Deciding on a permanent return to Turkey after years in the UK is a big step, and moving your belongings from your home in London, Manchester or Birmingham to your new address in Turkey is the most tangible part of it. The good news: Turkish customs law grants people who have lived abroad for a set period and are returning home a duty-free import (bedelsiz ithalat) entitlement, meaning you can bring your used household goods into Turkey without paying customs duty. This guide explains the conditions for duty-free import, the transfer-of-residence right known colloquially as "permi", the UK export and Turkish import customs procedures, and every step through to delivery.
What Is Bedelsiz İthalat (Duty-Free Import)?
Bedelsiz ithalat is the scheme under the Turkish Customs Law and related decrees that allows individuals who were resident abroad and are transferring their residence to Turkey to bring in their used household goods exempt from tax. The word "bedelsiz" (literally "without payment") does not mean the goods are free; it means no foreign currency is transferred for the import and no customs duties are collected.
Who Is Eligible?
- Anyone who has lived abroad (in the UK) continuously for at least 24 months and is returning to Turkey permanently.
- Public servants returning to take up a post in Turkey (a different length-of-stay rule applies).
- Heirs in Turkey of people who died while living abroad (goods arriving by inheritance).
- People who have spent at least 24 months abroad for work or study; annual leave and short visits (not exceeding 6 months in total) do not break the period.
The entitlement is exercised once per family; spouses cannot each claim a separate duty-free import right. People living in the UK who want to set up a second home in Turkey without returning permanently cannot use this relief; their goods fall under the normal import regime.
What Does the "Permi" Entitlement Mean?
What Turkish expatriates call "permi" is in fact the duty-free import right under the transfer-of-residence rules. It is used under two separate headings:
- Household-goods permi: duty-free entry of used household effects (the subject of this article).
- Vehicle permi: bringing in a private car registered in your name abroad for at least 6 months under duty-free import; this has its own conditions and ÖTV/VAT calculations (see our vehicle transport page for details).
The household-goods right must be used within 6 months of the date of your permanent return to Turkey; within that window the goods must reach Turkish customs and the declaration must be filed. The right can be exercised once every 5 years.
Which Goods Are Covered?
| Goods | Duty-free import |
|---|---|
| Used furniture, white goods, kitchenware | Exempt |
| Used television, computer, audio system | Exempt (reasonable quantity; usually 1-2 of each type) |
| Clothing, books, personal items, toys | Exempt |
| Piano, sports equipment, bicycles | Exempt (provided they are used) |
| New, tagged products | Taxable; declared separately |
| Machinery and equipment for commercial use | Not covered |
| Alcohol, tobacco, weapons | Not covered / subject to permit |
Customs applies a "reasonable quantity" test: three washing machines or five televisions will be treated as commercial goods rather than the effects of a returning resident.
Documents You Will Need
- Passport (entry and exit stamps as proof of 24 months' residence)
- Proof of residence: documents proving your residence in the UK — tenancy agreement, council tax letter, employment contract, P60/P45, bank statements
- Permanent-return letter / consulate document: a "kesin dönüş" (permanent return) or residence confirmation letter from the Turkish Consulate General in London (some customs offices require it)
- Detailed inventory (in Turkish; box number, contents, quantity, make/model, serial number)
- Your residential address in Turkey (residence certificate, title deed or tenancy agreement)
- Power of attorney so that our customs broker can carry out the formalities
- Invoices for any new items
The UK-to-Turkey Moving Process
- Survey and quotation: our London office takes your inventory or carries out an on-site or video survey; volume and shipping method are decided.
- Document preparation: the consulate letter, inventory and power of attorney are prepared and forwarded to our customs broker in Turkey.
- Packing and loading: our UK crew packs your goods to export standard; parking permits and building access are arranged in advance.
- UK export declaration: the HMRC export entry is filed, a GMR is created and the vehicle crosses from Dover to the Continent.
- European transit: through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia/Romania and Bulgaria under T1 transit to Kapıkule.
- Turkish customs: your goods are cleared under a duty-free import declaration at the customs office nearest your delivery address (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Gaziantep, Antalya, etc.) and released after a physical check.
- Delivery: your goods are delivered to your address in Turkey and the furniture is reassembled.
The average time from loading to delivery is 8-14 days. Customs workload and public holidays can affect the schedule.
What Turkish Customs Looks For
- The inventory is checked item by item against the boxes; goods not on the list may be assessed for duty.
- Serial numbers of electronic devices are compared with the list.
- The 24-month residence is verified from passport entry and exit records; if a long stay in Turkey is detected, the entitlement can be lost.
- The declarant (owner of the goods) is expected to have entered Turkey; if the goods arrive before the person, they wait in temporary storage.
Insured, Secure Transport
The road from London to Turkey is around 3,000 km long and the goods pass through several customs points. All our shipments are covered by CMR carrier liability insurance, and you can add all-risk cover based on the value of your goods. Professionally packed goods enjoy full cover; internal damage to boxes you packed yourself is excluded under most policies.
What Determines the Cost?
- Volume (m³): a two-bedroom home in London typically occupies 18-25 m³ and a three-bedroom home 25-35 m³.
- Shipping method: groupage (part-load, joining our weekly departures) or a dedicated vehicle.
- Loading conditions in London: parking suspension, floor, lift, carry distance.
- Delivery city in Turkey: direct delivery on main routes such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Bursa; onward distribution for inland Anatolia.
- Customs services: UK export declaration, T1 transit, duty-free import declaration and customs brokerage in Turkey.
- Insurance and storage: value insurance and, if required, interim storage in Turkey or London.
The Vehicle Permi: A Short Note
A separate duty-free import right exists for bringing a private car that has been registered in your name in the UK for at least 6 months, but there is no exemption from ÖTV (special consumption tax) or VAT on vehicles; the taxes are calculated on the car's age and engine size. Right-hand-drive UK cars cannot be registered for the road in Turkey, which is why most families returning from the UK choose to sell their car there. If you are planning to bring a vehicle, mention it at the survey stage; our vehicle transport team will assess eligibility in advance.
Worked Example: Permanent Return from Manchester to Izmir
A retired couple who have lived in Manchester for 12 years decide to return permanently to Izmir. Two months before the move they contact our London office and prepare their inventory, collecting the permanent-return letter from the consulate and their council tax records from Manchester City Council. A video survey puts the volume at 22 m³. On loading day our crew starts at 8 a.m. and the vehicle leaves for Dover in the afternoon. On day nine the goods reach Izmir Alsancak customs; because the couple entered Turkey a week earlier, the declaration is filed immediately, the numbered boxes match the inventory at the physical check and the goods are released within two working days. On day twelve, delivery and assembly at their new home in Bornova are complete. Tax paid: zero.
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 warehouses: depots in Istanbul, Gaziantep, London and Frankfurt; regular weekly 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; full-value cover on declared value available.
Frequently Asked Questions
I have lived in the UK for less than 24 months. Am I entitled to duty-free import?
The general rule is 24 months of continuous residence. For shorter periods the goods fall under the normal import regime; the move can still go ahead, but duty is calculated.
How long after returning to Turkey can I use my entitlement?
The goods must reach customs within 6 months of your permanent-return date. You can also ship them before you return; in that case they wait in a bonded warehouse until you enter Turkey.
Will you collect from my home in London and deliver to my door in Turkey?
Yes. Our London crew packs and loads, our customs broker in Turkey handles clearance, and our vehicle delivers to your new address.
Can I leave part of my belongings in the UK and send them later?
As a rule the duty-free import right is used in a single shipment; with split shipments the second consignment may be taxable. We recommend consolidating everything into one shipment.
Can I bring my car at the same time?
Yes. The vehicle permi is claimed through a separate application; we can ship your car together with your household goods or on a separate car transporter.
Leave Your Permanent-Return Move to REG Transport
With a warehouse and crew in London, a delivery network across Turkey and partner customs brokers, REG Transport runs regular weekly departures for permanent-return removals from the UK to Turkey. Let us prepare your documents together so your goods reach your new home in Turkey duty-free and without complications. Get a quote now — we respond the same day.
