Istanbul Airport Lost & Found – Authorized Courier Collection & International Shipping

Your item has been found: what happens next?

Finding an item and authorizing its release are separate steps. Before arranging a courier visit:

1. Confirm which office currently holds your belongings.
2. Keep the complete reference and the latest collection instructions.
3. Ask which documents the owner and collection representative must provide.
4. Obtain confirmation that the documents have been accepted and collection can proceed.
5. Agree the collection cost and a suitable delivery plan.

This guide concerns items confirmed as found. If your property is still missing, contact the responsible airport office or airline first through its official channels.

GMK and KYP references: keep the complete details

If your notification contains a reference beginning with GMK or KYP, reproduce the full reference exactly when communicating with the holding office.

The email-based holding information is 90 days for GMK and 12 months for KYP, subject to current confirmation. Ask the office to confirm how it calculates your deadline and what happens if collection is not completed in time. Do not wait until the final day to start authorization.

Do not assume that the prefix alone tells you which counter to visit, whether customs is involved, or which authorization document will be accepted. Ask the office to confirm the collection location and release requirements for your particular record.

If several items have separate references, list each one. Permission to collect one item should not be assumed to cover another.

Authorization form, power of attorney and passport copy

The holding office determines which documents are needed. Depending on your case, its instructions may request:

• A completed and signed authorization form.
• A copy of the owner's passport or other accepted identification.
• The name and identification details of the person collecting the item.
• A power of attorney and any additional release documents.

An authorization form and a formally executed power of attorney are not automatically interchangeable. Before paying for notarization, a consular appointment, translation or document delivery, ask the holding office to confirm the required format, language and whether originals are necessary.

Use the current documents supplied by the responsible office. Do not rely on an old form downloaded from another traveller's account.

Identity documents should be shared only through the agreed private process with the parties that need them. Never publish passport details or complete collection records in reviews or public comments.

Send authorization documents three days before collection

If your IGA notification requires documents at least three days before the proposed pickup, send the completed authorization paperwork and requested identification within that notice period.

Confirm whether the office means calendar days or working days, which documents must arrive in advance, and whether it has approved the collection date. Sending an email does not by itself confirm release approval.

The three-day requirement has not been independently verified here as a universal rule for every IGA record. Follow the current written instructions for your item and confirm any urgent exception directly with the holding office.

Collecting an iPad, MacBook, laptop, phone, suitcase or bag

Ana Kurye can assess collection and onward delivery requests for:

• iPads and tablets: confirm the model, accessories and any reported damage.
• MacBooks and other laptops: identify each device separately and review suitable protective packaging.
• Mobile phones: provide the model and relevant collection information; do not send unlock codes or account passwords.
• Suitcases and cabin baggage: describe the contents, rather than only the outer bag.
• Handbags and backpacks: identify contents that may require separate handling or transport checks.

Collection approval and international shipping acceptance are separate decisions. Electronics containing batteries, damaged devices and mixed suitcase contents require a shipment-specific review.

A bag accepted for airport release is not automatically accepted for international carriage with everything inside it.

Storage charges and the total collection cost

Ask the holding office whether storage charges apply, when they begin, how they are calculated and how payment must be made. Also confirm the collection deadline. A stated holding period does not mean that storage is free for that period.

Storage charges are separate from Ana Kurye's service fee unless your quotation expressly includes them.

Before approving the operation, request a breakdown covering:

• Collection and any agreed additional attendance.
• Airport storage or release charges, if applicable.
• Packaging.
• International transport.
• Any available shipment protection and its terms.
• Charges payable at the destination, where applicable.

This guide does not publish a fixed airport storage tariff or promise free storage. Confirm current charges for your item before booking.

Customs and international shipping

There may be checks before an item leaves airport custody, followed by separate requirements when it is shipped overseas and enters the destination country.

Provide an accurate description of the contents, their condition and value. Ask which ownership or supporting documents are needed for the proposed route. Do not assume that a used personal item is automatically exempt from customs procedures or charges.

Ana Kurye coordinates the local collection and agreed shipment preparation. The holding office, carrier and customs authorities make their own release and acceptance decisions.

A collection date is not a guaranteed international delivery date. Document requests, carrier restrictions or customs processing can affect the schedule.

For further background, read our customs questions guide.

Real collection experiences

These published cases illustrate different parts of the process; they do not guarantee the same timing or outcome for another shipment.

• An iPad and suitcase collected for a customer in California: Vivian's case covers IGA collection, shipment preparation and a subsequent customs delay. The published account distinguishes customs release from separately confirmed final receipt. Read Vivian's case.
• Two laptops collected for an owner in the United States: the devices required authorization and separate international shipments. Read the two-laptop case.
• An iPhone returned to its owner in the United States: Derek's case involved consular authorization, IGA collection and a customs delay before confirmed receipt. Read Derek's case.
• A handbag collected for a customer in Russia: this case describes the airport documents, collection and packing before carrier handover. Read the handbag case.

Frequently asked questions

Can someone collect my found item from Istanbul Airport while I am abroad?

Collection by an independent courier or another representative may be possible when IGA accepts the owner's authorization and the required documents. Confirm approval before arranging attendance.

Is Ana Kurye the official IGA Lost & Found service?

No. Ana Kurye provides independent, paid collection and shipping coordination. IGA controls the release of property held by its office.

How long are GMK and KYP items held?

IGA customer email instructions describe 90 days for GMK and 12 months for KYP. These periods remain subject to current official confirmation. Ask for the start date, exact deadline and any applicable storage charges for your record.

Does a GMK or KYP reference mean my item is ready for collection?

Do not treat the reference alone as collection approval. Ask the office to confirm the current status, required documents and pickup arrangements.

Do I need a notarized power of attorney?

The answer depends on the instructions for your record. Ask whether a signed authorization form is sufficient or whether a formal power of attorney is required, and confirm its accepted format.

Can I arrange collection sooner than three days?

If your instructions specify advance notice, do not assume it can be waived. Ask the holding office whether an earlier collection can be approved before committing to a courier visit.

Can you collect my iPad, MacBook or phone and send it abroad?

We can review the request after the item has been found. Collection approval, battery condition, carrier acceptance and destination requirements must all be checked.

My suitcase did not arrive on my Turkish Airlines flight. Is this the same service?

A missing checked-baggage case should first be handled through the airline's baggage process. This service concerns belongings already located and available for an approved collection arrangement.

Will I have to pay customs charges on my own belongings?

Do not assume that personal ownership removes every charge or documentation requirement. Ask about the rules for the actual contents and destination before dispatch.

Request a collection review

Tell us what has been found, which office holds it, your destination country and postal code, and any collection deadline stated in the notification.

We will review the instructions and explain the proposed collection and shipping steps before you approve the service.

Discuss my found item on WhatsApp — +90 539 212 20 60

View our Istanbul Airport collection service.

Procedure notice: Airport procedures, document requirements, storage charges and customs arrangements can change. Confirm current requirements through Istanbul Airport's official Lost & Found channel and the office handling your record before arranging collection.