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Eurasia

Shipping from Europe to Turkey

Ship parcels and freight from Europe to Turkey — the EU-Turkey Customs Union delivers 0% duty on industrial goods, with 2–3 day express transit and both road and air options.

0% duty

Customs Union (industrial)

20%

KDV (Turkish VAT)

€30 (very low)

De minimis

2–3 days

Express transit

Turkey is a unique trading partner for the EU — geographically spanning Europe and Asia, Turkey has been in a Customs Union with the EU since 1996. The EU-Turkey Customs Union (Decision 1/95) provides 0% import duty on all industrial goods traded between the EU and Turkey. Agricultural products and processed food are NOT covered by the Customs Union and face separate duties. For European exporters, Turkey offers fast transit times (2–3 days by air; 3–5 days by road from Southern/Eastern Europe) and a large consumer market of 85 million people. KDV (Katma Değer Vergisi — Turkish VAT) is 20% since July 2023 (raised from 18%). Turkey's customs authority (Gümrük ve Ticaret Bakanlığı — Ministry of Customs and Trade) uses an electronic customs system called BİLGE. The de minimis for duty-free courier imports is low (€30), meaning most commercial shipments face customs assessment — however, Customs Union coverage means 0% duty for EU industrial goods regardless of value.

Customs Process for Turkey

BİLGE electronic declaration

Turkish customs uses the BİLGE system (Bilgisayarlı Gümrük Uygulamaları — Computerised Customs Applications) for all import declarations. Carriers submit electronic manifest data to Turkish customs before arrival. Istanbul International Airport Cargo (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) are the main air cargo gateways. Atatürk Airport (closed for passenger flights) is still used by some cargo operations. Road freight enters via Kapıkule (border with Bulgaria) and İpsala (border with Greece).

Customs Union industrial goods clearance

For EU-manufactured industrial goods: the EU-Turkey Customs Union (since 1996) provides 0% import duty and eliminates the need for import duty payment. A A.TR Movement Certificate (or EUR.1 for agricultural goods) proves the goods' EU origin and enables Customs Union treatment. The A.TR certificate is issued by the exporter's national customs authority and must accompany the shipment. For express courier: carriers can transmit Customs Union status electronically.

KDV (VAT) assessment

KDV at 20% (standard rate since July 2023) applies to all imported goods on the CIF value plus any applicable duty. Reduced rates: 10% on basic foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medical devices; 1% on some agricultural products. KDV is paid to Turkish customs at clearance by the carrier (DDP service) or the recipient, unless the importer is KDV-registered and can reclaim it.

TAREKS and technical regulation check

Many imported goods are subject to technical regulation checks through TAREKS (Trade Product Safety System). Products that fall under Turkish standards (TS) or EU-equivalent standards must be declared via TAREKS and may be subject to conformity assessment. Electrical goods, machinery, toys, construction products and other regulated categories are checked. CE marking is generally recognised in Turkey for TAREKS compliance.

EPDK / BTK licensing (energy/telecom)

Electricity-consuming devices require EPDK (Energy Market Regulatory Authority) compliance. Radio and telecommunications equipment requires BTK (Information and Communication Technologies Authority) type approval. EU-certified radio devices need additional BTK approval for commercial import and sale in Turkey.

Required Shipping Documents

Document	Required	Notes
Commercial Invoice	Mandatory	Full value in EUR or USD, HS code (Turkish tariff = EU Combined Nomenclature equivalent), description, country of origin, quantity, Incoterms. Recipient's Turkish tax ID (Vergi Kimlik Numarası — VKN) required for B2B.
A.TR Movement Certificate	Conditional	Proves EU Customs Union status for industrial goods — enables 0% duty. Issued by EU customs (in Portugal: by AT — Autoridade Tributária). Required for Customs Union benefit.
Airway Bill / CMR	Mandatory	Air freight: carrier AWB. Road freight: CMR consignment note (Turkey is signatory to CMR Convention).
Packing List	Mandatory	Required for customs clearance. Must list all goods with HS code and weight.
TAREKS Reference Number	Conditional	Required for regulated product categories (electronics, toys, machinery, CE-marked products) — enter in customs declaration.
EUR.1 (agricultural goods)	Conditional	Agricultural products and processed food not covered by EU-Turkey Customs Union — use EUR.1 to claim any applicable preference.

Import Duty & Tax Rates

Category	Rate	Notes
EU industrial goods (Customs Union)	0%	EU-Turkey Customs Union covers all industrial goods. Use A.TR certificate.
KDV (Turkish VAT)	20%	Standard KDV rate since July 2023 (raised from 18%). Applies on CIF value.
KDV reduced rate	10% / 1%	10% on basic food, medicines; 1% on some agricultural goods.
Agricultural products	Varies (5–150%)	Agriculture NOT covered by Customs Union. Turkish import duties on EU food/agricultural products vary widely.
Alcohol and tobacco	High ÖTV excise	ÖTV (Special Consumption Tax) applies to alcohol (50–275%) and tobacco. High effective rates.
Electronics (CE-marked)	0% + 20% KDV	EU electronics: 0% duty under Customs Union. CE marking recognised via TAREKS.
Vehicles	ÖTV 45–220%	Motor vehicles face high ÖTV special consumption tax — significant import cost even with Customs Union.
Cosmetics / healthcare	0% + 20% KDV	Industrial cosmetics: 0% Customs Union duty. Food supplements: different classification.

Best Carriers to Turkey

Carrier	Service	Transit	Tracking	Notes
DHL Express	Worldwide Express	2–3 days	✓	Best EU–Turkey carrier. DHL strong Turkish network. Istanbul hub integration. Turkish BİLGE system expertise.
UPS	Worldwide Express Saver	2–3 days	✓	UPS Turkey strong, particularly for B2B Istanbul and major Turkish cities.
FedEx / TNT	International Priority / Economy	2–4 days	✓	FedEx (integrating former TNT Turkey network) competitive for EU-Turkey. TNT historically strong in Turkey.
Road freight (LTL/FTL)	EU-Turkey TIR road	3–5 days	✓	Road freight from EU (via Bulgaria/Greece border). DHL Freight, DB Schenker, DSV run regular Turkey services. CMR + TIR Carnet for road freight.
Turkish Airlines Cargo	Air cargo	1–2 days	✓	Turkish Airlines Istanbul hub is world's largest single-terminal cargo hub. Competitive air freight rates EU–Turkey.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

✗Narcotics and controlled substances without Ministry of Health permit

✗Firearms and ammunition without permit (commercial quantities)

✗Counterfeit goods and pirated intellectual property

✗Endangered species (CITES) without Ministry of Agriculture permit

✗Obscene or pornographic material

✗Certain historical artefacts and antiquities (Turkish cultural heritage laws strict)

✗Gambling devices without licence

✗Products with misleading labelling (Turkish consumer protection law)

✗Radio/telecom equipment without BTK type approval for commercial purposes

Expert Tips for Shipping to Turkey

▸Use the A.TR Movement Certificate for all EU industrial goods shipments to Turkey — this is the proof document for EU-Turkey Customs Union 0% duty. The A.TR is issued by your national customs authority alongside the export declaration. In Portugal: obtain from AT (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira). Without the A.TR, Turkish customs may apply standard MFN duties of 0–10% on industrial goods even though the Customs Union technically covers them — the A.TR is the evidence customs needs.
▸Always include the Turkish recipient's tax ID (Vergi Kimlik Numarası, VKN — 10 digits for companies) on the commercial invoice for B2B shipments to Turkey. Without the VKN, Turkish customs cannot correctly assign the import to the business importer for KDV registration purposes. The VKN is also needed for your Turkish business customer to reclaim the 20% KDV on their imports. For individual recipients (B2C): use the TC Kimlik Numarası (national ID number, 11 digits).
▸TAREKS (Trade Product Safety System) affects many product categories exported to Turkey — electronics, machinery, toys, construction materials, chemicals and others require TAREKS declaration and may face conformity checks. Turkish authorities generally recognize CE marking as evidence of conformity, but the product must be registered in TAREKS before the first commercial import. EU exporters: check TAREKS requirements for your product HS code at the Turkish Ministry of Trade website (trade.gov.tr).
▸Road freight from Portugal/Spain to Turkey via the Iberian Peninsula, France, Italy and Greece/Bulgaria is viable for larger volumes (LTL, FTL) and typically costs 30–60% less per kg than air express. Transit time is 5–8 days for road from Portugal to Istanbul. Major carriers (DHL Freight, DB Schenker, Ekol, Arkas) run regular Turkey services via TIR Carnet. CMR consignment note applies throughout Europe and Turkey (Turkey is CMR signatory).
▸Turkish e-commerce has grown rapidly — Trendyol and Hepsiburada are Turkey's dominant marketplaces. European B2C sellers can access Turkish consumers through these platforms without the direct-to-consumer customs complexity. Marketplace sellers: confirm whether the marketplace handles Turkish KDV and customs clearance on your behalf (most do for marketplace-facilitated sales).
▸Be aware that Turkey has high ÖTV (Special Consumption Tax) on alcohol and tobacco — effectively making spirits and wine from the EU significantly more expensive for Turkish consumers even though Customs Union provides 0% basic import duty. Factor ÖTV into landed cost calculations for alcohol/tobacco exports: spirits face ÖTV of 50–275% on the taxable value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the EU-Turkey Customs Union mean 0% duty for all EU goods?

The EU-Turkey Customs Union (Decision 1/95, in force since 1996) provides 0% import duty for EU-manufactured industrial goods exported to Turkey. However, the Customs Union does NOT cover: (1) Agricultural products and processed food — these face Turkish MFN import duties which can be substantial. (2) Services — the Customs Union is for goods only. (3) Public procurement, intellectual property services, and some other areas. To claim 0% duty under the Customs Union: use an A.TR Movement Certificate issued by your national customs authority. Without A.TR, Turkish customs may apply higher rates.

What is KDV and what rate applies to EU imports?

KDV (Katma Değer Vergisi) is Turkey's VAT system. The standard KDV rate is 20% (raised from 18% in July 2023). KDV applies to all imported goods in Turkey on the CIF value (invoice + freight + insurance). Reduced rates: 10% for basic foodstuffs, medicines, medical devices, some building materials; 1% for some agricultural products and basic food items; 0% for certain exported goods and some financial services. For imports: 20% KDV is almost always the applicable rate for consumer goods. KDV-registered Turkish businesses can reclaim import KDV — B2C consumers cannot.

Can I ship by road from Europe to Turkey?

Yes — Turkey is well-connected by road from the EU via two border crossings: Kapıkule (Bulgaria-Turkey border) and İpsala (Greece-Turkey border). Turkey is a signatory to the CMR Convention for road freight documentation and the TIR Convention for road transit. Major EU road freight carriers (DHL Freight, DB Schenker, DSV, Ekol, Arkas) run regular LTL and FTL services from most EU countries to Turkey. Road transit times: Portugal/Spain → Turkey: 5–8 days. France/Germany → Turkey: 4–6 days. Advantage of road vs air: significantly lower cost per kg for larger volumes (LTL/FTL). Customs formalities at Kapıkule include EU export declaration + A.TR + Turkish import declaration.

What is the TAREKS system and how does it affect imports to Turkey?

TAREKS (Trade Product Safety System) is Turkey's conformity control system for imported goods. Many product categories are subject to TAREKS registration and conformity checks as they enter Turkey. Products subject to TAREKS include: electronics and electrical equipment, machinery and power tools, toys and children's products, construction products, medical devices, cosmetics, chemical substances, personal protective equipment, and others. EU exporters must register in TAREKS before commercial import of regulated products. Turkey generally accepts CE marking as evidence of EU conformity — the TAREKS registration process verifies that the product carries required CE marking and/or applicable Turkish standards (TS). Contact the Turkish Ministry of Trade (trade.gov.tr) to check TAREKS requirements for your specific HS code.

How long does shipping from Europe to Turkey take?

Air express (DHL Express, UPS, FedEx/TNT): 2–3 business days from major EU cities to Istanbul. Turkish customs clearance via BİLGE system: 1–4 hours for clean commercial shipments. Total door-to-door time: typically 3–4 business days. Road freight LTL/FTL: 3–5 days from Germany/France; 5–8 days from Portugal/Spain. Turkish Airlines cargo from EU airports: 1–2 days for freight (without door-to-door service). Istanbul is Turkey's main cargo hub — Ankara, Izmir and other Turkish cities add 1–2 days domestic transit.

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