Turkey-Bulgaria Border Gate Opens to Light Commercial Vehicles

From 3 August, the Dereköy‑Malko Tırnovo customs gate—the third land crossing between Turkey and Bulgaria—will allow light commercial cargo vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes gross weight to pass. The change follows an agreement between Turkey’s Ministry of Trade and the Bulgarian National Customs Agency reached at a recent Turkey‑Bulgaria customs meeting.

Vehicles using the gate must meet transit‑regime requirements, carry customs seals, and hold valid transport licences and international permits. The new arrangement is expected to handle 1,500 inbound and 1,500 outbound vehicles each week, easing traffic at the busy Kapıkule and Hamzabeyli crossings and speeding up regional export‑import flows.