Bodrum - Clearance
This is an official Port of Entry.
For the full details on clearance go to the Noonsite/Turkey/Formalities page.
Clearing in:
All foreign-flagged yachts must clear in at a marina.
At Bodrum Karada Marina, the Customs and Immigration Authorities are situated near the eastern breakwater. The Health Authority is in the town. The marina can usually arrange the necessary formalities.
D-Marin and Port Bodrum are also now regular Ports of Entry, and formalities are easily completed with all the authorities housed in the same building at the marina.
At Milta Marina, moor at the Customs dock. The travel agency on the site charges a fee for completing clearance and providing the necessary documents.
Clearing Out:
For clearing out boats must come to the Customs dock.
It is recommended cruisers speak to the Harbour Master first to determine the best course of action.
Double handed yachts have reported that they were not required to use an agent for clearing out (just two crew). However, authorities will likely ask you why you don’t have an agent, but be firm and insist you want to do it yourself.
Agents charge approximately 85 Euros for this service. All the offices, Harbor Master, Port Police (Passport Control), and finally Customs are located close to the castle and are within walking distance.
Last updated: August 2023
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Related to following destinations: Aegean Sea, Bodrum, Turkey
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I can confirm that as a cruising couple, we successfully checked out of Bodrum without using an agent. The Harbour Master was fine (we checked a couple of days in advance), but the port police/immigration put up some resistance, and we were fighting for their attention with boatloads of ferry passengers. We must have been told 10 times we need an agent and we kept insisting that we don’t – eventually they yielded, and then customs were fine. Remember you need to bring your boat to the customs dock and leave Turkish waters immediately afterwards. Since they will pressure you to move your boat when ferries come, I would recommend going to the Harbour Master first (5 minutes walk from the dock), and THEN bring the boat to the dock – immigration and customs are both right there.
Update Milta Marina wanted TL881 (about euro 130) for one night, 38 ft catamaran. April 2019
Checking out at Bodrum (2017 May). We were in the main marina. Call Ridvan Yildirim on +905326671506. He’ll come to your boat for details and docs. When ready to leave: move to the customs quay at a time arranged with Ridvan, he’ll meet you and walk you and your docs through in 15 minutes. Charge 75 Euro and well worth it for speed and ease.
Generic Comment: If one needs water and fuel, get the water first. Then get the fuel. Expect to pay for the water. If the marina wants to charge you for the night, and there is a municipality or fishing boat marina nearby, I have always been successful in arranging to get water from them as I promise I am not staying more than the time I need to load the water. There are marinas with in Turkey and Greece that try to get you to stay overnight if you want any services, including a pump out. Legally, all Turkish marinas that have foreign flagged and privately owned yachts’ pump out equipment cannot charge you to stay the night. If necessary, get the Turkish Coast Guard involved. The fine for dumping black water if caught is HUGE! (Note, most municipality marinas cannot pump out a non-commercial vessel.)
2017-02-23 Update “Fuel available at the marinas. Duty free fuel is available in larger quantities only (e.g. 3000+ litres) but it is no longer possible to share with other yachts.” (Generic comment for all of Turkey BUT it is quite difficult and far more $$$$$ to get duty Free fuel North of Cesme, or east of Antalya (from direct experience).
West Marine is no more. It is now East Marine.
Also, Yorulmaz Yacht Service in Turgutreis gave me a very very good price (2017-02-23) on a spool of Kaya brand docking line, on of the better quality lines made in country.
2016-11-09: MV LeeZe is currently over-wintering here in D-Marin Marina (http://www.d-marin.com/en/homepage.aspx).
There is a 40% discount this year for yachts that spend the winter here from October to end of April, which we are taking advantage of. Electricity is currently 40 European cents per Kwh and water is 7€ per ton. All of these are pre-paid.
The marina is rules based. The management does not care about how the rules affect their customer, only that they are rigidly enforced. Selectively though, as other boats on other docks are allowed to flaunt the rules.
This is the first marina (out of 11) where I was REQUIRED to provide the bow line that goes from the bow to the anchor chain. Then, the line I provided they did not like so I had to buy a new one. Ugh.
The staff have small boats to help you get into your slip. They are quite helpful. The on shore showers and toilets are opposite the “odd-letter” pontoons – so if one is spending a long time here, C and E pontoons should be requested. The marina has lots and lots of rules, almost as many as Netsel, Marmaris.
The marina has a cafeteria which offers lunch/early dinner for about $5-6 per meal. Town is a nice short walk away and the town is so far lively, especially on weekends.
There is a farmer’s market in town on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Bodrum proper is about 25 km away, and the state hospital offers great service.
The best marine store in the area is in Bodrum, called Aliza, very close to Midtown Mall. It is like a marine super-store and appears to be the cheapest.
Restaurants abound, from cheap eats to fully fledged fish restaurants with a huge number within walking distance of the marina. One does not need a car to get around.
MV LeeZe
Be aware of Milta Marina Bodrum….we were told over the phone we could get fuel and water from them…after refueling they refused to give us water unless we paid for an overnight berth 82 EUR for 12m Yacht….first time we have been held to ransom over water in the 3 years we have sailed the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts