Menu
Expat.com

Sending and receiving packages in Turkey

Post new topic

Priscilla

Hello,

As an expat, there are inevitably certain items you might want or need from back home, and around the holiday period, many people like to send gift packages.

How easy is it to send and receive packages in Turkey?

Is the public postal system efficient?

Do people tend to prefer using private shipping services? Which ones?

How do the costs of the private shipping services compare?

How long does it take generally to receive packages from abroad in Turkey?

Do you have to pay taxes on items received by mail from abroad?

Are packages delivered right to your doorstep, or do you usually have to go collect them somewhere?

Thank you for sharing your experience,

Priscilla

ruhaya

Hi Priscilla

Infact Ive just make an order from Germany to Turkey and with tracking no its easy to track your package/ Usually they deliver to your door if youre not in you have to pick up from PTT distribution centre. NoI dont have to pay for anything for receiving my package.

Depends on which courier company your shipper is using. Hope that helps.

GuestPoster7410

I have ordered some craft things from china, and the package arrived within 2 days with UPS to Istanbul, UPS has asked me to fill a customs form which I did and sent, but now 5 days later the package is still in the warehouse (I assume) and UPS is giving me the run around, And no one is answering me. So I guess my Money has gone down the drain yet again!

Be aware!

Jihad makki

Hi Priscilla


Actually one month ago I made an order from USA to Turkey
It was a little bit hard to receive my order that's out of the tax which I had to pay
My order was delivered by FedEx to the house door
All along with the an expensive shipping costs and delay in receiving order
I think it a little bit hard to receive an order from abroad Turkey
I hope that was helpful
Many thanks

GuestPoster7410

Hi jihad makki,

I'm in the same situation here, my package is stuck and no one is telling what is going on, UPS is not responding to neither my emails or calls, they keep haging up on me when I call them!

How did you manage to contact whom 3ver was holding your package?

Thanks.

Behnamk

Hello Priscilla,

There are both private and state post service. Obviously private ones are more expensive but a little bit faster however I usually use the state one (named PTT). The sender pays all the fees and receiver does not to pay anything extra and they receive the package on the doorstep. tax also included in the price.
In contrast to others I found turkish postal system quite efficient.  Just one time they hold our package because it contained some medicine for my wife. So we went there personally and we showed them the prescription for my wife so they gave us the package right away.

GuestPoster7410

Just got note from UPS after I have sent the form that they required but deny they received over 20 times, they decided to reply and tell me that I need to hire a customs broker to clear my package from customs.

even though my package is under the threshold it's under $64 US, and less that 2.5KG, and it's the first time I have ever ordered anything from abroad or domestic.

QUOTE:

"Customs threshold (from which tariffs are required)EUR 75 or 30 kg. For imports which value is less than EUR 75 or weighing less than 30 kg but sent to a person more than five times per year, a formal clearance is required."


this is a customs link if anyone needs it in the future:

https://en.portal.santandertrade.com/in … procedures

Feriba McG

Hi there

I live in Istanbul (an expat migrated to Istanbul with two kids).

My sister is in New Zealand and looking to send us some winter gears and presents for the kids for Christmas.

Their national courier works directly with Turkey post service; PTT.

My question is that PTT or Custom charge would be applicable in this case? If so, any direction on how much that could be?

I do appreciate your help.

Thanks ,

Feriba

conniewhelan

I believe it would because my mother sent me a birthday present and I had to pay customs. I'm not sure how much they will charge. You should ask Ptt. Also, they only accept cash, at least that was the case last time I had to pay.


Connie

Feriba McG

Thanks for your response @conniewhelan .

I hope someone here can help with more insights to the % that PTT may apply.

I am not fluent in Turkish language and couldn’t get a good response from PTT office.

Fedy23

Hello,

my experience is really bad when it comes to ordering things from the UK. We have made few orders and we haven't received any of the items. They disappeared in thin air.

Fortunately, we received the refund and were told the items 'got lost' at the Turkish borders... 🙄

Needless to say we have never made another order. It's really sad because here in Turkiye prices are crazy high for very cheap quality things. I could get much better in the UK with much better prices...

cdw057

I tried to order some items (Blair Sauce) through Amazon Germany ( i have active account) but no success (Blairs Sauce not available through Amazon Turkey btw)

Rules change rapidly (I do not care too much on additional taxes, it is more availability)

conniewhelan

@Fedy23

A colleague of mine moved back to the UK and subsequently passed away. His mother sent me a gift of some of his belongings, but they never reached me. I don't know if PTT staff are stealing things or if they are just incompeten! Either way, his belongs did not reach me, nor did they make their way back to his mother. I  don't trust PTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fedy23

@conniewhelan

I am not sure about the way they operate. The main issue in Turkiye, I feel, it is the lack of quality assurance. There isn't any! No checks at all. Everything it is done ' just because'.....I don't know if you understand what I mean.

For example, on our roads we have many holes. The council sent out workers who used rudimental equipment to repair those holes. When I say 'rudimental' I mean it. We saw one worker using a stone to flatten up the pebbles he threw into the hole to close it! A stone...pebbles....not concrete or tar!

We experience this every day: from restaurant service to grocery shopping to the immigration office...everything is a bit strange. Not sure how to describe it all. It's a shock to my system that's for sure!

cdw057

Sorry Fedy, I have to strongly disagree, service can be good (by the way I have no car (we take bus or taxi)).

Service in restaurants and shops are in my view excellent (and prices reasonable), a few times per day the city takes the garbage.

Internet is fine, billing is fine (water/electricty automatic)

Bottom line, pay service provider and you will get service (this includes Ikamet. local taxes, ..)

lisaturnerie

@Priscilla

Been living in Fethiye for a few months, here's my experience: I use UPS for important stuff - it's pricier but reliable and delivers to your door. Takes about 7-10 days from Ireland. PTT (Turkish post) is cheaper but can be hit or miss, and you sometimes need to collect from the local office.

For taxes, anything valued over €150 usually gets charged. My last package had about 20% in import fees. Always worth checking the current limits before shipping.

Quick tip: have your Turkish phone number clearly written on packages - makes delivery much smoother!

Fedy23

@cdw057

That's your personal experience. Where I live the internet is extremely slow, the services are almost non existent, the place is extremely dirty and Antalya is very expensive. We purchase 3 kitchen blender since we arrived because the quality is so low. The common brands we have in Europe like Philips, Bosch, Samsung, Microsoft, Apple, LG....are extremely expensive sometimes triple the price! I have had to purchase my running shoes from the UK and have a friend bring them over as they were too expensive here in Antalya.

Maybe the area you live is nice. But where we are isn't. We have been here over one year and we are still not registered with a doctor because there aren't any where we live or nearby. We have to travel 45 minutes to see a doctor.

Unfortunately it has not been a nice experience for us.

Articles to help you in your expat project in Türkiye

  • Phones and Internet in Türkiye
    Phones and Internet in Türkiye

    When you move to Türkiye, setting up your own phone and internet is a smart move to make right off the bat. ...

  • Retire in Türkiye
    Retire in Türkiye

    Türkiye, a perfect blend of history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes, is viewed by many as an ideal ...

  • Marriage in Türkiye
    Marriage in Türkiye

    Türkiye, with its stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, has become a sought-after wedding ...

  • Childcare in Türkiye
    Childcare in Türkiye

    Türkiye is a great place for kids, thanks to its incredibly child-friendly culture. Everywhere you turn, ...

  • Moving with your pet to Türkiye
    Moving with your pet to Türkiye

    Pets, and cats in particular, are fondly loved by most Turkish people, who prove incredibly caring to street ...

  • Accommodation in Istanbul
    Accommodation in Istanbul

    The largest city in Türkiye, Istanbul is one of the most popular travel destinations for foreigners. There is ...

  • Having a baby in Türkiye
    Having a baby in Türkiye

    The journey of parenthood is an exhilarating adventure filled with joy, anticipation, and a fair share of ...

  • Dating in Türkiye
    Dating in Türkiye

    Dating in Türkiye is an interesting mix of traditional customs and contemporary trends, reflecting the ...

All of Türkiye's guide articles