A.TR Certificate: How It Is Issued, How Long It Is Valid and How to Verify It

How is an A.TR certificate issued? Step by step

Issuing takes eight steps. The table combines TİM's description with Turkish customs communiqués; the certificate is processed in the Origin and Movement Certificates Automation System (MEDOS).

Where does the blank form come from, and who applies?

According to TİM, the exporter or its legal representative prepares the certificate. The forms are printed by TOBB (the union of chambers of commerce and commodity exchanges), TİM and TESK (the confederation of tradesmen and craftsmen) and sold by the chambers and associations they authorize, which approve only the forms they sold (Series No: 148, Art. 4 and 5); TİM describes the exporters' association route, so if you buy from a chamber, confirm the same steps with that body.

If a customs broker acts under a power of attorney, be clear in whose name the form is bought: a form bought from a broker can be used only for the companies that broker represents, and forms cannot be given or sold to other persons or firms (Series No: 148, Art. 5/3). A form not processed in the electronic system within one year of sale becomes invalid (Series No: 148, Art. 5/4-b; the period was raised from six months to one year by Series No: 205, effective August 1, 2024).

Which documents do apparel exporters upload?

TİM says documents showing the goods are in free circulation in Turkey are uploaded; it gives no fixed list, and the association sets the current one. As a Tekstil Rehberi suggestion, keep these ready: the export invoice and packing list; for imported fabric or trims, import declarations and duty payment records; for materials bought in Turkey, supplier invoices. The Irish customs guide to the A.TR likewise lists sales invoices and import declarations showing that duty on imported raw materials was paid among the documents an officer may request (Revenue). The association's list takes priority.

How long is an A.TR certificate valid? Presentation deadline

The legislation sets a presentation deadline: the certificate is presented to the customs of the importing country within four months of the date the customs administration gives its visa (Decision 2006/10895, Art. 18/1; Ministry of Trade Circular, January 11, 2020). The customs guide of EU member state Ireland states the same rule: four months from the date of customs endorsement (Revenue).

The Circular is addressed to Turkish customs; for a late certificate in the EU, the importing customs office decides.

As a Tekstil Rehberi suggestion, write the visa date in the shipment file, tell the buyer, and have your customs broker calculate the last presentation day. How the certificate is presented to EU customs is set by the rules of the importing state (European Commission information note; Decision 1/2006, Art. 10); get the details from the buyer's broker.

A.TR certificate sample: what goes in each box

The boxes follow the specimen in Annex I of Decision 1/2006. The box titles follow the A.TR completion guide of the Irish tax and customs administration (Revenue); the descriptions in the third column are Tekstil Rehberi's summary of its instructions.

Boxes 14 and 15 are only for customs verification procedures carried out afterwards (Revenue). The goods description, quantity and weight must agree with the invoice, packing list and declaration; the customs directorate compares the type, nature and quantity of the export goods with the certificate record in MEDOS and the declaration (Communiqué Series No: 10, Art. 7).

Electronic A.TR, QR code and the wet-signature rule

For electronically issued A.TR certificates in Turkey, the signature practice changed twice within a short time:

If your buyer still wants a wet-signed or stamped certificate, ask whether that comes from legislation or from a contract or letter-of-credit condition; in a letter of credit, the credit text decides which documents are required.

How do you verify an A.TR certificate?

There are two separate routes.

The QR code on the certificate. According to the European Commission's note, the authenticity of an A.TR issued electronically in Turkey is checked through a link unique to each certificate. The link begins with mdc.gtb.gov.tr, uygulama.gtb.gov.tr, istanbul.ebirlik.net or ankara.ebirlik.net/dolasim/app, and is opened by scanning the QR code or typing the path written on the certificate. According to the Ministry of Trade, a certificate's authenticity can be queried electronically at customs through the QR code (May 15, 2018). The link of an e-commerce A.TR issued for a courier or postal shipment under the BGB begins with mdc-bgb.ticaret.gov.tr (Ministry of Trade BGB guide, 2026). The Commission note is dated July 2024; domain names may change.

Query between customs administrations. Since January 4, 2016, the Ministry of Trade has let the customs administrations of importing countries query the validity of A.TR, EUR.1 and EUR-MED certificates approved in Turkey electronically, with a username and password given to foreign customs administrations (announcement of January 5, 2016).

As a Tekstil Rehberi suggestion, scan the QR code yourself before shipment and send the link to the buyer. If the link does not go to one of the domains above, confirm the certificate with the association that issued it.

Which market needs which document?

An A.TR covers only goods shipped directly between Turkey and the EU (Decision No 1/2006, Art. 6/2); which countries that includes is explained in our glossary entry on the A.TR. The table shows three cases an apparel exporter selling to the EU and to markets outside it often meets.

The last row applies only to BGB consignments valued up to €150; for higher-value consignments, settle the route with your courier and customs broker. The EU is one of Turkey's main apparel markets; for annual market and product detail, see Turkey textile and apparel exports.

Imported fabric or trims: free circulation

The A.TR shows free-circulation status. Under Communiqué Series No: 10, Art. 8, a product containing third-country inputs counts as in free circulation if the inputs' import formalities are complete, their duties paid and no refund obtained; the glossary entry has the details and a hypothetical example. Because documents showing free circulation are uploaded with the application, keep import declarations and duty payment records (TİM).

If the factory uses inward processing (inputs imported duty-free or with a refund), ask your customs broker, before the form is bought, whether the product can go to the EU with an A.TR.

Pre-shipment checklist for apparel going to the EU

This list is a Tekstil Rehberi suggestion, not an official form.

1. Do the consignee's name and address, the goods description, quantity and gross weight agree across the invoice, packing list, declaration and certificate?
2. Is the product's tariff code (GTİP) covered by the A.TR and the same as on the declaration?
3. Is it written in the quote or contract who arranges the A.TR? Under a delivery term such as FOB, export clearance is the seller's job; state the responsibility for the certificate separately. Association approval and the visa take time: does the lead time include them?
4. Are the documents showing free circulation (import declarations, duty payment records) ready? If inward processing is used, has the customs broker been consulted?
5. Who bought the blank form, in which company's name, and will it be used within one year of the sale?
6. Has the visa date been noted, the last day of the four-month presentation window calculated and the buyer informed?
7. Do the QR code and verification link work? Scan the certificate yourself.
8. Who will receive the certificate at the buyer, and how? In a letter-of-credit sale, does the document list match the credit text?
9. Are the certificate, the application file and its attachments archived? Importing-country authorities can later ask Turkey to verify the certificate (Ministry of Trade, January 5, 2016).

An EU buyer may ask for compliance documents and a social audit in addition to the customs paperwork; these are separate processes (see the textile certifications guide and the BSCI audit guide).

Next steps

First settle who will buy the certificate, then collect the documents showing free circulation before the first shipment. For customs brokers and forwarders, see logistics and customs companies; for manufacturers selling to the EU, see ready-to-wear manufacturers. To find and vet Turkish suppliers in the first place, read clothing manufacturers in Turkey and fabric suppliers in Turkey. Check each listed company's documents and references yourself before placing work. The information here is general; make legal, tax and customs decisions on your own shipments with your exporters' association and customs broker.