Of the roughly three million people of Turkish origin living in Germany, a steady number make a permanent return to Turkey every year; retirement, family, an investment or a new job are the most common reasons behind the decision. Moving the contents of your home in Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart or Munich to Turkey can be done tax-free with the right documents and damage-free with the right mover. This guide covers the paperwork side of moving household goods from Germany to Turkey (Abmeldung, consulate letter, inventory list), how duty-free import (bedelsiz ithalat) works at Turkish customs, your insurance options and the door-to-door removal process.
Who Can Bring Household Goods into Turkey Duty-Free?
Under Turkish customs legislation, anyone who transfers their place of residence to Turkey after living abroad for at least 24 months may bring in their used household goods under the duty-free import (bedelsiz ithalat) scheme without paying customs duty. For members of the Turkish diaspora who were born and raised in Germany or have lived there for decades, this condition is met automatically. Points to watch:
- The entitlement is granted once per family and can be used once every 5 years.
- The goods must arrive at Turkish customs within 6 months of the date of your permanent return (they can be shipped before you return and held in a bonded warehouse).
- The goods must be used, personal and in reasonable quantities; several appliances of the same type are treated as commercial goods.
- Time spent in Turkey during the last 24 months must not exceed 6 months in total (passport entry and exit records are used as evidence).
If you are not making a permanent return and simply want to send goods to a summer house or second home in Turkey, the goods fall under the normal import regime; we can still move them, but duty is calculated on their value. For the general framework of personal effects shipping, see our complete guide to moving household goods abroad.
Documents to Prepare on the German Side
- Abmeldung (deregistration of residence): the "Abmeldebescheinigung" issued by your local Bürgeramt in Germany. Turkish customs uses this document to see that your place of residence has moved from Germany to Turkey.
- Consulate permanent-return certificate: a residence confirmation / permanent-return letter from the Turkish Consulate General (Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, Hamburg, Hanover, Essen, Nuremberg, Karlsruhe, Düsseldorf, Mainz). Some customs offices accept the Abmeldung alone, but the consulate letter speeds the process up.
- Passport and ID: Turkish passport or Blue Card (Mavi Kart, for people of Turkish origin holding foreign citizenship).
- Proof of residence: Meldebescheinigung covering the last 24 months, tenancy agreement, payslips, Rentenbescheid or insurance documents.
- Detailed inventory list (in Turkish): box number, contents, quantity, brand/model, serial numbers for electronics, approximate value.
- Power of attorney: so our customs broker in Turkey can handle the formalities; issued at a Turkish consulate in Germany or at a notary in Turkey.
- Your residential address in Turkey: title deed, tenancy agreement or residence registration (ikametgâh).
What Can Be Imported Duty-Free?
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Furniture, beds, wardrobes, sofa sets | Duty-free |
| Fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, oven (used) | Duty-free; a reasonable number of each type |
| Television, computer, audio system | Duty-free; serial numbers on the inventory |
| Clothing, textiles, books, kitchenware | Duty-free |
| Bicycles, fitness equipment, musical instruments, garden furniture | Duty-free (used) |
| New items still carrying labels | Dutiable; separate declaration |
| Alcohol, tobacco, weapons, medicines | Outside the scheme / special permit |
| Cars | Separate "vehicle permi" procedure |
The Removal Process from Germany to Turkey
- Survey and quotation: our Frankfurt office receives your inventory list or carries out a video survey; volume (m³) and vehicle type are determined and you receive a written quotation.
- Document preparation: the Abmeldung, consulate letter, inventory list and power of attorney are gathered and forwarded to our customs broker in Turkey.
- Packing and loading: our crew packs at your address in Germany; a Halteverbotszone (reserved parking) is arranged in advance; the goods are loaded directly onto the lorry or into our Frankfurt depot.
- Leaving the EU and transit: from Germany via Austria, Hungary, Serbia/Romania and Bulgaria to Kapıkule under T1 transit; 3-5 days.
- Turkish customs: the duty-free import declaration is lodged at the customs office nearest your destination city; after document and physical checks the goods are released (usually 1-3 working days).
- Delivery: the goods are delivered to your address in Turkey, furniture is reassembled and packing waste is removed.
Total transit time averages 7-12 days for groupage (part-load) and 5-8 days for a dedicated (full-load) vehicle. We run weekly scheduled departures on our Germany route.
How Does Clearance Work at Turkish Customs?
After entering Turkey at Kapıkule, the goods travel in transit to the destination customs office (for example Istanbul Halkalı, Ankara, Izmir, Gaziantep, Antalya or Bursa). There our customs broker lodges the duty-free import declaration. The customs officer:
- verifies the 24-month residence from passport records and the Abmeldung,
- compares the boxes against the inventory list (by sampling or full inspection),
- checks the serial numbers of electronic devices,
- may assess duty on any item that is not on the list or appears to be new.
The owner of the goods is expected to have entered Turkey; if the shipment arrives before you do, it is held in temporary storage and demurrage charges may apply. This is why we plan your loading date around your date of entry into Turkey.
Insured Removals: Which Cover, and When?
The journey from Germany to Turkey is 2,500-3,000 km and your goods pass through at least two customs inspections. REG Transport applies two tiers of insurance:
- CMR carrier liability insurance: included as standard on every shipment; compensation is limited and calculated by weight.
- Declared-value goods insurance (all-risk): full cover against breakage, loss, water damage, theft and accident based on the value you declare. The premium is a small percentage of the declared value and we strongly recommend it for permanent-return moves.
Professionally packed goods are fully covered; internal damage to boxes you packed yourself is excluded under most policies. Visible damage is recorded on the delivery report at handover, and hidden damage must be reported within 7 days.
What Determines the Cost?
- Volume (m³): a 2-room flat in Germany is around 15-22 m³, a 3-4 room house around 25-40 m³.
- Transport method: groupage (part-load) or dedicated (full-load) vehicle.
- Loading conditions in Germany: Halteverbotszone, floor level, Möbellift (furniture hoist).
- Delivery city and conditions in Turkey: main routes (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, Antalya) or inland regions; floor level and lift access.
- Customs services: German export declaration, T1, duty-free import declaration and brokerage in Turkey.
- Insurance and storage: declared-value insurance; bonded storage if required to align with your entry date into Turkey.
Restricted Items for Import into Turkey
- Alcohol and tobacco: not covered by the exemption; quantities above personal allowances are taxed.
- Medicines: prescription only and in personal quantities.
- Firearms, air rifles, knife collections: subject to special permits.
- Drones and radio transmitters: separate declaration and permit.
- Mobile phones: not classed as used household goods; they fall under passenger IMEI registration. Do not put them in the shipment, carry them with you.
Example Scenario: A Retirement Return from Cologne to Antalya
A couple retiring after 30 years of work in Cologne is settling in Antalya. Our Frankfurt office establishes a volume of 26 m³ by video survey; a dedicated vehicle is chosen. The permanent-return letter is obtained from the Consulate General in Cologne and the Abmeldung from the city office; loading takes place one week after the couple fly into Turkey. The vehicle travels via Austria, Hungary, Serbia and Bulgaria, reaching Kapıkule on day five and Antalya customs on day seven. The declaration is lodged the same day and the inspection is completed the next day; on day nine the goods are delivered and assembled at their home in Konyaaltı. Duty: zero; insurance: full cover on the declared value.
Why REG Transport?
- Over 12 years of hands-on experience: thousands of completed shipments for families and businesses on the Turkey–UK and Turkey–Europe routes.
- Our own fleet and depots: warehouses in Istanbul, Gaziantep, London and Frankfurt; weekly scheduled departures that do not depend on third-party hauliers.
- Licensed customs operation: export declarations in Turkey and import declarations in the destination country are handled by our partner customs brokers; we prepare all documents on your behalf.
- One point of contact: the same account manager from survey to delivery, with updates at loading, border crossing and delivery.
- Transparent quotation: freight, packing, customs, insurance and delivery are itemised separately in writing; no surprise costs.
- Insurance: CMR included; optional full-cover insurance on the declared value.
Common Mistakes
- Shipping goods before completing the Abmeldung or obtaining the consulate letter.
- Trying to use the entitlement in instalments — a second shipment may be dutiable.
- Declaring appliances and electronics newly bought in Germany as "used".
- Leaving the serial numbers of electronic devices off the inventory list.
- Shipping goods long before your entry date into Turkey and paying demurrage charges.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to ship household goods from Germany to Turkey?
7-12 days by groupage, 5-8 days by dedicated vehicle. Customs congestion and public holidays can affect the timeline.
I hold a Blue Card and German citizenship. Am I entitled to duty-free import?
Yes. Blue Card holders who transfer their residence to Turkey and meet the 24-month condition also qualify for the entitlement.
Can I deliver my goods to your depot in Germany?
Yes, you can deliver to our Frankfurt depot; alternatively our crew collects from any address in any German city.
I am returning to Turkey on my pension and only have a few boxes and a sofa set. Is that suitable?
Yes, groupage (part-load) is designed for exactly this situation; you pay only for the volume you occupy.
Can I bring my car too?
Yes; a vehicle registered in your name in Germany for at least 6 months can be brought in under a separate procedure (vehicle permi). See car transport from Europe to Turkey.
Let's Plan Your Permanent Return Together
With our Frankfurt depot, collection crews covering every city in Germany, and our Istanbul and Gaziantep bases plus partner customs brokers in Turkey, we run weekly scheduled departures for permanent-return household removals from Germany to Turkey. Send us your inventory list and receive a written quotation the same day; we will prepare the documents together so your belongings reach your new home in Turkey duty-free and fully insured. For service details, see our international household removals page.
