Overview
Türkiye sits at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East, which makes it one of the most efficient sourcing and distribution hubs in the region.
Whether you are bringing in machinery from the European Union, raw materials from Asia, or finished goods for resale across Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, a successful import depends on three things: correct tariff classification, complete and consistent documentation, and a clearance strategy chosen before the goods ship — not after they arrive at the border.
Thanks to the EU–Türkiye Customs Union, most industrial goods originating in the EU enter Türkiye free of customs duty when accompanied by a valid A.TR Movement Certificate. Our role is to plan the whole journey around advantages like this: we classify your goods, confirm which permits and certificates apply, coordinate freight, and file the customs declaration through a licensed customs broker.
Who can import into Türkiye
Under the Turkish Import Regime, any natural or legal person holding a Turkish tax number (Vergi Numarası) may carry out import transactions. For most foreign businesses this means establishing a local company or branch office first, so that every customs transaction can be tied to a valid tax identity.
Customs declarations are submitted electronically and, in practice, are filed by a licensed customs broker (Gümrük Müşaviri) on the importer's behalf. We coordinate directly with brokers on both sides of the border, so you deal with a single point of contact rather than a chain of intermediaries.
Before you commit to a supplier, ask us for a landed-cost estimate. Knowing the duty, VAT and freight up front is the difference between a profitable order and a surprise at the border.
The import process, step by step
1 · Classify the goods (HS / GTİP code)
Every product has a tariff code that determines the duty rate, VAT and any permits. We confirm the correct 12-digit GTİP code before anything ships — a single wrong digit can freeze a shipment at customs.
2 · Check permits, standards & TAREKS
We verify whether the goods need a control certificate, health or phytosanitary certificate, CE conformity, or a risk-based TAREKS inspection — and secure them before arrival.
3 · Supplier, Incoterms & contract
We help you fix the right Incoterms 2020 rule (EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP…) so responsibility and risk are clear, and the commercial invoice matches the agreed terms.
4 · Pre-shipment inspection
Where it protects you — or where the destination market requires it — we arrange independent inspection (quantity, quality, loading) before the cargo leaves origin.
5 · Book freight & insurance
Road, sea, air or multimodal — we book the route that fits your budget and deadline, and arrange cargo insurance covering the full transit.
6 · Arrival & summary declaration
A summary declaration is lodged and the goods are presented to customs, entering temporary storage until a customs-approved use is assigned.
7 · Customs declaration (Beyanname)
The broker files the declaration through the BİLGE system. The shipment is routed to a red, yellow or green line — physical check, document check, or straight release.
8 · Pay duties & release for free circulation
Once duty, VAT and any special taxes are settled, the goods are released for free circulation and delivered to your warehouse or onward destination.
Required documents
The exact file depends on the product and origin, but a typical import file includes:
Commercial Invoice
Seller, buyer, HS code, unit price, total, Incoterms and payment terms — ideally bilingual.
Packing List
Carton/pallet contents, dimensions and gross/net weights, matching the invoice exactly.
B/L · AWB · CMR
The carrier's transport document — bill of lading (sea), air waybill (air) or CMR (road).
Certificate of Origin
Proves where the goods were produced; issued/attested by a Chamber of Commerce.
A.TR Movement Certificate
Grants Customs Union benefits — zero duty on most industrial goods moving between the EU and Türkiye.
EUR.1 Certificate
Preferential origin proof for agricultural and steel goods, and for free-trade-agreement partners.
Health / Phytosanitary
Mandatory for food, plant and animal products, issued by the competent authority at origin.
CE / Conformity
Safety and conformity marking for machinery, electronics, toys and many consumer goods.
Insurance Certificate
Required under CIF/CIP terms, and strongly recommended on every high-value shipment.
Duties, VAT & taxes
Three charges usually apply on import, all calculated from the HS code and the customs value:
| Charge | Applies to | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Duty | Most non-EU goods | Rate set by HS code; often 0% for EU-origin industrial goods with A.TR. |
| VAT (KDV) | Almost all imports | Charged on customs value + duty; recoverable for VAT-registered businesses. |
| Special Consumption Tax (ÖTV) | Select categories | Applies to items such as fuel, vehicles, alcohol and tobacco. |
The customs value is normally the transaction value (the price actually paid) plus freight and insurance to the Turkish border. Declaring a value below the real one is an offence and exposes you to back-taxes and penalties.
Special import regimes that can save you money
If you re-export, manufacture, or store goods, you may not need to pay full duty up front. We help you use the right regime:
- Inward Processing (Dahilde İşleme): import raw materials or components duty-suspended, process them, and export the finished product — duty is only due on goods that stay in Türkiye.
- Free Zones: store, consolidate or light-process goods in a Turkish free zone with customs and tax advantages, ideal for regional distribution.
- Temporary Import: bring in exhibition goods, tooling or equipment for a limited period with relief from import duty, often under an ATA Carnet.
- Bonded Warehousing: hold goods under customs supervision and defer duty and VAT until they are actually released to the market.
Import do's & don'ts
Do
- Confirm the HS/GTİP code and landed cost before you order.
- Keep invoice, packing list and transport documents perfectly consistent.
- Secure A.TR / EUR.1 and any permits before the goods ship.
- Use ISPM-15 heat-treated wood packaging for regional destinations.
- Work through a licensed customs broker and insure the cargo.
Don't
- Under-declare the value to reduce duty — the penalties cost far more.
- Guess the tariff code or copy it from an unrelated product.
- Ship regulated goods before the required certificate is in hand.
- Leave the A.TR / EUR.1 unsigned or unstamped by the Chamber.
- Assume a supplier's paperwork is correct without checking it.
Common mistakes we help you avoid
A mismatch between the invoice value and the transport documents — the single most common reason a shipment is held for inspection.
Missing or late Chamber of Commerce approval of the origin certificate — plan at least a couple of days for stamping.
Wrong Incoterms — buying EXW when you cannot legally handle export clearance at origin, and paying for it in delays.
Importing to Türkiye?
Send us your product and origin — you'll get a clearance-ready, all-in landed-cost estimate.