Bringing Goods into the UK from Turkey
Bringing Goods into the UK from Turkey
Upon your return to the UK from Turkey, customs might randomly stop you to check your luggage for restricted and banned goods. It’s really important for you to know your rights and allowance to avoid buying something you will not be able to bring into the UK. In some cases, you might even get fined.
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As a traveller, it is very tempting to bring specific goods from Turkey into the UK as you cannot get them easily in the UK. Unfortunately, Turkey falls into the list of non-EU countries which makes bringing certain goods into the UK much harder.
You cannot bring the following items into the UK from Turkey:
- Honey
- Meat
- Dairy products such as; cheese, yoghurt, ice cream, cream (kaymak)
- Eggs
Similar animal products can be added to the list as the UK had a foot and mouth disease and bird flu scare in 2001 and 2007 respectively. Some fruits and vegetables are not allowed either as the pests they may carry can infect plants and vegetables in the UK according to the government’s website.
You may be able to bring spices, olive oil and olives if you follow certain packaging rules like using vacuum packing. Also, carrying the goods in your main luggage rather than your hand luggage is safer.
If customs find goods that might be infringing intellectual property rights, they can be taken away and you might risk being prosecuted.
There are also limits on goods you can bring into the UK from Turkey if you don’t want to pay tax (customs charges).
How many cigarettes can you bring into the UK from Turkey
You can bring in only one from this list:
- 200 cigarettes
- 100 cigarillos
- 50 cigars
- 250g tobacco
- 200 sticks of tobacco for electronic heated tobacco devices
But you are allowed to split this allowance and combine two or three options. For example, you could bring in 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars.
How much alcohol are you allowed to bring into the UK from Turkey
To bring alcohol into the UK from Turkey such as wine or beer, or spirits such as rakı, vodka, or gin, you’ll need to check the allowance. With the duty-free allowance, you can bring in alcohol for your personal use without paying tax.
But be aware, you can’t combine allowances with other people in an attempt to bring in more than your individual allowance.
You can bring in:
- 42 litres of beer
- 18 litres of wine
And you can also bring in either:
- 4 litres of spirits and other liquors over 22% alcohol
- 9 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine and alcoholic drinks up to 22% alcohol
Note: The UK government's duty-free allowance changed in 2021. This page has been updated. Please check the UK government's website if you are arriving into Scotland or Northern Ireland.
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Bringing medicine into the UK from Turkey
If you are specifically prescribed medicine in Turkey that you’d like to bring into the UK, you’ll need to have your prescription with you.
Customs might investigate your medicine to see if it contains a ‘controlled drug’. In case your medicine contains one of these drugs, you’ll need to prove it’s been prescribed to you and get a license if you are going to be travelling for at least 3 months.
The doctor that prescribed the medicine to you should need to write and sign a letter containing your name, which countries you’ll be visiting and when, a list of your medicine; its doses and strength.
Other goods you can bring into the UK from Turkey
You can bring special goods such as powdered infant milk, infant food, and herbal foods for medical reasons up to 2kg per person.
However, these products should follow certain rules:
- They should not have to be refrigerated before consuming
- They need to be in branded packages
- The package cannot be open
You can also bring 2kg of pet food made from animal products required for medical reasons but these also need to adhere to the above rules.
Allowance limits when bringing goods into the UK from non-EU countries
For other goods such as luxury items, you can bring in goods worth up to £390. If you are buying a single item that exceeds this amount, you would have to pay any tax on its full value. When you go over the allowance, you need to pay Customs 2.5% for goods worth up to £630.
Declaring goods you bought from Turkey to UK customs
You are not legally required to declare goods to UK customs but you can be fined heavily if you are found to possess:
- More goods than your allowance
- Goods you plan to sell
- More than 10,000 euros in cash
- Banned goods
What are the banned goods that you cannot bring into the UK?
Below is a straightforward list of banned goods you shouldn’t attempt to bring into the UK.
- Drugs (such as heroin, morphine, cocaine)
- Offensive weapons (such as flick knives, daggers, swordsticks, and some martial arts equipment)
- Indecent and obscene material (such as books, magazines, films)
Banned goods that require the relevant license or permit:
- Firearms, explosives and ammunition
- Samurai Swords
- Live animals Endangered animals or plants
- Certain radio transmitters
- Rough diamonds
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