Shipping to Turkey: the complete guide

Turkey is a large, fast-growing e-commerce market that's well worth a place in your international shipping plans. Here's what you need to know to ship your products there smoothly, from carriers and delivery times to Turkey's specific customs rules.

Why it's worth shipping to Turkey

E-commerce in Turkey has grown steadily for years: revenue rose by more than 42% in a single year (2017 to 2018). The demographics are favorable for retailers abroad, with a relatively young, growing, and heavily urban population (around 75% live in cities). Digitalization is advanced too, with tens of millions of active internet users and a penetration rate of around 72%, which supports cross-border trade.

The main carriers for shipping to Turkey

For shipping to Turkey, the major carriers rely largely on their express services. With Sendcloud you can combine the most popular carriers and pick the best fit per shipment.

DHL Express

DHL Express includes tracking and insurance. Parcel limits: length up to 120 cm, width up to 60 cm, height up to 60 cm, and weight up to 30 kg.

DPD

DPD relies on its DPD Express service for Turkey. Your parcel may be up to 120 cm long with a girth of up to 3 m.

UPS

UPS also ships to Turkey via express, with services by delivery time: UPS Express (by midday), UPS Express Saver (by end of day), UPS Worldwide Express Freight, and UPS Expedited for less urgent shipments.

GLS

GLS focuses on Europe with a well-developed network, shipping to Turkey with EuroBusinessParcel and ExpressParcel. Limits: length up to 200 cm, width up to 80 cm, height up to 60 cm, weight up to 40 kg, and girth (L + 2×W + 2×H) up to 300 cm.

How long does delivery to Turkey take?

Customers typically want to wait no more than 3 to 4 days for an order, and the carriers' express services help here.

How much does shipping to Turkey cost?

Cost depends mainly on the carrier and the size and weight of your parcel, and additional insurance can raise it. Price matters to Turkish shoppers: more than 71% say a low price is a main reason they shop online. With a free Sendcloud account you can use the rate calculator to compare carriers in a few clicks.

Can my customers track their parcel?

Customers want to know where their parcel is, all the more so for international shipping with longer transit times. Carriers' standard status emails look dated and send clicks their way rather than yours. With Sendcloud's tracking experience you design your own tracking page in your store's style, with your logo and color scheme, your Instagram feed, and promotional banners. It's multilingual too, so a customer in Turkey can be told "Paket yolda!" (the parcel is on its way).

Which goods are allowed in a parcel to Turkey?

Although Turkey isn't an EU member, it's part of the EU Customs Union, which already greatly simplifies the movement of goods between the EU and Turkey. Even so, various restrictions and special rules apply to importing certain goods.

Goods requiring CE marking

Turkish customs classifies some goods as potentially hazardous, and their import must meet Turkish safety standards, confirmed in writing by the Turkish Standards Institution (TSI). These include machinery, electrical equipment, products with an electromagnetic field, lift safety accessories, pressure equipment and vessels, gas burners, water heaters, electric motors and generators, electromechanical household appliances, electric lamps, air conditioners and fans, refrigerators and freezers, explosives and related equipment, and inflatable boats.

Used, old, or refurbished goods

How to proceed depends on the item's HS (tariff) code. Some goods need no permit or declaration of conformity, while others require a declaration of conformity from the relevant authority.

Textiles, clothing, and leather goods

Once you ship more than 50 kg of these goods, prior registration is required via an "Export Registry Form", which must be accepted by the relevant chamber of commerce and Turkish authorities. Dyed textiles are also subject to a risk assessment, for which prior registration is needed.

Alcohol and tobacco

Turkish customs sorts alcohol and tobacco into three categories: goods that need a conformity certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture, goods that must be declared to the ministry, and goods that may not be imported under any circumstances. Check the current rules for your specific products.

Goods subject to an additional duty

Turkey levies an additional duty on various goods, often as a protective tariff. Check the applicable rules before you calculate your shipping. Examples include medicines, wood products, cutlery, steel products, motors, generators and pumps, syringes, PET, cosmetics and toothbrushes, pipes, tyres, luggage and bags, and textiles and clothing.

What customs documents does a parcel to Turkey need?

Different goods need different documents, but some are always required once a parcel leaves the EU. Always required:

• Commercial invoice

• Customs declaration CN22 or CN23

• Certificate of origin

Sometimes required:

• Declaration of conformity (for CE goods)

• Declaration of conformity (for used goods)

• "Export Registry Form" (for leather, textiles, and clothing)

• A.TR movement certificate (for goods in free circulation in the EU)

How to address a parcel to Turkey

Make sure the label is filled out correctly to avoid delivery problems. One specific feature: on the second line, alongside the street and house number, the district is also given, and the house number is introduced with the abbreviation "No".

Zeynep Aslan
Başakşehir, 1031. Sk., No. 7
34513 Istanbul
TURKEY

How Sendcloud helps you ship to Turkey

Sendcloud helps you ship flexibly across the most popular carriers, automate with smart shipping rules, offer personalized tracking, and run a customer-friendly returns portal. Questions about shipping to Turkey? Get in touch with our shipping experts.