A transit log is the cruising permit that allows a foreign-flagged private yacht to navigate in Turkish waters. Turkish-flagged yachts do not need one. It is issued at the first authorised port of entry and closed when the yacht leaves the country. For foreign-flagged yachts this is the single most misunderstood, and most time-consuming, piece of paperwork.
1. When You Need One
- Bringing a foreign-flagged yacht purchased in Greece, Italy or Croatia into Turkey.
- Wintering or cruising a foreign-flagged yacht in Turkish waters.
- Leaving Turkish waters for the Greek islands and returning (exit formalities, then re-entry).
If your yacht is Turkish-flagged and you are heading to Greece, the transit log does not apply; the Greek entry procedure does: a customs Transit Log for non-EU flags, plus the e-TEPAI cruising tax. The two are not interchangeable.
2. Entry Step by Step
- Arrive at an authorised port. Foreign-flagged yachts may only enter through ports with entry-exit authority.
- Fly the yellow flag. It stays up until clearance is complete; nobody goes ashore before that.
- Use an agent. Formalities run through a yacht agent who handles health, passport police, customs and the harbour master in sequence.
- Documents. Registration certificate, insurance policy, skipper's licence, crew and guest list, passports, and the bill of sale where relevant.
- Issue. The log is issued to the owner or an authorised skipper. Crew and guest changes must be recorded on it.
- Close it on exit. The same document is closed at an authorised port when the yacht leaves. An unclosed log causes problems on the next entry.
3. Timing and Cost
| Item | Typical | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Clearance time | Half a day to a day | Longer at peak season and weekends |
| Agency plus fees | €200-500 | By port, yacht length and crew number |
| Validity | 1 year | While the yacht remains in Turkish waters |
| Crew change | Same day | Must be recorded on the log |
4. Common Mistakes
- Entering through an unauthorised bay. "We'll sort it later" can end in a fine and a detained yacht.
- Not updating the crew list. Anyone aboard must appear on the log; this is the most common finding during inspections.
- Leaving without closing the log. Expect delays and a penalty on the next entry.
- Forgetting insurance limits. Confirm the policy covers Turkish waters and is valid for the whole period.
- Stacking formalities and the weather window on the same days. On a delivery these are two separate calendars.
5. How This Runs on a Delivery
On international legs, documents and the weather window are planned separately. The order is: written confirmation of insurance cover → crew list and documents prepared → agent booked → weather window chosen → departure. When the forecast opens, crew and paperwork must already be ready, not the other way around. Transit log and customs appear as a separate line in the quote, with no commission added.
Frequently Asked Questions
6. Moving a foreign-flagged yacht within Turkey?
On our deliveries between Istanbul and Fethiye, the transit log formalities are handled alongside the passage plan.
Related Pages
Prepared by SurveyYat, ABYC Professional Member, 149 GT Yacht Captain. Last updated: September 2026.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Maritime regulations and charges change; confirm with the relevant authority or your agent before acting. If you spot something out of date on this page, tell us.
Continue with this topic
- Skipper entry for a delivery: Changing the skipper on a foreign-flagged boat.
- Leaving Turkey: Exit formalities and the destination.
- Foreign-flagged yacht delivery: Transit log and skipper entry.