A.TR Movement Certificate: What It Is, Who Issues It, Where It Applies
The A.TR movement certificate gives Turkish industrial goods duty-free entry into the EU. Who issues it, how it differs from EUR.1 and why buyers in Russia and Central Asia need a certificate of origin instead.
The A.TR movement certificate is a customs document showing that goods are in free circulation in Turkey. Under the customs union between Turkey and the European Union, it allows Turkish industrial products to enter the EU without customs duty. The exporter or its representative fills it in through an electronic system, a chamber of commerce or exporters' association endorses it, and Turkish customs stamps it together with the export declaration.
Buyers outside the EU often see "A.TR" in correspondence with Turkish suppliers and ask whether they need it too. If you import into Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan or another Eurasian market, the short answer is no: the A.TR works only in trade between Turkey and the EU. This guide explains what the document does, who issues it, how it differs from EUR.1 and a certificate of origin, and what you should ask your supplier for instead.
What the A.TR movement certificate does
The Turkey–EU customs union has been in force since 1996. It allows industrial goods to move between the two sides without customs duty. The A.TR movement certificate proves that the goods being shipped are in free circulation in Turkey: either they were produced in Turkey, or they were imported into Turkey and all duties were paid. When EU customs sees a valid A.TR, it does not apply third-country duties to the goods.
One distinction matters: the A.TR is not a certificate of origin, it is a movement certificate. It proves free-circulation status in Turkey, not the country where the goods were made. That is why an A.TR can be issued both for a machine built in Turkey and for a product imported into Turkey from another country with duties paid. For a wider overview of the paperwork that travels with a consignment, see our guide to shipping documents.
Which goods are covered
The scope of the A.TR is the same as the scope of the customs union:
- Covered: industrial goods such as machinery, textiles and clothing, furniture, building materials, automotive parts, marble and processed natural stone, and processed agricultural products such as pasta, biscuits and chocolate.
- Not covered: basic agricultural products such as fresh fruit, vegetables and cut flowers, and certain steel products that fall under the former European Coal and Steel Community regime. For preferential duty on these goods in the EU, a EUR.1 certificate or an origin declaration is normally used.
In practice, if you buy marble slabs, furniture or textiles in Antalya for delivery to the EU, an A.TR is issued. For tomatoes, peppers or citrus going to the EU, it is EUR.1 plus a phytosanitary certificate, not A.TR. If you are unsure which regime applies, ask the customs broker to check the tariff code before the order is confirmed.
Who issues and endorses the A.TR movement certificate
Three parties are involved in the process:
| Step | Who does it | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Obtaining the form | Exporter or its customs broker | Forms are sold by chambers of commerce (TOBB network), exporters' associations (TİM) and TESK |
| Completing the certificate | Exporter or authorised representative | Submitted through the electronic origin and movement certificate system of the Turkish Ministry of Trade |
| Endorsement | The chamber or association that sold the form | Each body endorses only the forms it has sold |
| Customs stamp | Turkish customs | Stamped together with the export declaration |
Companies that export regularly and meet the conditions can obtain approved exporter status, which speeds up issuing. The fees for the form and endorsement are set in Turkey each year and are paid by the exporter. For you as a buyer, the important point is that the supplier includes the certificate in its scope of work and that the data matches the invoice.
A.TR, EUR.1 and certificate of origin compared
These three documents are the ones most often confused:
| Document | What it proves | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|
| A.TR movement certificate | Free circulation of the goods in Turkey | EU: industrial and processed agricultural goods |
| EUR.1 movement certificate | Preferential origin | Countries with which Turkey has free or preferential trade agreements; EU for basic agricultural products |
| Certificate of origin (non-preferential) | The country where the goods were produced | Countries without such agreements, including most shipments to Russia and Central Asia |
What to ask for instead in the EAEU and Central Asia
For imports into Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan or Tajikistan, an A.TR is not required and gives no benefit. The customs broker in the destination country will normally ask for a non-preferential certificate of origin issued by a Turkish chamber of commerce, plus product-specific documents: an EAC certificate or declaration of conformity, and phytosanitary or veterinary certificates where relevant.
Turkey was removed from the list of countries that use the Eurasian Economic Union's system of tariff preferences, so Turkish goods entering the union are generally charged full common-tariff rates, and a Form A certificate does not reduce duty. The CIS certificate ST-1 is not an option either: it confirms origin from CIS countries under the CIS free trade agreement and is not issued in Turkey.
Uzbekistan is a special case: Turkey and Uzbekistan have a preferential trade agreement, so a preferential origin document may apply to goods on its product list. Whether your tariff code qualifies must be checked with your broker before ordering. Step-by-step clearance is covered in our customs clearance guide.
The A.TR on a road shipment to Europe
On a truck heading to the EU, the A.TR never travels alone. The set usually includes the commercial invoice, packing list, export declaration, A.TR, the CMR consignment note and, for transit, a TIR carnet or an NCTS transit declaration. The data on the A.TR must match the other documents exactly.
The mistakes we see most often:
- number of packages or gross weight differs between the invoice and the A.TR;
- the goods description is too general ("various goods");
- an A.TR is issued for goods outside the customs union, such as fresh vegetables;
- documents of different shippers are mixed up in a groupage load;
- the truck leaves before endorsement or the customs stamp is complete.
Most of these can be prevented with one document check before loading. For the German market in particular, see our article on road freight from Turkey to Germany.
What happens if the A.TR is late or missing
Goods can still enter the EU without an A.TR, but EU customs will then charge third-country duty. Who pays depends on the delivery terms: under DAP or DDP, as explained in our guide to Incoterms 2020, the extra cost falls on the seller.
If the certificate was not issued at the time of export, the rules allow it to be issued retrospectively under certain conditions. As a general rule, an A.TR movement certificate should be presented to customs in the importing country within four months of its date of issue; confirm current deadlines and exceptions with your broker.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the A.TR movement certificate?
The exporter or its representative, usually a customs broker, completes it in the electronic system. The chamber or exporters' association endorses it, and Turkish customs stamps it.
Do I need an A.TR to import into Russia or Kazakhstan?
No. The A.TR is used only in trade between Turkey and the EU. For the EAEU and Central Asia you need a certificate of origin and product-specific documents.
Can an ST-1 certificate be used for Turkish goods?
No. The ST-1 confirms origin from CIS countries and is issued only there. For goods made in Turkey, a Turkish chamber of commerce issues the certificate of origin.
Is an A.TR needed for fresh fruit and vegetables going to the EU?
No. Basic agricultural products are outside the customs union; EUR.1 is normally used for preferential duty, together with a phytosanitary certificate.
BNK Logistics (BNK Lojistik), based in Muratpaşa, Antalya, moves full and groupage loads from Turkey to Europe, Russia and Central Asia, and checks the document set with your supplier before loading: A.TR and CMR for the EU, a certificate of origin for the EAEU and Central Asia. Send your cargo details through our quote form or call +90 542 485 53 70 or message us on WhatsApp at +90 545 485 53 70.