Legal Changes in Bringing Gold and Precious Metals to Türkiye: What Passengers Must Know

In recent years, Türkiye has introduced several significant legal reforms concerning the import of unprocessed gold and other precious metals, particularly for passengers arriving in the country.

These changes have a direct impact on foreign investors, jewelry professionals, and travelers carrying valuable goods across borders.

This blog explains the current legal landscape, detailing what is allowed, what is restricted, and what procedures must be followed when bringing gold or precious metals into Türkiye.

Legal Background: Turkish Currency Protection Framework

The import and export of foreign currency, precious metals, and valuable stones in Türkiye are regulated under:

• The Law on the Protection of the Value of Turkish Currency (Law No. 1567, dated 1930)

• Presidential Decrees and Treasury regulations issued under Decision No. 32

• Communiqués issued by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance

These legal tools collectively define how unprocessed gold and other precious metals may be imported or declared when entering Türkiye—either commercially or personally.

Major Legal Shift: Removal of Passenger Privilege to Carry Gold

One of the most important recent changes concerns the revocation of the right for foreign passengers to bring in up to 5 kilograms of unprocessed standard gold per year.

Previously, non-Turkish citizens aged over 18 were allowed to bring up to 5 kg of standard gold into the country for personal use. This provision has now been completely removed from the regulations.

Instead, the Ministry of Treasury and Finance now holds the authority to grant or deny any permission regarding the import of such gold by passengers, based on specific economic needs.

What Type of Precious Metals Are Regulated?

Under current legislation, the following categories are defined:

• Standard Unprocessed Gold: Gold with a purity of at least 995/1000, in bar or ingot form

• Non-Standard Unprocessed Gold: Gold with a purity below 995/1000, including dore bars, granules, powder, or scrap

• Precious Stones and Other Metals: Platinum, palladium, and similar high-value materials

The law separates commercial imports from personal belongings, particularly for travelers. Only items under certain thresholds and declared as non-commercial are eligible for simplified processing at customs.

Key Updates on Import Procedures

1. Commercial Gold Imports

   • Must be conducted by licensed intermediary institutions that are members of Borsa İstanbul Precious Metals Exchange.

   • All imported gold must be delivered to Borsa İstanbul within three business days.

   • Customs declarations are mandatory, but most import procedures bypass regular import/export regimes.

   • Only payments made via prepayment, cash against goods, or free of charge are accepted.

   • Imports over 20 kg by individuals require special approvals and declarations.

2. Passenger-Carried Gold

   • Passengers can bring jewelry made from precious metals or stones worth up to USD 15,000, provided it is for personal, non-commercial use.

   • No longer permitted: bringing in 5 kg of unprocessed gold.

   • Exceeding the limit requires evidence that the item was either declared upon entry or purchased in Türkiye.

3. Special Regulations

   • Public institutions and companies tied to the Turkish Armed Forces may import non-standard gold.

   • Any unprocessed gold must be assayed (analyzed and certified) by Türkiye’s official Mint or approved assay offices.

Customs Procedure for Precious Metals

• Gold and other precious metals must be declared to customs authorities at the point of entry, either:

  • Orally,

  • In writing, or

  • Through electronic declaration systems.

• If undeclared, the items are treated as commercial goods, potentially triggering seizures, fines, or legal action.

• Regulations also allow simplified entry procedures for gold processed under the Inward Processing Regime, where the gold is imported for manufacturing and export purposes.

Strategic Purpose of the Legal Change

Why did Türkiye revoke the 5 kg passenger import privilege?

Authorities feared abuse of the personal-use allowance for commercial smuggling or laundering via transit trading. By centralizing gold imports through licensed institutions and restricting entry by individuals, the government aims to:

• Boost transparency in gold markets

• Protect national revenue

• Ensure compliance with international financial obligations

Also Read; What happens if you’re caught exceeding the gold limit at turkish customs

Conclusion

If you're a foreign national intending to carry gold or precious metals into Türkiye, understanding the new regulatory landscape is crucial. Whether you're a jeweler, investor, or simply traveling with high-value goods, compliance with customs and monetary protection laws is essential to avoid legal complications.

Our law firm, Bayraktar Attorneys, can assist with:

• Legal review of your goods

• Preparing declarations and documentation

• Liaising with customs or Borsa İstanbul on your behalf

• Navigating the Inward Processing Regime for commercial imports