Turkey: Customs Issue
 

Hi all,

I have recently been informed that you cannot leave a vehicle in turkey and leave the country, even if returning a few days later.

I will be entering Istanbul in a few days and need to return back to the US for 3 days for a wedding. Apparently its possible I will not be allowed onto my flight. The legal way around this is to bring the bike to a customs holding facility which is an enormous amount of paperwork and money.

I've also heard of a few cases where customs didnt say anything and people were allowed on their flights.

Does anyone have any insight into this issue? If I have return tickets for a few days later will they let me leave?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Jake

Hi Jake.

Few weeks ago I left my bike in the customs parking of Adana (Turkey) to come back home by plane. They told me this requirement is still mandatory. They entered some data in the computer and wrote something in one page of my passport. I paid about 150 euros for 20 days of parking!.

After saying this I must also add that no one in the airport looked at the page of the passport where it was the bike entrance stamp nor consulted the computer, so I really think I could have gone out and then come back to Turkey without all this business. But it's maybe too risky.

Bye.

Are you coming with your brother by 1 bike.
In my notes, ı see that you also need to hire a bike in İstanbul for your brother for İstanbul-Doğubeyazıt-İstanbul around Mid of June after 3 days stop in İstanbul for marriage ceremony in Germany.
Vehicle Specialthy Customs available only in İstanbul. If you want to do the formalities alone, make your application to Yeşilköy Araç İhtisas Gümrüğü,
with a tax number,police clearence report,passport copy and
with form 7:
Annex 7 is
COMMITMENT LETTER FOR PERSONS TO GO ABROAD WİTHOUT VEHICLES
if you want to park it wherever you want, (a trustable club even home garden) It must not be caught while riding by anyone else except you.
*******************************
with form 8:
Annex 8 is
TEMPORARY DEMISE/ABONDONMENT LETTER
if you want to leave it to parking area permitted by the customs authorities.
**Difference is :In the annex 8 system, the parked days in customs are not included to 180 days permission of staying period of the bike in Turkey....
You can do this only in İstanbul in a day...In other towns you need to spend more time and do more fights in customs to get this letter:

It’s approved to permit the relevant person’s exit abroad without considering “The vehicle seal” existing on his passport during exit abroad
The Title and the Signature of the Authority

I think ı explained you all visa and customs formalities personally several weeks ago...

This time explained all here so that this can be added to border crossing and customs formalities in HU.pages.


Welcome to the paradise, (for your bike too)
Wish you all the best...
zeki.

Hi, an alternate would be ride to Athens (possible in 1 long day?) park in secure parking and fly from there, i do not beleive any similar restictions apply in EU coutries. Andy