Overseas Parcels & Customs Tax in Turkey: What Didim Property Owners and Expats in Türkiye Need to Know

If you live in Didim or own property here, and receive overseas parcels in Turkey — including gifts from family — recent customs changes are important to understand.

Under current customs tax Turkey regulations, all incoming parcels must have a declared monetary value before they can be released. This applies even to handmade or low-value gifts.

For many expats in Türkiye, delays are happening not because gifts are prohibited — but because customs cannot assess the value properly.

Why “It’s Just a Gift” Isn’t Enough

Turkish customs must determine a value for every parcel. If no value is declared or supported, the parcel may be:

• Held for review

• Delayed pending clarification

• Assigned an estimated value

• Taxed based on that assessment

Customs officers are permitted to open parcels, compare with similar goods, and include shipping costs when calculating customs tax in Turkey.

Supporting Documentation Is Essential

To avoid problems with overseas parcels to Turkey, ask senders to provide:

✔ A fully completed CN22 or CN23 customs declaration ✔ A clear description of contents (e.g., “Handmade bead bracelets”) ✔ A realistic estimated value (never leave this blank) ✔ Marked “Non-commercial personal gift” ✔ A simple pro-forma invoice or written value declaration if no receipt exists ✔ Where possible, screenshots of similar items or material costs to support the value

Even a small declared value (for example €2–€5) is far better than no value at all.

Without documentation, customs has no formal basis for valuation — which is why many expats in Türkiye are receiving letters from the International Post Processing Centre.

Key Takeaway for Didim Property Owners

If you receive overseas parcels in Turkey:

• Expect customs assessment

• Ensure proper value documentation is included

• Remember shipping cost may be added to the value

• Respond quickly if contacted by PTT

With correct paperwork, most parcels clear smoothly.

If you’re a property owner in Didim and receive a customs notification you’re unsure about, Realty World After Sales is happy to help guide you through the process.

Got an idea for a blog post or specific information relating to life in Türkiye or in Didim you'd like us to cover? Contact us via email at laurabower@realtyworld.com.tr

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