Dereköy Customs Gate

Dereköy Customs Gate is an A-class customs administration located on the Bulgarian border in Kırklareli, Turkey. Established in 1969 and modernized with state-of-the-art infrastructure, it operates 24/7 to facilitate passenger and goods customs procedures. It is a preferred gateway for travel from Turkey to Bulgarian cities such as Burgas and Varna on the Black Sea coast.

History and Establishment

Dereköy Customs Gate was established under the name "Aziziye Border Gate" on June 18, 1969, based on official correspondences numbered 4.A.1/41549-63/95520 and 4.A.2/42331-76/95758, following a decision by the Council of Ministers. On March 1, 1986, it was closed to TIR (heavy goods vehicle) traffic. Today, it operates as an A-class customs administration.

Modernization and Infrastructure Works

In 2020, extensive renovation and maintenance work were carried out at Dereköy Customs Gate. These efforts included upgrades to electrical and water systems, roofing, insulation, lighting, painting, and plastering. The Ministry of Trade has also initiated a modernization project for the facility, with tender processes currently underway. The customs gate covers a total area of 17,000 m².

Operations and Services

Dereköy Customs Gate handles customs procedures for vehicles and passengers entering and exiting the country, along with their accompanying goods. Passenger processing is conducted across a total of 5 lanes—3 for entry and 2 for exit. The administration provides uninterrupted service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Additionally, a counter is available for obtaining vehicle insurance, commonly known as "green insurance," required for entering Bulgaria.

Duty-Free Services

Since 2008, Unifree has managed the duty-free shops at Dereköy Customs Gate. There are two shops—one in the arrival direction and one in the departure direction—offering a total shopping area of 82.5 m².

Passenger Traffic

According to data from the Ministry of Trade’s Trakya Customs and Foreign Trade Regional Directorate, passenger numbers passing through Dereköy Customs Gate have increased significantly over the years:

• 2024: 680,089 passengers
• 2023: 657,585 passengers
• 2022: 609,737 passengers

A noticeable increase in passenger traffic has been observed at the border gate over the past two years.