Customs guide, updated
A.TR, EUR.1 or certificate of origin: which document your goods from Türkiye need
Which customs document lets goods from Türkiye enter the EU or UK without duty, what each one proves, who issues it, and the mistakes that cost buyers money.
Three documents come up whenever you import from Türkiye: the A.TR, the EUR.1 and the certificate of origin. They look similar and are often confused, but they prove different things. Picking the wrong one is one of the most common reasons a buyer pays import duty that could have been avoided.
The short version: the document depends on where the goods are going and what they are.
| Goods and destination | Document that removes or reduces duty |
|---|---|
| Industrial and processed agricultural goods into the EU | A.TR movement certificate |
| Most raw agricultural goods, coal and steel into the EU | EUR.1 or origin declaration, only if the goods meet preferential origin rules |
| Most goods into the UK | Origin declaration on the invoice, under the UK–Türkiye agreement |
| Markets without a trade agreement, letters of credit, some buyers’ own rules | Certificate of origin (no duty reduction) |
Rules change and depend on the exact product, so treat this as a map, not a ruling. Your customs broker should confirm the document for your HS code before the goods ship.
The A.TR: for goods inside the EU–Türkiye customs union
The EU and Türkiye have formed a customs union since 1996. It covers industrial products and processed agricultural products, which move between the two without customs duties or quotas (European Commission).
The A.TR is the document that unlocks this. One point surprises many buyers: an A.TR does not prove where the goods were made. It proves that they are in “free circulation” in Türkiye, meaning they were either made there or imported into Türkiye with duties paid (Business.gov.nl, Netherlands government). The Turkish Ministry of Trade makes the same distinction (ticaret.gov.tr).
How it works in practice:
- Your Turkish supplier requests the A.TR and Turkish customs endorses it with the export declaration.
- The Netherlands government advises that it is valid for four months from validation, so the goods must be declared for import within that window.
- Since July 2024, EU member states accept A.TR certificates issued electronically by Turkish customs with a QR code and no wet signature (European Commission).
What it does not cover: most raw agricultural products and coal and steel products sit outside the customs union, so an A.TR does not help for them. Even with an A.TR, some goods such as tobacco, alcoholic drinks and certain foodstuffs can still carry extra duties or levies, so check your product in the EU’s Access2Markets tool (Business.gov.nl).
The EUR.1 and the origin declaration: for goods outside the customs union
Raw agricultural products and coal and steel products are traded under separate preferential agreements between the EU and Türkiye (European Commission). For these goods, a lower or zero duty depends on origin: the goods must meet the agreement’s rules of origin for their HS code.
The proof is either a EUR.1 movement certificate or an origin declaration written on the invoice. According to the Turkish Ministry of Trade (ticaret.gov.tr):
- The exporter fills in the EUR.1, the chamber of commerce or industry checks it, and customs endorses it.
- Any exporter can make an origin declaration on the invoice for shipments worth up to €6,000. Above that, only an approved exporter can.
This matters for buyers of hazelnuts, dried fruit, fresh produce or pulses, and for steel products. If your supplier offers an A.TR for these goods, it is the wrong document. Ask early whether the product qualifies for preferential origin at all; if it does not, normal duty applies. Our food and agriculture page lists the products where this question comes up most often.
Shipping to the UK: origin declaration, not A.TR
Since leaving the EU, the UK is no longer part of the EU–Türkiye customs union. Trade runs under the UK–Türkiye trade agreement, which uses preferential origin, not free circulation.
To claim the preferential rate, the importer relies on an origin declaration made by the exporter on the invoice or another commercial document, with the prescribed wording. The UK government states that importers should use the relevant origin codes “instead of an EUR1 or ATR for Turkey”, and that a declaration remains valid for 24 months for imports into the UK (GOV.UK).
The practical consequence: goods that move duty-free into Germany with an A.TR may pay duty in the UK if they do not meet the UK–Türkiye rules of origin. The risk is highest for products made mostly from imported materials, for example garments sewn from fabric woven outside Türkiye. Check the product-specific rule for your HS code before you agree a price.
The certificate of origin: proof of where goods were made
A standard (non-preferential) certificate of origin simply states the country where the goods were made. It does not reduce duty in the EU or UK. Buyers still ask for it when:
- the destination country has no trade agreement with Türkiye but requires origin proof;
- a letter of credit or a bank asks for it;
- the buyer’s own compliance or labelling rules need it.
In Türkiye these certificates are issued and approved electronically through TOBB’s MEDOS system, which became the standard route in April 2020 (KPMG Türkiye summary of the TOBB notice).
Mistakes that cost buyers money
- Agreeing the price before the document. Write the required document into the proforma invoice, together with who pays for it and the HS code.
- Accepting an A.TR for agricultural goods. It will not be accepted for products outside the customs union.
- Assuming the UK works like the EU. An A.TR is not used for UK imports; origin rules apply.
- Wrong or missing HS code. The document follows the code. A wrong code can mean a wrong document and a duty bill months later.
- Paying the balance before seeing the document. Ask for a copy of the endorsed A.TR or EUR.1, or the invoice with the origin declaration, before the final payment.
How we handle it
For every order we manage, we agree the HS code and the required document with you and the factory before production starts, and we check the document before goods are loaded. If you are comparing suppliers, our guide to choosing the right supplier in Türkiye covers the rest of the checks.
Have a product in mind? Send us your brief and tell us where it is going. We will confirm which document it needs as part of the quote.
Last checked 25 October 2026. Customs rules change; confirm the document for your HS code with your customs broker before shipment.