Introduction: Growing Duty-Free Purchases and Increased Legal Scrutiny Duty-free shops—particularly those in major Turkish airports—have become prime locations for purchasing: Many travelers mistakenly assume that goods bought inside duty-free zones are automatically exempt from all customs obligations. In reality, Türkiye imposes strict quantity limits on duty-free purchases. Travelers exceeding these limits must declare their goods […]
Introduction: Rising Consumer Demand and Increasing Customs Scrutiny Türkiye has witnessed a significant increase in imports of dietary supplements, beauty products, vitamins, collagen powders, protein mixes, herbal blends, and skincare items. Many travelers and small-scale online sellers bring such items from abroad for: However, Turkish customs authorities follow a strict regime regarding: When travelers exceed […]
Introduction: Why Foreign Travelers Often Face Seizure Problems in Turkey Foreign travelers entering Türkiye may experience customs-related complications when bringing: Turkish customs authorities apply strict enforcement measures against undeclared or improperly declared goods, often resulting in immediate seizure (el koyma). Because smuggling offenses fall under Law No. 5607, the legal consequences can be serious—even for […]
Introduction: The Growing Luxury Resale Market and Rising Legal Risks The resale market for luxury watches, designer handbags, and high-end accessories has rapidly expanded in Turkey. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, Cartier and others are now treated not only as fashion items but as investment assets. This growth, […]
Introduction: Why Under-Invoicing Has Become a High-Risk Area for Companies In international trade, some companies attempt to reduce their customs burden by showing lower values on invoices, submitting fake documentation, or splitting shipments to disguise the actual value of imported goods. Although often perceived as a “cost-saving method,” under-invoicing is today considered one of the […]
1. Turkey as a Health Tourism Destination Turkey has turned into a major health tourism hub for patients from Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the CIS region and even North America. Foreign patients come for: The country offers relatively: However, the legal dimension is often overlooked. A foreign patient who travels to Turkey for […]
1. Why the Protection of Unaccompanied Children Matters Across the world, armed conflicts, political crises, climate events, economic collapse and organised crime push families into forced migration. In this environment, many children move without their parents or primary caregivers. Some are separated during flight, some are deliberately sent ahead to reach safety, and some lose […]
1. Residence Permit in Turkey: Right to Stay vs. Actual Use A Turkish residence permit (oturma izni) gives a foreigner the legal right to stay in Turkey for a certain period and under certain conditions (touristic, family, student, long-term, etc.). However, this right is not unlimited or unconditional: This is where the 6-month rule and […]
1. Introduction: Same Residence Permit, Different Routes Foreigners who wish to stay in Türkiye beyond their visa or visa-exempt period, or for more than 90 days within any 180-day period, must obtain a residence permit. The legal status you gain at the end of the process is always the same: a residence card issued by […]
1. Introduction Over the last decade, Turkey has become home to one of the world’s largest populations of people who fled war, persecution and instability. A significant part of this population lives in the country under a special status known as temporary protection. Many of these people are young, able to work and willing to […]