Erdal Nuhbasa – Law and Consulting Firm – Legal Services
Erdal Nuhbasa – Law and Consulting Firm – Legal Services
As a lawyer, I often receive questions like: “Can I bring my car from abroad?” or “What is the required procedure?” Bringing a vehicle into Türkiye without paying permanent import taxes is possible under Turkish Customs Law, but it is strictly regulated. This post explains: How eligible foreigners can bring their foreign-plated cars into Turkey and register them with temporary Turkish plates.
The “Temporary Admission” regime is based on Articles 130 and 131 of Customs Law No. 4458 and Article 376/j of the Customs Regulation. Under these rules, foreign vehicles can enter Türkiye through a Temporary Entry Permit (Y.T.G.G.K.), commonly known as the Blue Booklet (Mavi Karne). This permit is issued by the Turkish Touring and Automobile Association (Turing).
When you visit Turkey as a tourist, you can enter the country with your foreign-plated vehicle and you must exit within the legal time limit. Therefore, for touristic or temporary visits, you don’t need a Mavi Karne. (For touristic visits you can check the relevant article:)
However, If you are one of the people listed below, you can bring your vehicle from abroad into Turkey and you can get a new Turkish license plate for your car and use it as you would a local vehicle for the duration of your stay.
The Temporary Entry Permit for Foreign Vehicles (Y.T.G.G.K.) is restricted to individuals who fulfill specific legal and residency requirements under Customs Law. Eligible applicants typically include:
Turkish law prohibits certain groups from applying for a YTGGK (Foreign Vehicles Temporary Entry Permit).
Restricted categories are:
The applicant must demonstrate they have been resident abroad for the relevant period. Practically this is checked as having been physically abroad for at least 185 days in the last 12 months (counted backward from the date of entry). You can verify your status via the e-Devlet “Yurt Dışında Yerleşiklik Sorgulama” service. Authorities check this condition at every entry.
The process can take about 4-7 days and involves several key steps.
To complete this process, you will need to prepare a comprehensive set of documents:
Temporary vehicle importation is also subject to official fees. Payments can be made directly at the Turkish Touring and Automobile Association offices, and credit card payments are accepted. As of the latest schedule:
Below are the cost items you listed; we present them as approximate current costs to give clients a clear idea of expected outlay. These amounts may vary by vehicle model, age, customs decisions and Turing’s guarantee policy.
These figures reflect the example cost list you provided and are used in practice by many applicants; they should be treated as estimates — the customs office, Turing and insurers set the final numbers.
For extensions, additional fees apply:
For more information...
Contact me!If you’re a foreign resident in Turkey and are interested in buying a tax-free vehicle, don’t take chances with guesswork or misinformation. Let our legal team guide you from start to finish.
📞 Erdal Nuhbasa Law and Consulting Firm
📍 Kartaltepe Mah. Bahçesaray Sok. No:19/3 Bakırköy, Istanbul, Turkey
📧 erdalnuhbasa@hotmail.com
🌐 www.erdalnuhbasa.com
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