Your return, fully organised
Moving back to Turkey for good is a big step. Between paperwork, cancelling contracts and organising transport, there is a lot to coordinate. FlexiLog handles your move from the UK, the Netherlands, Germany and all of Europe to Turkey.
Documents usually required
- Passport with entry and exit stamps
- Proof that your residence abroad has ended (deregistration certificate or equivalent)
- Proof of the length of your residence abroad
- Detailed, numbered inventory
Duty-free import
Turkish citizens returning permanently who meet certain conditions can usually import used household goods duty-free. Our customs team reviews your case. More in our guide to moving back to Turkey.
Who can import household goods into Turkey duty-free?
Turkish customs regulations allow citizens who are permanently moving their residence back to Turkey to import used household goods without customs duties. The key factors are the length of residence abroad, proof of permanent return and the fact that the items are used, personal belongings. Holders of the Blue Card (Mavi Kart) may also benefit from relief in certain circumstances.
Because deadlines and detailed rules can change and every family’s situation is different, we do not rely on general statements. Our customs team checks your case against the regulations in force before loading and tells you which documents are missing.
Documents usually required
- Passport or Turkish ID card (or the Blue Card for Mavi Kart holders).
- Deregistration certificate from your local authority in Germany, or equivalent proof from your country of residence.
- Consulate certificate confirming your permanent return, where required.
- Detailed inventory list with numbered boxes, contents and number of appliances.
- Proof of residence abroad, such as residence permits, employment or pension statements.
- Power of attorney for our customs team so we can carry out clearance on your behalf.
After the survey we send you a personal list, so you only gather the documents that are really needed in your case.
What can you bring – and what not?
Household goods include furniture, kitchen equipment, clothing, books, bed linen, decorations and used household appliances. For electrical appliances such as televisions, washing machines or fridges, quantity limits per household usually apply; several identical appliances may be treated as commercial goods. New goods in original packaging, commercial quantities, weapons, drugs and certain foods are excluded. Separate rules apply to vehicles, which are assessed independently of household goods.
Our advice: sell or give away in Europe anything you will not need in Turkey. Every cubic metre less reduces the cost, and older large appliances are often not worth transporting.
How your return works with FlexiLog
- Initial conversation: you tell us about your situation – date, destination in Turkey and size of household.
- Free survey: our branch in Germany measures the net volume on site or by video.
- Customs check: our customs team clarifies whether, and to what extent, relief is possible.
- Quote and date: you receive a written quote with loading day and delivery window.
- Packing and loading: furniture is dismantled and everything packed, numbered and recorded in the inventory list.
- Customs clearance in Turkey: we submit the documents and attend any inspection.
- Delivery: to your new address in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya, on the Black Sea coast or in any other city, including assembly.
Interim storage if your house is not ready
Many returnees move into a house that is still being built or renovated. In that case we store your belongings after customs clearance, packed and numbered, with our sister brand FlexiDepo in Istanbul. The storage rooms are dry, monitored by video and accessible only to authorised persons. As soon as your home is ready we deliver – including to another city through our domestic moving team.
Common mistakes when moving back – and how to avoid them
- Planning too late: documents such as the consulate certificate take time. Start two to three months before your preferred date.
- Vague inventory list: entries such as “miscellaneous” delay inspections. Describe the contents of each box briefly and clearly.
- New goods in the shipment: appliances in original packaging may be classed as commercial goods. Unpack new items and use them before the move.
- Deregistering too early: deregistering too soon can cause problems with contracts or bank accounts on loading day. Agree the timing with us.
- Valuables in the truck: carry jewellery, cash and original documents yourself.
Use our duty-free check to see whether you broadly meet the conditions, the m³ calculator to estimate your volume and the moving planner for your schedule.
Returning from other European countries
We collect household goods not only from Germany but also from the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. The process is similar, but deregistration and export steps differ from country to country. Your contact person will explain the specifics of your country of residence.
Returning in retirement
Many of our customers are retirees moving back to their home town or to the coast after a long working life in Europe. Besides the move itself, a few points should be clarified early: How will your pension be paid in future? Which health insurance applies in Turkey? Does the tax office need to be informed? Pension funds, health insurers and tax advisers can answer these questions, so book appointments with them a few months before the move. For the move itself, we take the physical work off your hands completely – packing, dismantling and reassembly in Turkey – and many older customers appreciate being able to speak Turkish with the same contact person throughout.
How much volume does a typical returning household have?
The range is wide. A couple clearing a two-room flat and taking only selected furniture often needs 10–20 m³. A three- to four-room family flat is often 30–45 m³, and a house with basement and garage can be considerably more. Decluttering is the biggest lever: old wall units, large sofa sets and older appliances take up a lot of space but are often cheap to buy new in Turkey. With the m³ calculator you can compare variants such as “take everything” and “only the essentials” and see straight away how the volume changes.
Moving family memories safely
After decades in Europe, many families have things that cannot be replaced: photo albums, letters, handmade blankets, heirlooms, certificates. We recommend packing particularly valuable memories in separate, clearly marked boxes and describing them precisely in the inventory list. Original documents such as birth and marriage certificates, diplomas and pension notices belong in your hand luggage. For paintings, mirrors and display cabinets we build made-to-measure wooden crates where needed.
Arriving in Turkey: the first weeks
Plan delivery so that electricity, water and gas are already connected at your new home. A Turkish tax number is often needed to register utilities and sign a tenancy; you can obtain it from the tax office or online. If you are moving into a residential complex, tell the management about the delivery day so the lift and a parking space for the truck are available. Our team can coordinate directly with the management on request.
Moving back with a car
Many returnees also want to bring their car. Vehicles are subject to their own import rules in Turkey, assessed separately from the household goods relief. Whether a duty-free import is possible and which taxes may apply depends on factors such as your status and the age and engine size of the vehicle. As these rules change frequently, find out in detail before buying or selling a car. Furniture, boxes or appliances must not be carried in your own car as household goods unless properly declared – so keep your belongings together in one shipment with an inventory list.
A relaxed schedule for your return
Three months before: arrange the survey, fix the date and check which documents the consulate or customs require; clarify pension, health insurance and taxes. Two months before: give notice on your tenancy and contracts, decide which furniture is coming and start selling the rest. Four weeks before: receive packing materials, pack books, decorations and seasonal clothes, start the inventory list. One week before: deregister, defrost the fridge, put together hand luggage with documents. Loading day: our team packs the rest, dismantles and loads, and you sign the inventory list. After arrival: customs clearance by our team in Istanbul, delivery and assembly in your new home. The moving planner adapts this sequence to your date automatically.
Why returnees choose FlexiLog
We know our customers’ situation first-hand: two countries, two languages, many authorities. That is why we combine our own branch in Germany with our own customs team in Istanbul and a dedicated, bilingual contact person. You receive a quote based on net m³ measurement, insured packing with special materials and a delivery date confirmed in writing. And if your new home is not ready yet, your belongings wait safely at FlexiDepo until you can move in. Questions along the way? Your contact person is available by phone or WhatsApp in Turkish, German or English.
New home not ready?
Our sister brand FlexiDepo stores your packed belongings in Istanbul and delivers them anywhere in Turkey once you are ready.
