What Is an A.TR Certificate? Turkey-EU Customs Union Document
The A.TR movement certificate enables industrial goods to move duty-free between Turkey and EU member states under the Customs Union Agreement. It is the most important trade document for Turkey-EU commerce, covering 85%+ of bilateral trade.
What Is an A.TR?
The A.TR movement certificate is the document that enables industrial goods to move duty-free between Turkey and the 27 EU member states under the Turkey-EU Customs Union (Decision 1/95). It is the single most important trade document for Turkey-EU commerce. Over 85% of Turkey-EU trade is conducted under A.TR certificates.
Critical distinction: A.TR is a free circulation document, not an origin document. It certifies that goods are in free circulation within the Customs Union area, regardless of where they were originally manufactured.
What A.TR Covers
Covered
- Industrial goods (textiles, machinery, electronics, furniture, etc.)
- Certain processed agricultural products
- Third-country goods that have entered free circulation in Turkey (duties paid)
Not Covered
- Raw agricultural products (use EUR.1)
- ECSC products (coal, steel - separate arrangement)
- Products outside the Customs Union scope
Key Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Validity | 4 months from issue date |
| Issued by | Export customs authority |
| Retroactive issue | Possible ("issued retrospectively") |
| Electronic version | e-ATR system active, accepted by most EU countries |
| Cost | Included in customs broker fee (typically 50-150 EUR extra) |
The Duty-Free Benefit
Without A.TR, EU customs applies standard (MFN) duty rates on Turkish goods, which can range from 3% to 20%+ depending on the product. With A.TR, the rate drops to 0%. For a 10,000 EUR shipment, this can mean 300-2,000 EUR in savings.
Kolay Parsiyel includes A.TR certificate processing as part of its standard Turkey-Europe shipping service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any product get an A.TR?
Only Customs Union-covered industrial goods and certain processed agricultural products. Raw agriculture requires EUR.1.
Without A.TR, what happens?
Standard MFN customs duty applies (3-20%+). A.TR eliminates this cost.
A.TR vs EUR.1?
A.TR: free circulation document for Turkey-EU (industrial). EUR.1: origin document for FTA countries. Different documents for different purposes.
Can Chinese goods shipped via Turkey use A.TR?
Yes, if they entered Turkish free circulation (duties paid in Turkey). A.TR certifies free circulation status, not origin.
References
- EU-Turkey Customs Union Decision 1/95
- European Commission Customs
- Turkish Ministry of Trade
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