The 30 Euro customs exemption applied to foreign purchases in Türkiye has been removed with a Presidential Decree published in the Official Gazette. The regulation, which came into effect with Decree No. 10813 on January 6, 2026, has caused significant changes, especially in individual e-commerce shopping.
According to the decree signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a 30% customs duty will be applied to products purchased from European Union countries, while products purchased from other countries will be subject to a 60% duty. If the products fall under the scope of the Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV), an additional fixed tax of 20% will be levied. As a result, the duty to be paid on products imported from abroad has significantly increased.
Previously Reduced 30 Euro Limit Has Been Completely Removed
As a reminder, in 2024, the customs exemption limit was reduced from 150 Euros to 30 Euros. Following this, the limit was further reduced to approximately 27 Euros after including shipping costs. With the latest decree, this limit has been entirely removed. The new regulation now applies customs procedures and taxes to all products ordered from abroad.
Additional Taxes for Products Covered by Special Consumption Tax
The new regulation introduces additional tax obligations for certain products. If products fall into a category subject to the Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV), an additional 20% fixed tax will be applied to those products. This will particularly increase costs for technological products, luxury consumer goods, and certain health products.
A Challenging Process Begins for Consumers Shopping from Abroad
With this change, importing low-priced products from abroad will no longer be as economical as before. For purchases made from foreign e-commerce sites, consumers will not only pay for the product cost but also be subject to customs duties and customs declaration service fees. As a result, consumers, particularly those making low-budget purchases, are expected to face significant cost increases.
Effective Date and Future Expectations
The new regulation will come into effect on February 6, 2026. Orders placed before this date will be processed according to the existing rules. However, from the specified date onwards, new tax and declaration rules will apply to all purchases from abroad. This change in customs processes will fundamentally alter individual shopping habits and reshape the economic impact of foreign purchases.
