Gold Allowance for Travellers to and from Turkey (2026)

Bringing gold into Turkey

Under Article 7 of Decision No. 32 on protecting the value of the Turkish lira (as rewritten in February 2023), a traveller may bring in, and take out, their own jewellery made of precious metals or precious stones, with no declaration, if it is not for commercial purposes and is worth up to USD 15,000 in total. Precious metals are defined as gold, silver, platinum and palladium. If your jewellery is worth more, declare it in the red channel on arrival, especially if you plan to take it out again.

Passengers have no allowance for gold bars, gram gold, loose coins or scrap: only the Central Bank and licensed precious-metal intermediaries may import unprocessed precious metal. A 5 kg yearly allowance for foreign passengers applied only from March 2020 to February 2021. New goods, including jewellery bought abroad as a gift, are exempt up to EUR 430 per passenger (EUR 150 under 15), limits the Ministry of Trade confirmed in June 2026 have not changed since 2009. Above that, non-commercial goods worth up to EUR 1,500 pay a flat-rate tax of 30% if they come directly from the EU and 60% from other countries; goods worth more pay normal duties, and gold jewellery from countries outside the EU and Turkey's free trade agreements carries an extra 20% customs duty.

Taking gold out of Turkey

Your own jewellery worth up to USD 15,000 in total leaves freely. Above that, it may leave only if it was declared on arrival or you can prove it was bought in Turkey, so keep the jeweller's invoice. Gold bars and coins can be taken out if you declare them at the customs office before passport control; keep the invoices. Antique coins and jewellery that count as cultural property cannot be exported.

Since July 2025, taking precious metals out without authorisation, where it is not smuggling, is fined half to twice their market value (Law No. 1567 as amended by Law No. 7555), halved if it is found at customs. Commercial quantities can be prosecuted as smuggling.

Cash is declared separately

There is no limit on the cash you can bring into Turkey, but customs may ask any traveller how much cash they carry, and you must answer fully and truthfully. When leaving, you must declare more than EUR 10,000 in foreign currency or more than 185,000 lira (raised from 25,000 lira in March 2025) on the cash declaration form at the customs office; some airport pages still show the old figure. The cash rules do not cover gold, silver or jewellery, which follow the rules above. Not disclosing cash when asked, or giving false information, brings a fine of 10% of the amount, and the cash is held.

VAT and the tourist refund

Gold and silver bullion are exempt from VAT in Turkey. On jewellery, the 20% VAT is charged only on the price minus the value of the metal, mainly the workmanship and any stones. Non-residents can reclaim VAT under the tax-free scheme if the goods leave within three months and customs stamps the invoice or tax-free form at departure; because the gold content is already VAT-free, the refund covers only the VAT on workmanship and stones.

Turkey to India, Pakistan and the Gulf

Leaving Turkey, keep your jeweller's invoice: it proves the jewellery was bought in Turkey and helps your destination value it. India gives eligible passengers a jewellery allowance by weight and value and charges duty on more, and on bars and coins. Pakistan and Bangladesh limit duty-free jewellery. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar ask travellers to declare gold above set values. Travellers to the EU and the UK pay VAT on jewellery above their allowances.