Imagine this scenario: You wake up one morning, brew your coffee, and casually check the daily news or the Official Gazette, only to discover that your neighborhood—the streets you walk every day, the home you have invested your life savings into—has been officially designated as a “Reserve Building Area” (Rezerv Yapı Alanı) by the government. […]
Urban Transformation (Kentsel Dönüşüm) was introduced in Turkey as a life-saving initiative to replace earthquake-prone, aging structures with modern, disaster-resilient buildings. For flat owners (Kat Malikleri), the proposition is often irresistible: evacuate your old apartment, receive government rental assistance during construction, and return to a brand-new, valuable, and safe home. However, this dream can rapidly […]
The intersection of property law and the law of obligations rarely produces a scenario as complex, economically devastating, and socially prevalent as the “Construction Contract in Return for Land Share” (Arsa Payı Karşılığı İnşaat Sözleşmesi). Driven by urban transformation initiatives (Kentsel Dönüşüm) and the high value of real estate, landowners and construction companies frequently enter […]
Can Turkish Customs Stop You From Taking an Old Painting Abroad? Imagine that you purchased an old oil painting from an antique dealer in Istanbul several years ago. You have the invoice, the painting is legally yours, and you now want to take it to your home in London, Dubai or New York. At Istanbul […]
Can You Bring an Exotic Animal into Turkey as a Pet? Imagine arriving at Istanbul Airport carrying a rare parrot, tortoise, python, iguana or another exotic animal. The animal was legally purchased abroad. You have no intention of selling it. It lives in your home and you genuinely consider it your pet. Does that mean […]
A person living abroad may temporarily bring a foreign-plated car into Turkey and use it under the Turkish temporary admission regime. Problems often arise when, during the vehicle’s stay in Turkey, the owner receives an attractive offer and asks: “Can I just sell the car to someone in Turkey?” For a vehicle temporarily imported under […]
What Happens If a Foreign-Plated Car Stays in Turkey Longer Than Permitted? Bringing a foreign-plated vehicle into Turkey under the temporary importation regime does not amount to permanently importing the vehicle into Turkey. The vehicle is admitted without payment of ordinary import duties because it is expected to leave the Turkish Customs Territory within the […]
Can Machinery Be Held at Turkish Customs Because of a Missing CE Document? A company imports an industrial machine worth EUR 100,000 into Turkey. The machine arrives at the port, the customs declaration is prepared, but during the import control process the authorities ask for CE-related conformity documents. The foreign manufacturer responds: “The machine complies […]
What Happens If an Online Seller Declares a Lower Value on Your Package? You purchase a product online for USD 1,000. You pay the full USD 1,000 by credit card, bank transfer or another traceable payment method. The foreign seller then writes “Value: USD 50” on the commercial invoice, shipping document or customs label without […]
Can a Company Director Bring Machine Spare Parts into Turkey in His Suitcase? Imagine the following situation. A manufacturing company in Türkiye suffers an unexpected machine breakdown. Production has stopped and every hour of delay causes substantial financial loss. The replacement component is available abroad, but sending it by ordinary commercial cargo would take several […]