Shops
Monday-Saturday (9:30-13:00) , (14:00-19:00)
Sunday (closed)
Istanbul Covered market: Monday-Saturday (8:00-19:00)
Sunday (closed)
During summer months, the
government offices and many other establishments in the
Aegean and Mediterranean Regions are closed in the
afternoon. These fixed summer hours are determined by
the governing bodies of the provinces.
Other Practical Information
Local time:
GMT+3 hours (April-September) GMT+2 hours (October-March)
Time Differences:
Argentina -5, France -1, Netherlands -1, Australia +8,
Germany -1, Saudi Arabia+1, Austria -1, Greece 0, Sweden
-1, Egypt 0, Italy -1, Switzerland -1, England -2, Japan
+7, Spain -1, USA -7 (EST) -10 (WEST)
* These time differences are for the period October-March;
however, they may show variances according to each
country's own time-saving adjustments.
Petrol:
Super (peremium) - Unleaded (at some places). Normal (regular)
- Diesel.
Electricity:
220 volts AC/50 Hz. all over Turkey. (Industrial:380 V)
Plug: European round/ 2-prong plug.
Water:
Although tap vater is safe to drink since it is
chlorinated, it is recommended to get advice from the
concemed authorities of the places resided.
Weights and Measures:
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters , 1 centimeter = 0.3937 inches
1 yard = 0,9144 meters, 1 meter = 1.0936 yards
1 mile = 1,6093 kilometers, 1 kilometer = 0.6214 miles
1 pound = 0,4536 kilograms, 1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds
Area:
1 acres = 0,4047 Hectares, 1 hectare = 2.471 acres
Capacity:
1 UK gallon = 4.546 litres, 1 litre = 0.2199 UK gallons
1 US gallon = 3.7831 litres, 1 litre = 0.2643 US gallons
Newspapers and Magazines:
Foreign newspapers and magazines are available in big
cities and tourist areas. Also there is a Turkish daily
newspaper, Daily News, published in English.
Tipping:
At various establishments like hotels, restaurants,
Turkish baths, barbers and hairdressers, tipping at a
rate of 5%-15% of the total is common. Taxi and "dolmus"
drivers on the other hand, do not expect tips or even
rounded fares.
Visiting a mosque:
Five times a day, the "müezzin" calls the faithful to
prayer in thi mosque. Before entering a mosque, Muslims
wash themselves and remove their shoes. Foreign visitors
should also remove their shoes and show the respect they
would any other house of worship and avoid visiting the
mosque durin prayer time. Women should cover their heads
and ams, and not wear miniskirts. Men should not wear
shorts. (In certain famous mosques, overalls are
provided for those not suitably dressed.)
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