Customs Warehousing vs Temporary Storage in Turkey

Goods arriving from abroad are not always imported straight away. Sometimes they wait a few days in the port area; sometimes they sit in a warehouse for months without duties being paid. These are two different legal situations: temporary storage and the customs warehousing procedure. This guide explains the difference between customs warehousing and temporary storage in Turkey, the warehouse types, time limits and the commercial benefits of a bonded warehouse.

What is temporary storage?

When goods arrive in the Turkish customs territory, they are first presented to customs and a summary declaration is lodged. From that point until they are placed under a customs procedure or another customs-approved treatment (release for free circulation, transit, warehousing and so on), the goods are in temporary storage.

Temporary storage is a short waiting status. The goods are usually kept at the port, airport or customs area, or in customs-approved temporary storage facilities.

Key points:

Time limit: Under the Turkish Customs Law, goods must be given a customs status within 45 days of the summary declaration if they arrived by sea, and within 20 days if they arrived by other means (as of October 2026). An extension may be requested from customs for justified reasons.
Permitted handling: Only limited handling to preserve the goods is allowed; selling, processing or repacking is generally not permitted at this stage.
Missing the deadline: Goods not given a status in time can enter the liquidation (disposal) process, which means extra cost and a real risk of losing the goods.

Time limits and extension conditions can change, so confirm the current position with your customs broker.

Keeping temporary storage costs down

Every day in temporary storage adds storage, port service and container demurrage or detention charges. To limit them:

Prepare the commercial invoice, packing list, origin documents and any permits before the goods arrive.
Confirm the GTİP and any import measures before shipping.
If you do not want to pay duties straight away, consider placing the goods directly under the warehousing procedure.

What is the customs warehousing procedure?

A customs warehouse (often called a bonded warehouse) is a customs-approved place where goods are stored under customs supervision. Customs warehousing is a customs procedure: goods are placed under it with a declaration, and while they remain under the procedure, import duties and trade policy measures are not applied.

Warehousing is one of the customs procedures with economic impact. It offers a tax advantage, but in return comes with obligations: stock records, customs supervision and, where required, a guarantee.

Customs warehousing vs temporary storage: key differences

The two are often confused. The main differences:

Legal nature: Temporary storage is a status, not a customs procedure. Warehousing is a customs procedure entered by declaration.
Duration: Temporary storage is short and capped by law. In a customs warehouse there is, as a general rule, no fixed time limit.
Purpose: Temporary storage is the in-between stage while goods await clearance. Warehousing is a deliberate choice to defer duties, hold stock or sell the goods.
Handling: Handling during temporary storage is very limited. In a warehouse, usual forms of handling to preserve the goods, improve their appearance or prepare them for sale can be carried out with permission.
Transfer and sale: Goods in a customs warehouse can be transferred or sold to another person while still under the procedure.

Types of customs warehouse: public and private

Turkish rules divide customs warehouses into public and private warehouses, depending on whether anyone can use them, and into six types.

Public warehouses

Available to any person for storing goods:

Type A: The warehouse operator keeps the stock records and is liable for duties if goods go missing.
Type B: The user is responsible for the goods placed in the warehouse; the operator’s liability is more limited.
Type F: Operated by the customs authorities.

Private warehouses

The operator and the user are the same person, and the warehouse is used only for that person’s goods:

Type C: Operator and user are the same person, who is responsible for the goods.
Type D: Similar to Type C, but goods are placed under the procedure by entry in the records (a simplified procedure).
Type E: Operator and user are the same person; warehousing rules can apply to the authorisation holder’s storage facilities, or to goods without a specific storage facility.

The right type depends on your import volumes, stock profile and guarantee capacity. Opening your own private warehouse requires meeting the physical, financial and IT requirements set out in the regulations.

Time limits and what to watch out for

As a general rule, there is no minimum or maximum period for goods in a Turkish customs warehouse. They can stay as long as storage fees are paid and the procedure’s conditions are met. There are exceptions:

Customs may set time limits for perishable or special goods.
In certain cases customs may require the goods to be assigned another customs treatment and give a deadline for it.
Poor stock records, shortages or surpluses create duty and penalty risks.

Also bear in mind that storage costs for goods kept for a long time can outweigh the financing benefit of deferring duties. Run the numbers at the outset.

Benefits of the customs warehousing procedure

Used well, warehousing offers real commercial advantages:

Duty deferral: Import duties and VAT are not paid until the goods are released for free circulation, easing cash flow.
Partial withdrawals: Store a full container and import it bit by bit as you need it.
Re-export and transit trade: Re-export goods to third countries without importing them into Turkey, which suits companies using Turkey as a regional distribution point.
Time to find a buyer: Goods can be sold and transferred while in the warehouse.
Handling: Usual forms of handling such as labelling, sorting and repacking can be carried out with customs permission.
Planning flexibility: Bringing large lots in one go by sea freight and distributing them gradually can lower freight costs.

The customs value and duties for warehoused goods are determined under the rules in force when the goods are released for free circulation. For long-term stock plans, assess the tax and exchange-rate impact with your customs broker.

Frequently asked questions

What happens if the temporary storage period runs out?

Goods not given a status, or not granted an extension, in time may enter the liquidation process. The best way to avoid this is to prepare the customs formalities before the goods arrive.

Can I sell goods held in a customs warehouse?

Yes. Goods under the warehousing procedure can be transferred or sold to another person, who then takes over the obligations of the procedure.

How long can goods stay in a customs warehouse?

As a general rule there is no fixed limit. However, customs may impose time limits in some cases, such as perishable goods, and storage costs should be considered.

Can I open my own customs warehouse?

Companies that meet the regulatory requirements can open a private warehouse with customs authorisation. It is advisable to assess the physical, financial and IT requirements with specialists before applying.

Warehousing and temporary storage decisions work best when planned together with transport mode, arrival timing and customs planning. Medius helps you build your storage strategy through customs clearance coordination and logistics consulting; send us the details via our quote form.