Türkiye’s position astride the trade routes between Europe, Asia and the Middle East makes it a natural base for importers and exporters, and its Customs Union with the European Union — in force since 1996 — lets most industrial goods move to and from the EU without customs duty. But the freedom to trade is not unconditional. A foreign company’s goods must be classified correctly, cleared under the right regime and, in many cases, satisfy permit, registration or product-safety requirements before they cross the border. Getting the regulatory position right at the planning stage is what keeps shipments moving and duties predictable.
The Import and Export Regime
Foreign trade in Türkiye is framed by two instruments: the Import Regime Decree (İthalat Rejimi Kararı) and the Export Regime Decree (İhracat Rejimi Kararı), each fleshed out by communiqués of the Ministry of Trade (Ticaret Bakanlığı). The Decrees set the default — that trade is free — and then carve out the goods that are not.
On the import side, most goods enter freely, but some require a permit, prior registration, or a conformity/product-safety control before release; others are placed under surveillance (gözetim) or subject to quotas. On the export side, exports are likewise generally free, though certain goods — some agricultural products, defence articles and dual-use items — need registration or a permit. Because the lists change with each year’s decrees and communiqués, the classification and regime should be confirmed for the specific product, not assumed. This is where clean customs clearance and valuation begins.
Permits, Registration and Product-Safety Control
The most common obstacle for a first-time importer is not duty but conformity. Regulated products must show that they meet Turkish technical standards before they can be sold, and the control is applied at the border.
| Requirement | What it means | Typical goods |
|---|---|---|
| CE marking | Conformity with EU/Turkish product directives | Machinery, electronics, medical devices, toys |
| TSE standards | Turkish Standards Institute certification | Products with a mandatory national standard |
| TAREKS | Risk-based electronic control of product safety at import | Goods under safety/conformity supervision |
TAREKS — the risk-based import supervision system — screens regulated consignments electronically and refers higher-risk shipments for physical inspection, so registration in the system and correct documentation are prerequisites for release. Getting conformity wrong stops the goods at customs, and storage costs mount while the position is corrected.
A product that is freely sold in its home market is not automatically clear for Türkiye. CE marking, a required TSE certificate or a TAREKS reference can each be a condition of release. Confirm the conformity requirements before the goods ship, not after they are sitting in a bonded warehouse.
Rules of Origin, Duty and Surveillance
Whether — and how much — duty is payable turns heavily on origin. Preferential origin, under the Customs Union or a free-trade agreement, can reduce or remove duty and is evidenced by a movement or origin certificate: an A.TR certificate for goods in free circulation with the EU, or a EUR.1 or EUR-MED certificate under the relevant free-trade agreement. Non-preferential origin, by contrast, governs trade-defence measures and labelling.
Origin also determines exposure to protective charges. Goods from countries with no free-trade agreement can attract Additional Customs Duty (İlave Gümrük Vergisi) or an Additional Financial Obligation (Ek Mali Yükümlülük) on top of the base rate, and dumped or subsidised imports can face additional trade-defence measures. Separately, goods under surveillance are monitored — often against a reference value — and quota goods may be imported only up to a set ceiling or under a licence. For manufacturers importing inputs to process and re-export, the inward-processing and free-zone regimes can suspend these charges altogether.
Exporting from Türkiye
Exporting carries its own framework. Before shipping, an exporter must be a member of an Exporters’ Association (İhracatçı Birlikleri), which registers the exporter and processes the export declaration. Membership is a precondition, not a formality to sort out later.
The tax position is favourable. Exports are exempt from VAT, and — importantly — the exporter keeps the right to deduct or reclaim the input VAT incurred on the goods and their production, so VAT does not become a sunk cost. Recovering that VAT efficiently is a recurring tax and VAT-refund exercise for active exporters. Export finance, in turn, is supported by Türk Eximbank, which provides credit, guarantees and insurance designed to support Turkish exporters in overseas markets.
The VAT exemption is only as good as the documentation behind it. Incomplete customs-exit evidence or mismatched invoices can delay or defeat an input-VAT refund. Keep the export file complete from the first shipment.
Our Approach
We advise foreign companies importing into or exporting from Türkiye across the full regulatory chain — classifying goods under the GTİP/HS code, confirming whether a permit, registration or conformity control applies, and structuring the origin position to keep duty predictable. On the export side, we assist with Exporters’ Association membership, the VAT-exemption and refund mechanics and access to Eximbank support, and we handle objections, post-clearance audits and disputes when they arise. Contact us to discuss your import or export operation in Türkiye.
How we support your import and export operations
- 01
Map the regime
We classify the goods under their GTİP/HS code and check whether they enter freely or need a permit, registration, surveillance control or quota under the Import or Export Regime Decree.
- 02
Handle permits and conformity
We identify the product-safety and conformity requirements — CE marking, TSE certification, TAREKS registration — and secure the permits or registrations the goods need before shipment.
- 03
Optimise duty and origin
We assess the origin position and the right certificate (A.TR, EUR.1, EUR-MED) to reduce or remove duty, and confirm exposure to additional customs duties, surveillance or quotas.
- 04
Set up the export side
We arrange Exporters' Association membership, structure VAT-exempt exports with input-VAT recovery, and help access Türk Eximbank credit, guarantees and insurance.
- 05
Manage compliance and disputes
We keep the operation compliant and handle objections, post-clearance audits and court challenges if a customs assessment or refund is contested.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit or licence to import goods into Türkiye?
Most goods can be imported freely under the Import Regime Decree, so a specific permit is the exception rather than the rule. However, certain goods require a permit, prior registration, or a product-safety and conformity control before they can be released, and some are placed under surveillance or subject to quotas. Because these lists are set by the annual Import Regime Decree and Ministry of Trade communiqués and change over time, the position should be confirmed for your specific product, identified by its GTİP/HS classification, before you ship.
What product-safety and conformity controls apply to imported goods?
Regulated products must show they meet the applicable technical standards before they can be placed on the Turkish market, and the check is made at import. In practice this means CE marking for goods covered by product directives (machinery, electronics, medical devices and the like), a TSE certificate from the Turkish Standards Institute where a mandatory national standard applies, and clearance through TAREKS — the risk-based electronic system that screens regulated consignments and refers higher-risk shipments for inspection. Missing or incorrect conformity documentation is a common reason for goods being held at customs.
How does an A.TR certificate reduce customs duty on imports from the EU?
Under the EU–Türkiye Customs Union, in force since 1996, most industrial goods and processed agricultural products move between Türkiye and the EU without customs duty. The A.TR movement certificate evidences that the goods are in free circulation within the Customs Union and so qualify for this treatment. It does not cover basic agricultural products, coal and steel, or services, which fall outside the Customs Union. For goods traded under a free-trade agreement rather than the Customs Union, a EUR.1 or EUR-MED certificate performs the equivalent role.
Do exporters have to join an Exporters' Association?
Yes. To export from Türkiye you must be a member of the relevant Exporters' Association (İhracatçı Birlikleri), which registers exporters and handles the export declaration process. Membership is a precondition of exporting, so it should be arranged before your first shipment. Exports are otherwise generally free, though a limited set of goods — including some agricultural products, defence articles and dual-use items — still requires registration or a permit.
How is VAT handled on exports, and what export finance is available?
Exports are exempt from VAT, and the exporter retains the right to deduct or reclaim the input VAT paid on the goods and their production, so VAT does not become a cost of exporting. Realising that refund depends on complete customs-exit and invoicing documentation. On the financing side, Türk Eximbank supports exporters with credit, guarantees and export-credit insurance aimed at Turkish exporters selling into overseas markets.
What are import surveillance and quotas?
Surveillance (gözetim) is a monitoring measure: certain goods are watched at import, often against a reference value, so that a declared price below that value triggers closer scrutiny. Quotas limit the quantity of a given good that may be imported within a period, sometimes requiring a licence to import within the ceiling. Both are set through the Import Regime Decree and Ministry of Trade communiqués and are used, alongside additional customs duties, to manage import flows and protect domestic industry. Whether either applies depends on the product's classification and origin.