USE OF PRIVATELY OWNED FOREIGN YACHTS IN TURKISH WATERS.

APPLICABLE TO THE YACHT

ENTRY AND DEPARTURE
Yachts entering or leaving Turkey must make their entry or departure only at designated Customs entry and exit points. Governing Law No. 2634 (Official Gazette 17635) Article 28 (a).
There they must obtain or surrender (as appropriate) a Transit Log, referred to in some official documents as the “Yacht Registration Certificate” valid for 1 year.
Ports of entry around the coast are Hopa, Rize, Trabzon, Giresun, Ordu, Samsun, Inebolu, Sinop, Bartin, Zonguldak, Eregli, Istanbul, Tekirdag, Derince, Gemlik, Mudanya, Bandirma, Çanakkale, Akçay, Ayvalik, Dikili, Izmir, Kusadasi, Didim, Bodrum, Datca, Güllük, Marmaris, Fethiye, Kas, Finike, Kemer, Antalya, Anamur, Alanya, Bozyazi, Tasucu, Mersin, Botas and Iskenderun.

CRUISING IN TURKISH WATERS
The Transit Log is a permit to sail in Turkish Territorial Waters and to enter Turkish ports. On entry, formalities are completed with Health, Passport Police, Harbourmaster and Customs Patrol Authorities in this order. Marinas often assist with this procedure, usually at additional cost. Duration of the Transit Log is 365 Days with a cost of 30 US$.
Note that the yacht must not remain beyond the period of validity of the Transit Log, which can be renewed for further periods of 365 days. Intended ports of the cruise must be entered in the   Transit Log.
Foreign flag yachts may cruise on the routes shown in their cruise documents and call and anchor at harbours along the route where there is no customs office, for sight-seeing purposes, on condition that there are no other restrictions. This data is translated from Governing Law 2634, Article 28 (d) (i) and (ii), and Gazette No. 18125 Article 44 (2).
Change in yacht crew has to be entered in the appropriate section (Crew Change page) of the Transit Log and authorised by the Harbourmaster at the port where the change takes place. 
If a yacht is leaving Turkish waters even for a brief period of time and planning to return within the validity time of the Transit Log it must be surrendered on departure and a new one obtained on re-entry.
When departing for foreign ports yachts are required to complete full clearance procedures and surrender of the Transit Log with, Passport Police, Harbourmaster and Customs Patrol Authorities, in that order.
In general, Visas are also valid for a period of 90 days (see later). There is an important difference in that Visas are multiple entry, the Transit Log is not.

USE OF FOREIGN YACHTS IN TURKISH WATERS
A private foreign-flag yacht of any type that spends the winter in Turkey or enters Turkey from a foreign port may be allowed to be operated within the port or between Turkish ports only if the owner is on board. One exception is if the owner is not able to join the trip, he can send a fax authorising his / her captain to deliver or to take delivery of the owner or the relatives of the owner to or from the next port (according to new regulations 6th November 2001.)
Foreign-flag yachts owned by several persons and yachts owned by foreign clubs, associations and unions may be operated by up to four of their owners in one year.
It shall be permissible to take Turkish or foreign guests other than the families of their owners on board such yachts for excursion, sports or entertainment purposes on the condition that no money is charged for this. Governing Law 2634, Gazette No. 18125 Article No.47 amended by Gazette 20914.

LEAVING YACHTS IN TURKISH MARINAS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS
Foreigners who enter Turkey on board their yachts, pursuant to Article 29 of the Law, may leave their yachts in a marina or yacht slipway certified by the Ministry of Tourism for the winter or for a period of up to two years for maintenance and repair purposes and leave Turkey by another means of transport.
A yacht that spends the winter in a marina or yacht slipway in this manner and that is used by its owner at least once every two years may stay in Turkey for up to five years without need to obtain further permission. The Tourism Ministry is authorised to extend this five-year period at its expiry.
Governing Law 2634, Article 29, Gazette No.18 125 Article 46, amended by Gazette No. 19252.
RELEVANCE
The above notes are relevant only to private yachts used solely in a non-commercial manner. Other Rules apply to yachts engaged in charter.

GOVERNING REGULATIONS
In the references above:
Law No.2634 approved date 12th March 1982 “Law for the Encouragement of Tourism”
Official Gazette No. 17635 dated 16th March 1982
Official Gazette No. 18125 dated 4th August 1983 titled “The Regulations on Yacht Tourism”
Official Gazette No. 19252 dated 15th October 1986
Official Gazette No. 20914 dated 29th June 1991.
Official Gazette No. 24575 dated 6th November 2001 titled “Customs General Bulletin

TOURIST VISAS AND RESIDENCE PERMITS
ARRIVAL IN TURKEY FROM ABROAD
On arrival a Tourist Visa stamp will be placed in your Passport with the entry date. It shows a validity of 3 months, but note that the period is actually 90 days. This is a multiple entry Visa, allowing you to leave and re-enter Turkey as often as you wish by air, sea or land. You must renew your visa or leave Turkey before the existing visa expires as heavy fines are imposed for overstaying.
Important alternatively, before your arrival at Turkey, it is possible to obtain a Visa from the Turkish Consulate in your Country of Domicile. This takes time, but the issued Visa can be valid for a longer period up to five years maximum.
Citizens of most of the Countries (exceptions are listed below) can obtain Tourist Visas without difficulty on entry to Turkey at Ports of Entry or airports.
The regulation concerning Visas differs for different Countries, principally concerning cost and validity, as shown below.

Citizens of South Africa can obtain visa from Turkish Consulates valid for 16 Euro for 3 Months

EXTENDED STAY - RESIDENCE PERMITS
Residence Permits are in the form of a small book looking like a mini-passport and replace the visas. They are available for periods starting from 30 days up to 5 years. They are also multiple entries; however departure and entry dates continue to be stamped in your passport.
A foreigner who is the owner of a yacht, his wife and children and crew whose names are registered in the Transitlog (Cruising Permit) may obtain longer term Residence Permits on the principal condition that they have a fully paid contract to keep their yacht in a marina licensed by the Turkish Tourism Ministry for at least the length of time the Residence Permits are applied for.
The maximum permitted period on first application is 1 year. Longer periods up to 5 years are possible on subsequent application.
Residence Permits are issued by the local Police Department where the yacht under contract is located.
This Law is covered by Turkish Interior Affairs Ministry in Announcements 00085 and 00113 dated 11 April 2000 and 13 April 2000 respectively.

APPLYING FOR A RESIDENCE PERMIT
You should begin preparing the application not less than one week before your Visa expires. Should your visa expire during one of the major holidays make your Residence Permit application before the start of that holiday. You should seek the assistance of the agency when making your application.
When making the application at the Immigration Office each person applying for a Residence Permit must present themselves at the office.
Required Papers with the application - for EACH PERSON
a. Type-written completed application form for each person. Hand written applications are not acceptable. You must use a manual typewriter.
b. 4 passport size colored photographs against a plain light colored background.
c. Photocopy of appropriate pages of your passport identifying
the passport holder, passport number and expiry date
the issuing country of the passport
the current visa and entry date stamp
d. Your Passport
e. Ships Papers
f. Transit Log
g. A copy of your receipted Contract with the Marina valid for at least the duration of the application for a Residence Permit This may require an accompanying letter from the Marina.
h. Receipts etc. showing that during the validity of your current visa 100 USD per month has been spent. This is most simply achieved with currency exchange dockets, slips from ATM s and slips from payments with credit cards. These will not be returned to you,
 i. Authorities will require to see the card or cards used in an ATM and will check that the number matches the withdraw slips. They may also request a photocopy of the credit card(s) which they will retain. Proof of holding an account with equivalent funds in a Turkish Bank is also acceptable.
j. A pink-colored folder called a DOSYA, available in all stationers.
k. Money, in Turkish Lira; (from 01.01.2006 to 31.12.2006)
Residence Permit Fees and  Exceptions
The Citizens of those countries who currently are not required to pay entry visa are however required to a fee of 152.40 YTL for a residence permit for first time.
There will also be a one-time-fee of 70 YTL required from citizens of all countries for a booklet in which will be entered there personal details an give information regarding the conditions of residency, duration of permit and your possible extensions.

The List of Residence Permits Fees for different periods

Note: Residence Permits may take several days to process. When completing formalities enquire when it will be ready for collection. During this waiting period your passport will have been retained by the Immigration Office, make sure you have prepared a photocopy for yourself in advance.
The sums of money given above are a guide only and the precise sums should be confirmed before making the application.

OTHER INFORMATION  
DUTY FREE FUEL
Duty free fuel is available to visiting foreign yachts and it is required to set an order minimum of 3 tonnes, and filling has to be certified by the presence of a Custom Officer. This minimum quantity has to be ordered for one vessel and it is not permissible for a number of yachts to take the minimum quantity collectively. In practice, it is no longer possible for smaller yachts to obtain duty free fuel.

DUTY FREE SPARES - YACHT IN TRANSIT
Spares or replacements can be brought into Turkey without payment of tax as long as the regulations are followed precisely. The principal requirement is that the consignment is correctly addressed and invoiced, and the accompanying list of contents is clear and unambiguous and relates easily to the items.
It is strongly recommended that you clarify every aspect with your Marina or you select an Agent before any order is placed with suppliers. It is also helpful if your yacht is adjacent to a major airport or seaport, eg. Antalya, Istanbul or Izmir. If a Customs Officer considers the part to be valuable, you will need a customs agent to clear the parcel.
Receiving spares Duty Free does not mean without payment of other costs such as airline freight clearance and Customs clearance and possibly temporary warehousing. If the yacht owner is not in Turkey, there could be additional charges including notary and translators fees. All the formalities can be completed within a half day even for a brand new engine. 
It is always easier to bring spares into Turkey with you.
One difficulty with large spares, such as engines, can be disposal of the redundant pieces. If a new item is received Duty Free the regulations prohibit sale to local market or even disposal of the original. Redundant pieces can only be got rid of by leaving them at the customs areas, or registering them into the transitlog and taken out of Turkey with the yacht.

USE OF VEHICLES BY FOREIGN YACHTSMEN
Foreign yachtsmen are allowed to use a foreign vehicle in Turkey, as long as it is registered in their name, for a period of maximum 180 days (3 + 3 months) in any twelve. Particulars of the vehicle will be entered in the owner’s passport. At the end of the six month (180 days) period the vehicle must be removed from Turkey.
A vehicle can be left in Customs Bond for up to four months, but application may be made for extension by a further two months. The penalties for failure to remove a vehicle from the Country before expiry of the Bond date are stringent.
The car can stay in Turkey for a longer period by obtaining a licence and a special plate from the Turkish Touring Club.

IMPORTANT NOTE
The above information is believed correct at the day of writing. Faruk Günlü accepts no responsibility for any omissions or errors or any subsequent changes made by any Government Authority. 01.01.2007