Attention travelers going abroad! The cash limit has been changed

The limit of cash that must be declared when leaving the country has been revised. According to the new regulation, published in the Official Gazette and now in effect, the previous limit of 25,000 lira has been increased to 185,000 lira.

With this change, the amount of cash that can be carried when traveling abroad has significantly increased. The Ministry of Treasury and Finance has issued the “Communiqué on Amending Communiqué No. 32 on the Protection of the Value of the Turkish Lira,” which was published in today’s Official Gazette and has come into force.

According to this communiqué, the upper limit, which was previously 25,000 lira, is now set at 185,000 lira. Any amount exceeding 185,000 TL in cash or documents enabling payment in Turkish lira must be declared at customs using the cash declaration form published by the Ministry of Trade.

Regulation on Foreign Investment Advertising for Turkish Investors

Another amendment states that securities traded in foreign financial markets, other capital market instruments, and all types of derivative instruments, including futures and options contracts, can only be traded through banks and brokerage firms authorized by Turkey’s Capital Markets Board (SPK), provided that fund transfers are made through banks.

However, as long as foreign financial institutions do not engage in promotional, advertising, or marketing activities targeting residents of Turkey, Turkish individuals can conduct derivative transactions with foreign financial institutions on their own initiative. In such cases, while the use of Turkish banks and brokers is not mandatory, fund transfers related to these transactions must still be conducted through banks.

New Rules for Leveraged Transactions (Margin Trading)

Turkish residents are allowed to engage in leveraged transactions and other derivative instruments subject to the same regulations only through institutions authorized by Turkey’s Capital Markets Board (SPK).

Entities or individuals without an SPK license are prohibited from intermediating such transactions or transferring funds abroad related to these transactions. Measures will be taken in accordance with Article 6, Paragraph 9 of Communiqué No. 32 to prevent unauthorized transactions. If any violations are detected, the Ministry of Finance will be notified.