Segeln Türkei: der Insider informiert über aktuelle Yachtbestimmungen 2009 in der Türkei

Aktualisierte Bestimmungen für private Yachten in der Türkei (english)
Zusammenstellung von der Alanya Marina für ausländische Privatyachten in türkischen Gewässern
1. Januar 2009

Section A: applicable to the yacht entry and departure

Yachts entering or leaving Turkey must make their entry or departure only at designated Customs entry and exit points. Governing Law No, 2634 (Official Gazette 17635) Article 28 (a).

There they must obtain or surrender (as appropriate) a Transit Log, referred to in same official documents as the "Yacht Registration Certificate" valid for 1 year.

Ports of entry around the coast are:
Hopa, Rize, Trabzon, Giresun, Ordu, Samsun, Inebolu, Sinop, Bartin, Zonguldak, Eregli, Istanbul, Tekirdag, Derince, Gemlik, Mudanya, Bandirma, Çanakkale, Akçay, Ayvalik, Dikili, Izmir, Kusadasi, Didim, Bodrum, Datca, Güllük, Marmaris, Fethiye, Kas, Finike, Kemer, Antalya, Anamur, Alanya, Bozyazi, Tasucu, Mersin, Botas and Iskenderun.

Cruising in Turkish waters

The Transit Log is a permit to sail in Turkish Territorial Waters and to enter Turkish ports. On entry, formalities are completed with Health, Passport Police, Harbourmaster and Customs Patrol Authorities in this order. Marinas often assist with this procedure, usually at additional cost but some marinas giving this services as free of charge. Duration of the Transit Log is 365 Days with a cost of 30 US-$. New regulations: click

Note that the yacht must not remain beyond the period of validity of the Transit Log, which can be renewed for further periods of 365 days. Intended ports of the cruise must be entered in the Transit Log.

Foreign flag yachts may cruise on the routes shown in their cruise documents and call and anchor at harbours along the route where there is no customs office, for sight-seeing purposes, on condition that there are no other restrictions. This data is translated from Governing Law 2634, Article 28 (d) (i) and (ii), and Gazette No. 18125 Article 44 (2).

Change in yacht crew has to be entered in the appropriate section (Crew Change page) of the Transit Log and authorised by the Harbourmaster at the port where the change takes place.

If a yacht is leaving Turkish waters even for a brief period of time and planning to return within the validity time of the Transit Log it must be surrendered on departure and a new one obtained on re-entry.

When departing for foreign ports yachts are required to complete full clearance procedures and surrender of the Transit Log with, Passport Police, Harbourmaster and Customs Patrol Authorities, in that order.

In general, Visas are also valid for a period of 90 days (see later). There is an important difference in that Visas are multiple entry, the Transit Log is not.

Use of foreign yachts in Turkish waters

A private foreign-flag yacht of any type that spends the winter in Turkey or enters Turkey from a foreign port may be allowed to be operated within the port or between Turkish ports only if the owner is on board. One exception is if the owner is not able to join the trip, he can send a fax authorising his / her captain to deliver or to take delivery of the owner or the relatives of the owner to or from the next port (according to new regulations 6^th November 2001.)

Foreign-flag yachts owned by several persons and yachts owned by foreign clubs, associations and unions may be operated by up to four of their owners in one year.

lt shall be permissible to take Turkish or foreign guests other than the families of their owners on board such yachts for excursion, sports or entertainment purposes on the condition that no money is charged for this. Governing Law 2634, Gazette No. 18125 Article NoA7 amended by Gazette 20914.

Leaving yachts in Turkish marinas for extended periods

Foreigners who enter Turkey on board their yachts, pursuant to Article 29 of the Law, may leave their yacht in a marina or yacht slipway certified by the Ministry of Tourism for the winter or for a period of up to two years for maintenance and repair purposes and leave Turkey by another means of transport.

A yacht that spends the winter in a marina or yacht slipway in this manner and that is used by its owner at least once every two years may stay in Turkey for up to five years without need to obtain further permission. The Tourism Ministry is authorised to extend this five-year period at its expiry.

Governing Law 2634, Article 29, Gazette No.18 125 Article 46, amended by Gazette No. 19252.

Relevance

The above notes are relevant only to private yachts used solely in a non-commercial manner. Other Rules apply to yachts engaged in charter.

Section B: tourist visas and residence permits

Arrival in Turkey from abroad

On arrival a Tourist Visa stamp will be placed in your Passport with the entry date. It shows a validity of 3 months depends on the country, but note that the period is actually 90 days. This is a multiple entry Visa, allowing you to leave and re-enter Turkey as often as you wish by air, sea or land. You must renew your visa or leave Turkey before the existing visa expires as heavy fines are imposed for overstaying. Important alternatively, before your arrival at Turkey, it is possible to obtain a Visa from the Turkish Consulate in your Country of Domicile. This takes time, but the issued Visa can be valid for a longer period up to five years maximum.

Citizens of most of the Countries (exceptions are listed on www.east-med.com can obtain Tourist Visas without difficulty on entry to Turkey at Ports of Entry or airports. The regulation concerning Visas differs for different Countries, principally concerning cost and validity.

Tourist visa renewal

Having left Turkey and returned either after the expiry date of your Visa or before its expiry (if requested) you will be given another 90 days Tourist Visa. There is no restriction to the number of times this can be done.

The visa remains valid until its expiry date and a decision must be made whether to leave Turkey and re-enter or apply for a new visa or Residence Permit at least 1 week before.

Extended stay - Residence Permits (Ikamet teskerezi)

Residence Permits are in the form of a small book looking like a mini-passport and replace the visas. They are available for periods starting from 30 days up to 5 years. They are also multiple entries; however departure and entry dates continue to be stamped in your passport.

A foreigner who is the owner of a yacht, his wife and children and crew whose names are registered in the Transitlog (Cruising Permit) may obtain longer term Residence Permits on the principal condition that they have a fully paid contract to keep their yacht in a marina licensed by the Turkish Tourism Ministry for at least the length of time the Residence Permits are applied for.

The maximum permitted period on first application is 1 year. Longer periods up to 5 years are possible on subsequent application. Residence Permits are issued by the local Police Department where the yacht under contract is located.

This Law is covered by Turkish Interior Affairs Ministry in Announcements 00085 and 00113 dated 11 April 2000 and 13. April 2000 respectively.

Applying for a Residence Permit

You should begin preparing the application not less than one week before your Visa expires. Should your visa expire during one of the major holidays, make your Residence Permit application before the start of that holiday. You should seek the assistance of the Marina when making your application.

When making the application at the Immigration Office each person applying for a Residence Permit must present themselves at the office. The necessary documents are listed on www.east-med.com

Note: Residence Permits may take several days to process. When completing formalities enquire when it will be ready for collection. During this waiting period your passport will have been retained by the Immigration Office, make sure you have prepared a photocopy for yourself in advance.

Section C: other informations

Duty free fuel

Duty free fuel is available to visiting foreign yachts and it is required to set an order minimum of 3 tonnes, and filing has to be certified by the presence of a Custom Officer. This minimum quantity has to be ordered for one vessel and it is not permissible for a number of yachts to take the minimum quantity collectively. In practice, it is no longer possible for smaller yachts to obtain duty free fuel.

Duty free spares - yacht in transit duty

Spares or replacements can be brought into Turkey without payment of tax as long as the regulations are followed precisely. The principal requirement is that the consignment is correctly addressed and invoiced, and the accompanying list of contents is e1ear and unambiguous and relates easily to the items.

lt is strongly recommended that you varify every aspect with your Marina or you select an Agent before any order is placed with suppliers. lt is also helpful if your yacht is adjacent to a major airport or seaport, ego Antalya, Istanbul or Izmir. If a Customs Officer considers the part 'to be valuable', you will need a customs agent to clear the parcel.

Receiving spares Duty Free does not mean without payment of other costs such as airline freight clearance and Customs clearance and possibly temporary warehousing. If the yacht owner is not in Turkey, there could be additional charges including notary and translators fees. Although it looks very complicated, difficult and expensive to receive the parcels for your yacht, it is very simple and costs only US-$ 125 for customs agent service in East-Med Marinas. All the formalities can be completed within a half day even for a brand new engine.

lt is always easier to bring spares into Turkey with you.

One difficulty with large spares, such as engines, can be disposal of the redundant pieces. If a new item is received Duty Free the regulations prohibit sale to local market or even disposal of the original. Redundant pieces can only be got rid of by leaving them at the customs areas, or registering them into the transitlog and taken out of Turkey with the yacht.

Use of vehicles by foreign yachtsmen

Foreign yachtsmen are allowed to use a foreign vehicle in Turkey, as long as it is registered in their name, for a period of maximum 180 days (3 + 3 months) in any twelve. Particulars of the vehicle will be entered in the owner's passport. At the end of the six month (180 days) period the vehicle must be removed from Turkey.

A vehicle can be left in Customs Bond for up to four months, but application may be made for extension by a further two months.

The penalties for failure to remove a vehicle from the Country before expiry of the Bond date are stringent.

The car can stay in Turkey for a longer period by obtaining a licence and a special plate from the Turkish Touring Club.

Important note

The above information is believed correct at the day of writing. East-Med Marinas accepts no responsibility for any omissions or errors or any subsequent changes made by any Government Authority. 01.01.2009

Governing regulations

In the references above: Law No.2634 approved date 12 March 1982 "Law for the Encouragement of Tourism" Official Gazette No. 17635 dated 16^th March 1982
Official Gazette No. 18125 dated 4^th August 1983 titled "The Regulations on Yacht Tourism" Official Gazette No. 19252 dated 15^th October 1986
Official Gazette No. 20914 dated 29^th June 1991,
Official Gazette No. 24575 dated 6^th November 2001 titled "Customs General Bulletin"