General Directorate of Turkish Post PTT

The Turkish Post Directorate General (PTT Genel Müdürlüğü) represents the most famous institution for shipping services within Turkey, not because it is a government institution, but because of the quality of the procedures and reliability in terms of speed and ensuring the safety of packages.

In this article, you will learn about the most important services of the Turkish Postal General Directorate, and how to track PTT shipping.

The history of the Turkish General Postal Directorate (PTT)

This directorate is responsible for organizing and operating postal services in Turkey. It was established in 1840, by a Sultan decree under the name “Ottoman Post”, to provide a wide range of services, particularly the delivery of mail.

While postal services were initially limited to the main Turkish cities, over time they included all parts of the Ottoman Empire. After the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923, the Turkish Postal Corporation was restructured, and the Turkish Postal General Directorate began to develop the services that you will learn about shortly.

The directorate is affiliated with the general economic organization in the country.

What services does the Turkish General Postal Directorate provide?

The Directorate provides indispensable services to Turks and foreigners inside and outside the country, especially thanks to Turkey’s political and economic stability and special commercial status among the surrounding countries, which made it capable of providing the following services:

• Postal services

The Directorate provides services for delivering letters and packages to local and international addresses, and local and international postal delivery between different cities and regions in Turkey, and between Turkey and other countries, in addition to registered mail services that allow the sender and recipient to track letters and packages.

Postal services also include sending documents with complete assurance that they will arrive safely. The Civil Status Department also sends the Turkish ID, Turkish passport, or residence card in Turkey to those entitled to it, a service that saves them a lot of time and effort.

• Financial services

The Turkish Postal General Directorate facilitates transferring money between individuals and companies, providing internal and international money transfer services to facilitate cash transfers. Transfers can be made in Turkish lira, US dollars, and euros, and currencies can be exchanged via Turkish post.

Also among the financial services is the bill payment service via PTT, through any branch of the Directorate in Turkey. You can pay electricity, water, gas, telephone and other bills.

• Logistics services

The Turkish Postal General Directorate provides courier services to deliver packages and documents quickly and safely, and secure shipping means for transporting large goods and packages within Turkey and to other countries.

It also provides services related to e-mail and postal protection, and communicates with customers to meet users’ needs and respond to their inquiries.

Also among the most important services of PTT is the launch of an electronic link in Arabic to PTT that helps Syrian refugees know if there is financial assistance in their name.

Arabic link address of PTT to check the assistance:

https://www.turkiye.gov.tr/ptt-ptt-uzerinden-yapilan-kurum-odemeleri-sorgulama

What packages can be sent via PTT?

In addition to postal letters and important documents, the Turkish Post handles various types of small and large packages within Turkey and to other countries in a safe and fast manner, including gifts, commercial samples, handmade products, electronic devices, tools, and small equipment, in addition to clothing, shoes, accessories, books, and magazines, all the way to products. Non-perishable foods such as sweets, chocolate and nuts, which occupy a large portion of packages sent from Turkey, due to the fame and quality of these products in the country.

Advantages of shipping via the Turkish Postal General Directorate

Millions trust the performance of the Turkish Postal General Directorate due to the  professionalism and tradition in dealing with all transportation requirements. Here are the most prominent advantages of shipping through this organization:

• PTT's diverse shipping options to meet the needs of individual and corporate senders and recipients, including express shipping, economic shipping, air shipping, and ground shipping.
• The diversity of destinations and the enormous geographical breadth, as goods can be shipped to local destinations within Turkey, in addition to destinations in various parts of the world.
• The possibility of insurance for transported goods, as senders can purchase insurance services for the goods sent to ensure their safety during transport.
• Tracking service, as Turkish Post provides tracking services for sent packages, allowing the sender and recipient to monitor the status and location of the shipment at any time.
• The wide spread of service outlets, as the Turkish Postal General Directorate has a wide network of post offices and distribution centers throughout the country.

How to track a PTT shipment

You can track PTT shipments using the shipment tracking number. Here are the detailed steps to track PTT shipments:

• Obtaining a tracking number, as the tracking number is given to you when the shipment is sent, and you can find this number on the shipment receipt or on the email that was sent to you in the case of online shipping.
• Visit the PTT website at https://gonderitakip.ptt.gov.tr/
• Search for “Shipment Tracking” or “Package Tracking” option on the PTT website. This option is often located in the list of available services on the home page of the site.
• Enter the tracking number for your shipment in the designated field on the shipment tracking page.
• After entering the tracking number, click the “Track” or “Search” button to get information about the status of your shipment.
• View tracking results, where you will be shown information about the status of your shipment, including the  current location and recent updates about the delivery status.

You can also call the Turkish Post Inquiry Department 24 hours a day at 4441788 to obtain information about the status of the sent shipment.

The Directorate also allows tracking shipments sent by PTT via the  mobile application, if you prefer to use a smartphone to track shipments.

In all cases, on the day of delivery allocated to you, an SMS message will be sent to your phone, based on the personal data you provided to the Directorate when sending the shipment, such as your name, address, and mobile number.

How do you find the PTT branch closest to you inside Turkey?

If you reside inside Turkey, and would like to know the nearest Turkish Post PTT branch to your home address, you must enter this link 

https://enyakinptt.ptt.gov.tr/Enyakinptt/

When you open the website, select the name of your district and street, according to the official designations, then click on the search to display your current location information. You can also use the existing map to identify the addresses of the main email centers in each state. You will find their location indicated by a red dot.

How much does shipping cost via PTT Kargo?

The Turkish General Postal Directorate allows you to know the shipping prices based on the weight of your shipment and the destination you are sending it to, at the link

http://ptt.com.tr/ptt/#ptt_gonderi_ucreti_ogrenme

When you open the link, all you have to do is enter the shipment information, such as the  approximate weight and the country it will be sent to, and the shipping prices will appear to you.

Despite the ease of this step, many people prefer to know these details face to face from the employees of the nearest branches of the directorate, as they give them the shipment information such as the  length, width, and approximate weight, and the name of the country it will go to, in addition to choosing the means of transportation, and whether you prefer to send it by land, sea, or air. While air transportation is considered the fastest, it is the most expensive. If you are not in a very urgent need, you can choose to deliver your shipment by land or sea. It will arrive within a few weeks, depending on the final destination. Note that the shipping price will appear to you in Turkish lira, so you can then Convert it to your country's currency or any other currency.

Learn more about internal land transportation companies in Turkey

As a huge country with close trade relations with the ocean, Turkey includes a large number of inland land transport companies that provide various services for transporting goods and materials throughout the country. Here are some of these companies:

• Aras Cargo: It is considered one of the largest land transportation companies in Turkey, providing reliable and efficient shipping services to customers within the country. The services include express shipping, economy shipping, and special shipping services.
• Marmara Logistics: It is considered an active company in the field of land transportation and logistics in Turkey, providing land freight, distribution and warehousing services to customers.
• Atlas Logistics: It is considered one of the largest land transportation companies in Turkey, providing land freight, warehousing and distribution services to customers throughout the country.
• Frenk Logistics: Frenk Logistics is considered one of the leading companies in the field of land transportation and logistics in Turkey, and provides land freight, distribution, warehousing, and other logistics services.

Comparison Table of Domestic Shipping Companies in Turkey

Notes:

• Cost: Prices are approximate and may vary based on the weight, size of the shipment, and distance traveled.
• Delivery Time: Times are approximate and may vary due to conditions and official holidays.
• Benefits: Common benefits include online shipment tracking, insurance services, and 24/7 customer support.

Tips for Choosing the Right Shipping Company:

1. Coverage: Ensure the company covers the area you want to ship to.
2. Cost: Compare the cost for different shipments to determine the most economical option.
3. Delivery Time: If delivery time is crucial for you, choose the company that offers the fastest service.
4. Additional Benefits: Check for additional benefits such as insurance, tracking, and customer service.

Choosing the right shipping company depends on your specific needs and preferences regarding cost, speed, and available services.

Despite the quality of the services of these companies, the greatest confidence remains in the Turkish Postal Directorate General (PTT) as an institution that is the oldest in the  field and the most widespread inside and outside the country.