Four documents always, the rest by country.
Every export from Turkey carries four documents: the commercial invoice, the packing list, the customs declaration and the transport document. On top comes an origin or movement certificate chosen by destination — A.TR for industrial goods to the EU, EUR.1 for free-trade-agreement countries and for agricultural goods to the EU, a certificate of origin where no preference is claimed — and, depending on the product, a health, inspection, analysis or insurance document. Who issues each and when it is needed is below; none of them can be issued "afterwards", once the shipment has left.
The four core documents
| Document | Who issues | Who certifies | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Exporter | Chamber or consulate if the destination requires it | The document of the sale; customs value and the credit presentation rest on it. A proforma invoice is not binding — unless the credit refers to it. |
| Packing list / weight note | Exporter | — | Number of packages, gross and net weight, dimensions. Customs inspection, insurance claims and load planning use it more than the invoice. |
| Customs declaration | Exporter or customs broker (electronic) | Exporters' association approval, customs registration | The official statement of the export; tariff code, value, origin and delivery term are here. The goods cannot leave until it is closed. |
| Transport document | Carrier or its agent | — | Bill of lading, sea waybill, AWB, CMR, CIM. Proves the shipment date and delivery condition; the type is chosen by delivery term and payment method. |
Origin and movement certificates: by country
These documents have similar names and different functions. The wrong one means the buyer loses the tariff preference or the goods wait at customs. The choice turns on three questions: which destination, industrial or agricultural goods, and is preferential treatment claimed.
| Destination | Goods | Certificate | What it proves | Issued / certified by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU member state | Industrial goods (customs union scope) | A.TR | Free circulation — not origin | Exporter prepares; chamber certifies; customs endorses |
| EU member state | Agricultural goods, ECSC (coal and steel) goods | EUR.1 | Preferential origin | Exporter prepares; chamber certifies; customs endorses |
| EFTA, United Kingdom, other FTA partners | Goods covered by the agreement | EUR.1 (or invoice declaration) | Preferential origin | Same; approved exporters or low-value consignments may use an invoice declaration |
| Pan-Euro-Mediterranean cumulation countries | Goods with inputs from several agreement countries | EUR-MED | Preferential origin with cumulation | Same; a supplier's declaration is required |
| Countries without a preference | Any goods | Certificate of origin | Non-preferential origin | Exporter prepares; chamber of commerce or industry certifies |
| Some Middle East countries | Any goods | Certified / consular invoice | Confirmation of origin and value | Chamber certification, then the destination country's consulate |
Remember that the A.TR is not a proof of origin: third-country-origin goods can be in free circulation under an A.TR and still be subject to anti-dumping duty. Detail: A.TR or EUR.1. According to OAİB, an A.TR must be presented to destination customs within 4 months of issue.
Additional documents by product
- Phytosanitary certificate
- For plant products. Issued by the provincial directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. According to OAİB it is valid 10 days for fresh and 20 days for dried products; re-inspection at destination is possible.
- Veterinary health certificate
- Live animals, meat, dairy, seafood. Provincial directorates of the Ministry; separate certificate types by product group.
- Food safety / health certificate
- Food and food-contact packaging other than meat, dairy and dried fruit; approved by the Ministry's provincial directorates.
- Inspection certificate (kontrol belgesi)
- Mandatory for agricultural products under the foreign-trade technical regulation and standardisation rules; issued by the Ministry of Trade regional directorates (standardisation inspectors).
- Certificate of analysis
- Composition, moisture, melting point for chemicals, paints, cement, acids; producer or inspection company.
- Survey / inspection report
- Independent third-party check the buyer requires in the contract — quantity, quality, packaging, loading; international inspection companies.
- Halal / kosher certificate
- For food, especially meat and dairy, depending on the destination market; the relevant religious certification bodies.
- Radiation analysis certificate
- Required by the EU for certain products such as wild mushrooms; analysis report from the competent authority.
- CITES certificate
- Endangered animal and plant species and their products; must accompany the declaration.
- ISPM 15 mark
- Not a document but a stamp: wooden pallets and packaging must be heat-treated and marked; unmarked packaging can be refused at destination. Detail: pallet page.
- Dangerous goods declaration and safety data sheet
- For goods under IMDG/ADR, the shipper's dangerous goods declaration (DGD) and SDS; no carrier accepts a booking without them.
- Insurance policy or certificate
- Mandatory on CIF/CIP sales and presented as a document where the credit requires it; issued by the insurer. For the credit rules see the letter of credit page.
Transport documents: by mode
| Mode | Document | Represents the goods | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea | Bill of lading (B/L) or sea waybill | Bill of lading yes, sea waybill no | Credits usually call for a "full set 3/3 original" — detail |
| Air | Air waybill (AWB) | No | Not negotiable; MAWB/HAWB distinction |
| Road | CMR note | No | Carrier liability under the CMR Convention |
| Rail | CIM consignment note | No | Made out to a named party |
| Multimodal / forwarder | FIATA FBL, FCR | FBL yes, FCR no | Accepted by banks where the credit allows |
Temporary export: ATA and TIR carnets
The ATA carnet lets exhibition material, samples and professional equipment leave temporarily for several countries duty-free on one document; in Turkey it is issued by TOBB and authorised chambers and is valid one year. It cannot be used for goods to be sold. The TIR carnet stands in for the customs guarantee in international road transit by sealed vehicle; no inspection or deposit is needed in the countries of transit.
The order of the documents
Close the document list with the buyer at contract stage, not in the week of loading. The destination country's requirements, the certificates the product is subject to and field 46A of the credit are read together; if one is missing the goods wait at customs and the clocks run.
Invoice, packing list and declaration must carry the same figures. Package count, gross and net weight and goods description identical on all three; a difference means inspection, and a discrepancy under the credit.
When it goes wrong
The A.TR expired
The certificate was issued, the goods shipped months later; destination customs refused it because the 4-month period had passed. The buyer pays full duty and passes the difference to the seller.
EUR.1 for goods that do not meet the origin rule
The share of imported inputs exceeds the rule of origin in the agreement; a EUR.1 is issued anyway. Destination customs requests post-clearance verification, the certificate is cancelled and a penalty follows.
Invoice and packing list conflict
12 pallets on the invoice, 11 pallets and 1 carton on the packing list. Inspection at customs, discrepancy under the credit.
Wooden pallets without the stamp
Goods shipped on pallets without the ISPM 15 mark are refused in the destination country; the goods are transferred or sent back.
Health certificate requested after loading
The certificate needs an inspection; it cannot be issued once the container is sealed. The load is opened and delayed.
Frequently asked
Are an A.TR and a certificate of origin both needed?
For most imports into the EU the A.TR is enough. But the buyer — especially for goods subject to anti-dumping or rules of origin — may also ask for a certificate of origin, because the A.TR does not prove origin. Ask the buyer at contract stage.
Who prepares the documents: exporter, forwarder or broker?
The exporter prepares the invoice and packing list; the customs broker (or the exporter) the declaration; the carrier the transport document; the exporter prepares origin and movement certificates, the chamber certifies and customs endorses them; the Ministry issues health certificates. As forwarder we make sure the list is complete and consistent and check the transport document against the credit.
When does an invoice declaration replace the EUR.1?
Under free trade agreements, origin may be proved by a declaration on the invoice for consignments below a set value or by companies holding approved exporter status; the value threshold and status conditions vary by agreement. Confirm by product and country with your customs broker.
Sources
- Central Anatolian Exporters' Associations (OAİB) — Export documents (summary) Definitions, issuing and certifying bodies; A.TR 4 months, phytosanitary certificate 10/20 days validity · oaib.org.tr · accessed 5 Sep 2026
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade — Delivery term codes and customs value FAQ Codes used on declarations; the limit for including freight and insurance in the value · ticaret.gov.tr · accessed 5 Sep 2026
- ICC — UCP 600 and ISBP 821 Document presentation and examination standard under a credit · library.iccwbo.org · accessed 5 Sep 2026
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard Treatment and marking of wood packaging material · ippc.int · accessed 5 Sep 2026
This page is for information only and is not legal or customs advice. Document requirements vary by destination, product and agreement text and are updated; confirm with your customs broker and buyer before shipment. This page makes no claim to fees, time commitments or a complete list per country.
Change log
- Page published. Document definitions and issuing bodies from the OAİB document guide; the GSP Form A country list was left out because its currency could not be verified.