KÜHEYLAN HUKUK
Law No. 1567 on the Protection of the Value of Turkish Currency Art.3 (variated by Law No. 7555); Decree No. 32 on the Protection of the Value of Turkish Currency Art.3, Art.4; Communiqué on the Decision No. 32 (Communiqué No. 2008-32/34) Art.3, Art.4 The legislation in force as of 2026 was prepared based on Constitutional Court decisions and official sources dated November 2026.
It is free to bring foreign exchange and Turkish money home with the passenger and move abroad, but there are declaration limits at the exit. With Turkish currency exceeding 185,000 TL, foreign exchange exceeding 10,000 euros or equal must be reported to the customs administration via a cash declaration form at the exit. Undeclared or falsely declared values are preserved and the situation is reported to MASAK and the public prosecutor's office. Law No. 1567, amended by Law No. 7555 in July 2025, stipulates an administrative fine of up to half the rail price if the values are unauthorised or inserted. The Constitutional Court, on the other hand, considered disproportionate fines a violation of property rights.
How Much Cash Can Be Extracted Abroad?
4 of Resolution 32. In accordance with the article, it is free to bring foreign currency in the country and to remove foreign currency from the country as a rule. The freedom is limited by the obligation to declare. 4 of Communiqué No. 2008-32/34. According to the second paragraph of the article, the passenger is required to declare to the customs administration on a cash declaration form of the Ministry of Trade when issuing foreign currency exceeding 10,000 euros or equal with it.
The limit for Turkish money was increased from TL 25,000 to TL 185,000, with the amendment of March 28, 2025. 3. of the Communiqué . In accordance with the fifth paragraph of the article, a cash statement form is also filled out at the exit of documents that provide payment with Turkish money exceeding 185,000 TL. The border is applied separately per passenger and for Turkish currency with foreign exchange. There is no obligation to declare the amounts below the limit.
What Happens to Undeclared Money?
Attempting to take foreign currency or Turkish lira exceeding the limit out of the country without declaration, or with a false or misleading declaration, is subject to Article 3, paragraph six, and Article 4, paragraph three, of the Communiqué. Customs takes the assets into safekeeping and reports the suspicious transaction to the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK). The public prosecutor is also notified for action under Article 3 of Law No. 1567.
According to Law No. 1567, the public prosecutor is authorized to issue administrative fines. If there is any doubt that the money has criminal income with its source, the process will also be evaluated in terms of laundering and smuggling legislation. At this stage, the availability of documents such as bank receipts, foreign exchange certificates or sales contracts showing the legal source of the money is decisive in terms of the return of stored values.
How have Penalties Changed with Law No. 7555?
Law No. 1567 3. The first paragraph of the article stipulates an administrative fine between TL 3,000 and TL 25,000 for violation of obligations in the decisions of the President. Law No. 7555, published in the Official Gazette of July 24, 2025, amended the second paragraph. If the verb is deemed to be an unauthorized expulsion or entry of the values from the dormitory and does not constitute a crime or offence under Law 5607, the person shall be fined an administrative fine of up to half of the rail price of the goods and values. In the event of an attempt, the penalty is reduced by half.
The previous arrangement stipulated a penalty as fixed as the rail price. The new regulation reduced the lower limit of the sentence, while doubling its upper limit. In the event of a repeat in five years, penalties will be doubled. Whether the lack of a statement will be considered "unauthorised removal" or merely an "irresponsibility", directly determines the joke to be applied and, therefore, the penalty amount. This distinction forms the core issue of defense.
Unauthorized extraction or insertion Up to half the price (m.3/2); half discount on attempt
Authorized authority The public prosecutor; appeal to the magistrate's court of law against the decision
What Did the Constitutional Court Say About Proportional Penalties?
In Mohamed Kashet and Others, application no. 2015/17659, dated 20.06.2019, the Plenary of the Constitutional Court examined an administrative fine equal to the amount of foreign currency imposed for attempting to bring cash into the country without permission. It found a violation of the right to property because a fair balance had not been struck between the public interest pursued and the burden placed on the individual.
General Assembly, Mohammad Atamleh of 29.02.2024 (B. No. 2020/9691) found the administrative fine to be disproportionate due to the removal of gold abroad without complying with the notification and permit requirement, and ruled it a violation. In response, Section Two, Orhan Gürel of 24.05.2018 (B. No. 2015/15358 ruled that there were no violations in the circumstances of the concrete incident. These decisions suggest that the amount of punishment must be determined by taking into account one's fault, source of money and whether there is a connection to the crime. The gradual penalty range in Law No. 7555 can also be considered a reflection of this jurisprudence.
Can gold and ornaments be removed abroad?
According to Resolution 32, passengers may bring their own belongings, which do not exceed $15,000 in value and have no commercial purpose, and move them abroad. The removal of a higher value ornament item depends on whether it has been declared at the entrance or is documented as being purchased in Turkey. Therefore, people who will go abroad with valuable ornaments must keep the certificate of declaration taken at the receipt or entrance.
Unprocessed precious metals such as ingots, bars and granules do not count as ornamental items and are subject to a separate import order. The removal or entry of gold for investment purposes abroad without being declared, carries risks both in terms of Law No. 1567 and Law No. 5607.
Event Summary Form: Fictional example: A business person took 40,000 euros with him for a down payment of his machine purchase abroad, and because he did not know the declaration limit, he wanted to check out before filing a cash statement form. All of the money is kept in control at the airport. Process: In the application made through the lawyer, the receipts showing that the money was withdrawn from the bank, the contract with the seller abroad and the proforma invoice were presented. In defense, it has been suggested that foreign exchange output is free, that the act is only in violation of the obligation to declare and there is no suspicion of criminal income. Conclusion: When the legal source of the money is documented, a refund of the values retained may be requested. In terms of punishment, the extent to which the action will be considered and the proportionality jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court is decisive. The decision of the prosecution must be appealed to the magistrate's justice within its term.
How much foreign currency can I carry when going abroad?
There is no upper limit on the amount of transport. However, at the foreign exchange output exceeding 10,000 euros or equal, it is mandatory to make a statement to the customs administration with a cash declaration form.
What is the declaration limit for Turkish lira?
As of March 28, 2025, the declaration is mandatory at the exit of Turkish currency exceeding TL 185,000. Previously this limit was TL 25,000.
Is the money seized undeclared confiscated?
The values are preserved by customs administration and the situation is reported to the public prosecutor's office with MASAK. When the legal source of the money is documented, a refund can be requested.
What is the penalty for undeclared foreign exchange?
If the action is considered a breach of obligation, there may be an administrative fine between TL 3,000 and TL 25,000, and if unauthorised removal counts, there may be up to half of the rail price. The extent to which the action will be evaluated is determined by the concrete event.
Can I go abroad with my gold?
The ornamental item, whose value does not exceed $15,000, and which is not for commercial purposes, can be freely removed. For the values on it, a declaration made at the entrance or invoice indicating receipt in Turkey is required.
Can the administrative fine of the prosecution be contested?
Yeah. Under the Law of Misdemeanors, a settlement can be appealed to the criminal judge within 15 days of the notification of an administrative sanction decision.
10,000 euros for the exchange and TL 185,000 for Turkish currency, no declaration limit known. Documents showing the legal source of the money are not kept during the journey. Unable to prove who owns the money that is divided between family members. No declarations made at the entrance for valuable ornamental items, or the receipt not being stored. Abduction of a 15-day application period against an administrative fine.
In cash and precious mining output, the obligation to declare is an area that can have severe financial consequences, although it may seem simple. The criminal regime and proportionality jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court, which has changed by Law No. 7555, requires that each file be evaluated separately. The Küheylan Law Office provides legal support in investigations based on the foreign exchange and the return of gold, administrative fines under Act 1567, and MASAK notices.
Important Legal Notice: The legal statements contained in this guide are prepared by the Küheylan Law Office for general informational purposes and do not qualify as legal counsel. The unique conditions of each file can change the result. Legal support from a lawyer is recommended before the process begins so that application, appeal and trial deadlines are not missed. © 2026 Küheylan Law Office. All Rights Reserved.
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