Temporary Storage at Turkish Customs: Time Limits and Risks
What temporary storage at customs means in Turkey, the time limits for sea and other shipments, what happens if they are exceeded and why preparing documents early matters.
When a shipment from abroad arrives in Turkey, the goods are not handed over to the buyer straight away. Until customs formalities are completed, they wait in an approved area under customs supervision. This is called temporary storage. Knowing its rules is the most effective way to avoid unexpected costs and serious losses.
What Is Temporary Storage?
Goods presented to customs have the status of "goods in temporary storage" until they are assigned a customs-approved treatment or use, such as release for free circulation. During this period they are kept in temporary storage facilities authorised by the customs administration. These are usually areas under customs supervision at ports, airports or near land border crossings, and are mostly run by private operators.
The temporary storage operator keeps a record of the goods and has certain responsibilities towards the customs administration. During this time the goods are not freely available to their owner.
Time Limits
Turkish Customs Law No. 4458 sets time limits for goods in temporary storage. In general practice:
- Goods arriving by sea: 45 days
- Goods arriving by other means (road, air, rail): 20 days
Within these periods the goods must be placed under a customs procedure, meaning a declaration must be lodged and formalities started. As legislation can change from time to time, we recommend checking the current rules or getting expert support when planning your shipment.
What Happens If the Period Is Exceeded?
If customs formalities are not started within the set period, the goods may become subject to liquidation. Liquidation means the customs administration disposes of the goods by sale, transfer to another institution or destruction. In that case the importer may lose the goods partly or entirely and may also face additional costs.
Storage Costs Accumulate
Even if the time limit is not reached, every day of waiting creates cost:
- Temporary storage operators usually charge storage fees per day, and rates may increase in steps after the first days.
- For containerised cargo, the carrier may charge extra fees (demurrage and detention) when the container stays at the port or with the customer beyond the free time.
- Long waits also delay your sales schedule; for seasonal goods this can be as costly as the fees themselves.
Why Preparing Documents Early Matters
The most common reason for long waits in temporary storage is missing or incorrect documents. Clarifying the following before the goods are shipped speeds up the process considerably:
- An accurate and consistent commercial invoice and packing list
- Bill of lading or transport document details that match the invoice
- Correct customs tariff classification (HS code) of the product
- Where required, certificate of origin, conformity documents and paperwork for product safety inspections
- Calculating the duties and taxes in advance and planning payment
With this preparation the goods can be declared shortly after arrival, keeping time in temporary storage to a minimum.
Conclusion
Temporary storage is an unavoidable stage of importing; what matters is keeping it short and predictable. At TurnOn Global we prepare and check documents before shipment and run the customs process in a planned way. For questions about your import process, feel free to write to us via WhatsApp or the contact form.
