International Shopping is a Thing of the Past! (The 30 Euro Limit Has Been Removed)
As expected, international shopping is now officially a thing of the past. The customs exemption limits, a long-standing concern for tech enthusiasts, those seeking affordable products, and hobbyists, have been completely eliminated with the latest regulation. In this video, we discuss the details of the new customs regulation, published in the Official Gazette on January 7, 2026, and effective February 7, the changes in limits from the past to the present, and how this decision will affect our lives, with complete transparency.
From the "Golden Age" to the "0 Euro" Era in International Shopping
As I show in detail in the video with a table, we actually arrived at this point step by step over the years. Before 2011, the customs exemption limit of 150 Euros was practically a "Golden Age" for us. We could easily import any product we wanted, even with taxes. However, over time, this limit was first reduced to 75 Euros, then to 22 Euros, and finally to 30 Euros in August 2024. And now, as of February 2026, we are moving to a "0 Euro" limit, or "Zero Limit" application.
So what does this mean?
Now, even if you buy a product worth $1 from abroad, it will be considered a commercial import. The simple customs duty system we used to pay is gone. In the new system, even for the smallest item you order, you will have to hire a Customs Broker, incurring thousands of liras in expenses from warehousing to taxes. In practice, our government is telling us: "Don't buy products individually from abroad."
Is this the end for sites like AliExpress and Temu?
With this regulation, shopping from platforms like AliExpress, which "do not have local warehouses," has become impossible. While platforms like Temu are trying to survive by switching to a local warehouse system, their prices are now competing with, or even exceeding, prices in Türkiye. The old era of "buying products from China at affordable prices" is unfortunately over.
Not Just Phone Cases, Our Future Is Being Affected Too
Reducing this issue to simply "we can't afford phone cases" would be a huge mistake. There's a point I particularly want to emphasize in this video: Manufacturers, students, and engineers. Robotic parts, development boards, sensors, and specific electronic components that are not produced in Türkiye and are impossible to find will no longer be available. Our young people preparing for Teknofest, engineering students at universities, and entrepreneurs conducting R&D will face great difficulties in accessing the parts needed for their projects. While trying to close the current account deficit, are we hindering the development of minds that will create added value? We need to seriously consider this.
What are your thoughts on this new regulation? Will the import ban truly protect domestic producers, or will it only harm consumers? Let's discuss in the comments!
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