How to enter Türkiye with a foreign-registered campervan
When you enter Türkiye in a foreign-registered campervan, customs registers the vehicle temporarily. Who can bring one, how the length of stay is calculated, which documents are checked at the border and how to get insurance.
Teknovan Editorial Team ·
You can enter Türkiye as a tourist in a foreign-registered campervan. At the border, customs registers your vehicle temporarily in your name, and the time the vehicle may stay in Türkiye is tied to your own right to stay. For this you need to be resident abroad and have the vehicle registration document, your driving licence, your passport and motor insurance valid in Türkiye.
The information below is based, as of writing (November 2026), on the "Passenger Guide for Foreign-Registered Land Vehicles" of the Ministry of Trade's General Directorate of Customs and the ministry's FAQ page. The rules can change and may be applied differently depending on nationality. Read the current version of the guide before you set off.
Who can come in a foreign-registered vehicle?
Customs legislation allows people resident outside Türkiye to bring a vehicle in temporarily. According to the guide:
- The vehicle must be registered in your name in the country where you live.
- You must have actually been abroad for at least 185 days in the last year. This is checked at every entry.
- People resident in Türkiye may not drive a foreign-registered vehicle. Who may drive the vehicle is limited; for family members resident abroad, such as your spouse and children, see the conditions in the guide.
- If the vehicle isn't yours (for example a friend's or a company's), you can bring it with a power of attorney or rental contract. In that case there are extra conditions, such as both the owner and the person bringing the vehicle being resident abroad.
If you're coming from Europe in a hired campervan, make sure the rental company has given written permission to enter Türkiye. Carry the rental contract with you.
How long can the vehicle stay in Türkiye?
The period is set by the person, not the vehicle. As of writing, the basic rules in the guide are:
| Your situation | Period granted to the vehicle |
|---|---|
| Foreign national without a residence permit in Türkiye | Up to 90 days in total within 180 days |
| Foreign national with a residence permit in Türkiye | As long as the residence permit, up to 730 days |
| Turkish citizen resident abroad | Up to 730 days |
In practice, watch out for two things:
- Previous entries are deducted. Days spent in Türkiye with your vehicle in the last 180 days are deducted from your remaining time.
- The vehicle's period can't be longer than your own stay. Whatever your visa or visa-free stay allows, that's the maximum for your vehicle too.
You can see when your vehicle's period ends in the Ministry of Trade's Foreign-Registered Vehicle Procedures system (ypti.ticaret.gov.tr). Overstaying can lead to a fine and problems when the vehicle leaves Türkiye. For the fine and how it's applied see the guide; we don't give figures here.
If you have to leave the country without the vehicle (for example an emergency trip home), don't decide this on your own. Consult a customs office first; leaving without the vehicle being placed under customs control can cause problems.
Which documents are checked at the border?
As of writing, have these ready at the border:
- Passport and a visa if required. For visa rules see the official e-Visa site (evisa.gov.tr).
- Vehicle registration certificate, the original. It shows the vehicle is registered in your name in your country of residence.
- Driving licence. If it isn't in the Latin alphabet, carry an International Driving Permit.
- Motor insurance. There are two ways: a valid Green Card covering Türkiye, or Turkish compulsory motor insurance bought at the border crossing. On the Green Card the Türkiye box (TR) must not be crossed out and the card must not have expired. Entry isn't allowed with an expired card or one that doesn't cover Türkiye.
- Power of attorney or rental contract, if the vehicle isn't yours.
- Residence permit or a document showing residence abroad, if asked.
The Green Card only covers damage you cause to third parties, not damage to your own vehicle. Ask your insurer whether your comprehensive policy covers Türkiye, especially the Asian side.
Belongings, medicines and pets in the campervan
Because a campervan arrives full like a home, customs sometimes looks inside. Be prepared:
- Personal belongings. Camping gear, bikes, personal electronics and food for your own use are normal. Goods in commercial quantities or brought to sell are subject to separate rules. For passenger goods rules see the Ministry of Trade's website.
- Medicines. Carry medicines you take regularly in their original packaging with the prescription.
- Pets. For cats and dogs a microchip, rabies vaccination and health certificate are usually required. Check the current requirements before you travel with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry or Türkiye's mission in your country.
- Drones. Flying a drone in Türkiye requires registration and permission. If you plan to bring one, check the rules of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation in advance.
After entry: on the road and at the campsite
- HGS tag. Motorway and bridge tolls in Türkiye are paid with a tag. Foreign-registered vehicles must also be registered with HGS. Details and vehicle classes in our post on campervanning on Turkish roads.
- Licence period. Driving in Türkiye on a foreign licence is also limited in time. Details in our post on driving on a foreign licence.
- Copies of documents. Keep a copy of your passport, registration, insurance and customs record in a separate place in the campervan. At a gendarmerie or police check they'll ask for the originals.
- Registration at the campsite. Accommodation providers must report foreign guests' identity details. You'll be asked for your passport at check-in. We describe what happens on arrival in our check-in post.
For your first nights after crossing the border, look at campsites along the way. For example, if you're heading down to the Aegean, Ayvalık Çamlık Kamping in Ayvalık or Deniz Çadır Karavan Kamp in Dikili. On Teknokamp you can pick a pitch on the map and book at some campsites. For routes from the border to the coast see our getting there post.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I stay in Türkiye as a tourist with my foreign-registered campervan?
As of writing, foreign nationals without a residence permit get 90 days in total within 180 days. Customs sets your exact period at the border; you can check it at ypti.ticaret.gov.tr.
What if I don't have a Green Card?
You can buy Turkish motor insurance at the border crossing. Make sure the policy covers the whole time you'll be in Türkiye.
Can a friend in Türkiye drive my campervan?
No. People resident in Türkiye are not allowed to drive foreign-registered vehicles.
Can I enter Türkiye in a hired campervan?
Yes, if the rental company allows it and you carry the rental contract. For other conditions see the guide.
Sources
- Passenger Guide for Foreign-Registered Land Vehicles, Ministry of Trade General Directorate of Customs
- Vehicles accompanying passengers, FAQ, Ministry of Trade
- Foreign-Registered Vehicle Procedures (period check), Ministry of Trade
- Matters relating to vehicles, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Türkiye e-Visa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation
- Insurance warning for those arriving in foreign-registered vehicles, DHA
Image credits
Photos illustrate the region; they are not photos of the campsites themselves.
- Ayvacık: Kadı, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
