Türkiye Just Changed the Rules for Every Shipment - Including the Small Ones

If you send goods to Türkiye - whether it's a container load or a single parcel - there's a regulatory change that came into effect in February 2026 that you need to know about. It's one of the most significant shifts in Turkish import policy in years and most Australian exporters haven't factored it into their planning yet.

The short version: Türkiye has abolished its simplified customs declaration regime for low-value imports. The practical effect is that every shipment, regardless of how small or low in value, now requires full customs clearance. That means more paperwork, more cost, and more time for every single consignment.

What Was the Old System?

Until February 2026, Türkiye operated what's known as a de minimis regime for imports arriving by post or express courier. Under this system, low-value parcels generally those worth less than €27 to €150 depending on the category and period could move through a simplified customs declaration process. Duties were reduced or absent, and the administrative requirements were far lighter than standard customs procedures.

For Australian businesses shipping small volumes or testing the Turkish market with modest-sized orders, this system was genuinely useful. It kept the cost and friction of small shipments manageable.

What Has Changed?

Presidential Decree No. 10813, published on 7 January 2026 and effective from 6 February 2026, abolished this simplified regime entirely. There is no new threshold. There is no scaled-back version. Every import -including a package worth $1, now requires:

• A formal customs declaration lodged with Turkish customs authorities

• Assessment and payment of all applicable duties and taxes

• A complete documentation set: commercial invoice, bill of lading or airway bill, packing list, and certificate of origin

• Additional permits and control certificates for regulated product categories

• An Importer of Record (IOR) - a Turkish entity legally responsible for the import

The only remaining exception is a narrow carve-out for certain non-commercial medicines and food supplements up to €1,500 in value, imported under prescription at a fixed duty rate. Beyond that, the old pathway no longer exists.

There is no revised threshold and no planned reinstatement. This is a permanent structural change, not a temporary policy measure.

Why Did Türkiye Do This?

Understanding the government's reasoning matters, because it tells you this direction is durable and unlikely to be reversed.

Turkish manufacturers - particularly in textiles, footwear, toys, and electronics had been facing intense price pressure from overseas e-commerce platforms shipping directly to Turkish consumers. The simplified customs regime effectively made it cheaper and easier to import foreign goods than to buy locally made equivalents. The Turkish government viewed this as an unfair subsidy to overseas competitors.

At the same time, the volume of small parcel imports was contributing to Türkiye's current account deficit. By formalising and taxing these imports, the government is directly targeting that imbalance.

The policy is also about regulatory parity. Turkish businesses pay full VAT, duties, and compliance costs. Foreign sellers accessing Turkish consumers through e-commerce platforms did not face equivalent obligations under the old system. That asymmetry has now been closed.

What Does This Mean for Your Business?

If You Ship Small or Low-Value Orders

This change hits hardest for businesses selling directly to Turkish consumers or sending small B2C consignments. The cost per shipment increases significantly both in duties and in the administrative handling fees associated with full customs declarations. If your Turkish market strategy relied on the economics of the old simplified regime, it needs to be revisited.

If You Ship Larger Commercial Consignments

B2B and larger commercial shipments were already subject to standard customs procedures. Your day-to-day operations are less dramatically affected, but documentation requirements have tightened and customs monitoring has increased. Now is a good time to audit your paperwork processes and make sure everything is accurate and complete.

If You Use a Freight Forwarder

Turkish customs brokers and freight forwarders are dealing with a substantially increased volume of full declarations for goods that previously moved through simplified channels. Build extra clearance time into your logistics planning - particularly in the near term as the system adjusts.

Three Things to Do Right Now

• Review your landed cost model: Full duties and customs fees now apply to every shipment, regardless of value. Recalculate your margins for the Turkish market with this factored in

• Confirm your Importer of Record arrangements: If you don't have a Turkish entity or a trusted IOR partner already in place, this is now urgent not optional

• Audit your documentation: Commercial invoices, certificates of origin, and packing lists all need to be accurate and complete. Errors that were low-risk under the simplified regime now carry greater consequences

Need help navigating the Australia–Türkiye trade corridor?

Arda works exclusively with Australian businesses to navigate the complexity of exporting to Türkiye - from customs and compliance to finding the right in-market partners. If you'd like to understand how these changes affect your specific products or business, we'd love to talk.

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