Moving from the UAE to Turkey
In short
Shipping household goods from the UAE to Turkey takes 8–16 days port to port for a full container to Mersin and Istanbul, or 2–5 days by air through Istanbul. Clearance is handled by Turkish Ministry of Trade — Customs under Transfer of residence relief for residence-permit holders. Turkey requires a residence permit for the duty relief on used effects, and a Turkish-language inventory is usually requested.
| Capital | Ankara |
|---|---|
| Arrival port | Mersin, Istanbul |
| Airport | Istanbul |
| Sea — full container | 8–16 days |
| Sea — shared container | 16–26 days |
| Air freight | 2–5 days |
What is different about moving to Turkey?
Turkey requires the inventory in Turkish, and the consignee must hold a residence permit (ikamet) before the goods arrive. Household effects must arrive within a defined window around your own entry to Turkey, which is commonly missed by people who ship early.
Who clears your shipment in Turkey?
Turkish Ministry of Trade — Customs, under Transfer of residence relief for residence-permit holders. Mersin serves the south and central Anatolia; Istanbul serves the northwest. The two are over 900 km apart, so the port choice governs the inland cost.
How long does it take, and by which route?
A full container runs 8–16 days port to port to Mersin and Istanbul; shared container space takes 16–26 days because it must be consolidated before departure and unpacked on arrival. Air freight through Istanbul is 2–5 days. Add roughly two weeks across packing, clearance at both ends and final delivery.
What happens when it arrives?
Istanbul delivery is complicated by narrow streets in the older districts and by buildings without lifts; a shuttle vehicle and stair carry are common and quoted at survey. We survey the destination access before quoting rather than discovering it on the day, because a street a full-size vehicle cannot enter means a shuttle, and an upper floor without a lift means a longer carry. Both are priced at survey.
Documents you need
- Passport copy — Photo page, plus the UAE residence visa and exit stamp.
- Itemised and valued packing list — The document customs actually reads. We produce it as the goods are packed.
- Proof of residence in Turkey — Visa, residence permit or property documents.
- Bill of lading or air waybill — Issued once the shipment is loaded.
- Authorisation for the clearing agent — Lets our destination agent clear on your behalf.
Shipping a vehicle
Vehicles are always declared and cleared separately from household goods, even when they share a container, because they follow a different duty and registration process. The UAE side is the same everywhere: deregistration, surrender of plates and an export certificate, all blocked until any finance is settled and traffic fines are paid. On the Turkey side, confirm the age limit, the drive-side rule and the conformity requirement before you ship, because a non-compliant vehicle can be refused entry.
Taking pets
Cats and dogs travelling to Turkey need a microchip, a current rabies vaccination and an international veterinary health certificate, and most destinations also require an import permit obtained in advance. Where a rabies antibody titre test is required, it carries a fixed waiting period after the sample is taken that cannot be compressed — which is why a pet move is planned around the animal's calendar rather than your flight date.
Restricted and prohibited items
- Meat, dairy and fresh produce
- Plants, seeds and soil
- Counterfeit goods
- Flammable liquids, gas cylinders, aerosols and paint
- Fireworks, ammunition and explosives
- Narcotics and controlled substances
- Endangered species products (CITES)
What affects the price
Volume is the main driver, then whether you take shared container space or a full container — the crossover usually sits around fifteen cubic metres. Destination charges at Mersin and Istanbul are billed separately from the ocean freight and vary more than people expect. Delivery to an address a full-size vehicle cannot reach needs a smaller shuttle, and that is quoted at survey rather than added afterwards.
Questions about Turkey
Do I need a Turkish residence permit before shipping?
Yes. The transfer-of-residence relief is tied to the ikamet, and without it the shipment is assessed as a commercial import at full duty and VAT. Apply for the permit before the container is booked, not while it is at sea.
Which Turkish port should I use?
Istanbul for Istanbul, Bursa and the northwest; Mersin for Antalya, Ankara and the south. The inland leg between them is long enough that shipping to the wrong one can cost more than the entire ocean freight.
Can you deliver to my address in Ankara?
Istanbul delivery is complicated by narrow streets in the older districts and by buildings without lifts; a shuttle vehicle and stair carry are common and quoted at survey. We check this at survey, because a street a full-size vehicle cannot enter means a shuttle and an upper floor without a lift means a longer carry — both of which belong in the quote rather than in a conversation on the day.
How long does a container take to reach Mersin and Istanbul?
8–16 days for a full container and 16–26 days for shared space, which is slower because the container is consolidated before departure and unpacked on arrival. Packing, clearance at both ends and delivery add roughly two more weeks.
Is air freight to Istanbul worth the extra cost?
For small, urgent or high-value loads, often yes — 2–5 days against 16–26 days by shared container. Below about two cubic metres the fixed port and handling charges on a sea shipment narrow the gap considerably. A common split is to air-freight a fortnight of essentials and send the rest by sea.
Customs, vehicle and pet import rules change, and transit bands are corridor averages rather than promises. We confirm what applies to your shipment in writing before booking.
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