A.TR movement certificate: EU-Türkiye customs union trade explained

Free circulation, not origin

The A.TR certificate proves that goods are in free circulation in the customs union between the EU and Türkiye, and presenting it at import allows nil customs duties to be claimed. If the goods are not in free circulation, an A.TR cannot be issued. Goods imported into the EU or Türkiye from third countries qualify once all import formalities are completed and the duties have been paid and not repaid, and so do goods made in the EU or Türkiye from such materials or parts.

Goods under inward processing, goods released under end-use and exported before the required use, and certain EU or Turkish agricultural and marine products cannot use the A.TR; those agricultural products use the origin-based EUR.1 scheme, so check TARIC to see which applies.

Filling in and endorsing the A.TR

• The exporter completes the form and signs box 13; a forwarding agent signs only with written authority.
• Customs of the exporting country completes and authenticates box 12, including the MRN of the export declaration.
• Boxes 14 and 15 are used only by customs during post-verification.
• The certificate must be presented to the importing customs office within four months of endorsement.
• If the goods left before the application, box 8 must say "Issued retrospectively", with the place and date of export and the reason.
• For a stolen, lost or destroyed certificate, a duplicate marked "Duplicate" in box 8 shows the original serial number and date.

Electronic A.TR certificates

From 8 July 2024, EU customs administrations were invited to accept A.TR certificates issued electronically by Türkiye on or after that date, carrying a QR code and without a wet-ink signature, when presented at import. A formal decision of the EU-Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee was in preparation at the time; the arrangement rests on Decision 1/2006, which implements Decision 1/95 on the customs union. Exporters should keep copies of all supporting documents for post-verification.