What Is the Turkish Outbound Exit Tax and How Much Does It Cost?
Quick answer: Turkey's exit tax (yurt dışı çıkış harcı) is 1,250 TL in 2026, and it applies to Turkish citizens leaving the country on a Turkish passport, charged once per departure. Foreign tourists do not pay it, so if you are visiting Turkey on a foreign passport you can ignore it. Turkish nationals who must pay it should do so online before passport control, as it is not collected at the boarding gate.
What is the Turkish exit tax and how much is it?
The exit tax (in Turkish, yurt dışı çıkış harcı) is a departure fee set by the government and updated each year. From 1 January 2026 it is 1,250 TL per departure, up from 1,000 TL in 2025. It is charged per passenger, per trip abroad. If you have seen much lower figures (a few tens of lira, or a few dollars), those are out of date: the current amount is 1,250 TL.
| Detail | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Amount | 1,250 TL per departure |
| Who pays | Turkish citizens on a Turkish passport |
| Foreign tourists | Exempt, do not pay |
| When | Before passport control |
| How | Online (GİB digital tax office, mobile banking) or at the airport |
Who has to pay it
The exit tax is for Turkish citizens leaving the country using a Turkish passport. It is collected once for each departure abroad. It is not a tourist tax, and it is not the same as the airport service charge that is already built into your air ticket.
Who is exempt
You do not pay the exit tax if you are:
- A foreign visitor travelling on a non-Turkish passport.
- A Turkish citizen who holds a residence or work permit abroad, or who uses a second (foreign) passport on departure.
- A child under 7.
- A student living abroad with the right documents, or certain transport crew and officials.
How and where to pay (for those who must)
If you are required to pay, settle it before passport control, because it is not collected at the gate. The easiest way is online through the GİB digital tax office or your mobile banking app before you reach the airport. You can also pay at designated points in the terminal. Keep the receipt to show at passport control if asked.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Turkey's exit tax in 2026?
1,250 TL per departure, effective 1 January 2026 (it was 1,000 TL in 2025). It is charged per passenger for each trip abroad.
Do foreign tourists pay the Turkish exit tax?
No. The exit tax applies to Turkish citizens leaving on a Turkish passport. Visitors on a foreign passport do not pay it.
Who is exempt from the exit tax?
Foreign visitors, Turkish citizens with a residence or work permit abroad (or using a second passport), children under 7, students living abroad with documents, and certain crew and officials.
How do I pay the Turkish exit tax?
Online through the GİB digital tax office or mobile banking before you fly, or at designated points in the terminal. Pay before passport control, as it is not collected at the gate.
Is the exit tax the same as the airport tax on my ticket?
No. Airport and service charges are already included in your airfare. The exit tax is a separate government fee that only Turkish citizens pay on departure.
About the author
Anastasia Maisuradze writes about Istanbul Airport departures and procedures. She checks the exit-tax amount against the official Turkish gazette and tax office each year. The fee is set annually; confirm the current amount before you travel if you are a Turkish citizen.
