What Is the A.TR Movement Certificate and What Is It For?
The A.TR is one of the documents you hear about most in trade between Türkiye and the European Union. Here is what it is, which products it covers, how it differs from proofs of origin and the rules to keep in mind.
What is the A.TR movement certificate?
The A.TR movement certificate is a document used within the Customs Union between Türkiye and the European Union. It shows that goods are in free circulation in Türkiye or in the European Union. When goods in free circulation are sent to the other part of the Customs Union, this certificate allows them to benefit from the preferential treatment the Customs Union provides.
You can find the other documents you may come across in an international shipment in our guide to essential customs documents.
The A.TR is not a certificate of origin
This is the point that is confused most often. The A.TR does not show where the goods were produced; it shows that they are in free circulation within the Customs Union. For that reason, an A.TR can also be issued for goods produced in a third country, once import formalities have been completed and the goods have entered free circulation in Türkiye or the European Union. When the origin of the goods needs to be proved, proofs of origin are used instead.
Which products is it used for?
- Used for: industrial products and processed agricultural products covered by the Customs Union.
- Not used for: agricultural products and coal and steel products. For these, proofs of origin such as the EUR.1 are used instead of the A.TR.
Who issues and endorses the certificate?
The A.TR is made out at the exporter's request and is endorsed by the customs authorities of the exporting country when the goods are exported. In Türkiye, applications are made through authorised bodies such as chambers of commerce and industry; the certificate becomes valid once it is endorsed by customs.
Companies that export frequently and regularly can be authorised by customs as an approved exporter and use a simplified procedure.
Rules to keep in mind
| Subject | Rule |
|---|---|
| Time limit | The certificate must be submitted to the customs authorities of the importing country within four months of the date of issue. |
| Direct transport | The goods must be transported directly between the two parts of the Customs Union. |
| Issue after export | If it was not issued at the time of export because of an error or an involuntary omission, the certificate can also be issued afterwards. |
| Duplicate | If the certificate is stolen, lost or destroyed, a duplicate can be requested from the customs office that endorsed it. |
A.TR compared with proofs of origin
| Document | What does it show? | Where is it used? |
|---|---|---|
| A.TR | That the goods are in free circulation | Industrial products and processed agricultural products in Türkiye–EU trade |
| EUR.1 | The preferential origin of the goods | Agricultural products and coal and steel products in Türkiye–EU trade; trade with countries under a free trade agreement |
| Certificate of origin | The country where the goods were produced | Cases where the buyer or the importing country asks for origin information |
Common mistakes
- Details on the certificate that do not match the commercial invoice and other documents,
- Preparing an A.TR for a product that is not covered by the Customs Union,
- Submitting the certificate after the four-month period has passed,
- Treating the A.TR as a certificate of origin and not preparing a separate proof of origin when origin information is required.
Frequently asked questions
Can goods be exported to the European Union without an A.TR?
Yes, they can; however, the goods cannot benefit from the preferential treatment of the Customs Union, and customs duty may become payable in the destination country.
Can an A.TR and a certificate of origin be required together?
Yes. They certify different things: the A.TR shows free circulation, the certificate of origin shows the place of production. If the buyer or the legislation of the importing country requires origin information, both are issued.
Is the A.TR also used for imports into Türkiye?
Yes. The certificate works in both directions: for goods in free circulation coming from the European Union to Türkiye, the A.TR is issued in the exporting member state.
This article is for general information only. Regulations and practices vary by country and product and may change over time; contact our team for advice specific to your shipment.
