ATR Movement Certificate
ATR is the core trade document of the Turkey-EU Customs Union, letting industrial goods and processed agricultural products move duty-free between the two parties. Because it certifies free-circulation status rather than where the goods were produced, it is often confused with the certificate of origin and the EUR.1.
The ATR Movement Certificate is a document proving that goods moving between Turkey and EU member states are in free circulation under the Customs Union, granting customs-duty exemption at the counterparty's customs. It is not a certificate of origin; it only attests to the goods' free-circulation status.
What it does and where it is used
ATR grants customs-duty exemption on goods traded between Turkey and EU countries. When it is presented, the importing country's customs does not levy duty because the goods are accepted as being in free circulation.
- Scope: industrial products and processed agricultural products (goods covered by the Customs Union)
- Out of scope: unprocessed/basic agricultural products and coal-and-steel (ECSC) products; these need a EUR.1 for preferential origin
- What it proves: not the origin of the goods, but that they have entered free circulation in the EU or Turkish customs territory
Who issues it, who endorses it, and validity
The exporter (or its representative) fills in the certificate; it is not valid on its own and requires authorized-body approval and a customs visa.
- Endorsement: in Turkey it is approved by chambers (chambers of commerce/industry) and visaed by the customs authority
- Presentation window: the certificate must generally be presented to the importing country's customs within 4 months of the visa date
- Retrospective/duplicate: it can be issued after shipment, and a duplicate can be issued if lost; the relevant box is marked per the rules
Things to watch and common mistakes
The most common ATR mistake is treating it as a certificate of origin. ATR does not prove origin; goods of third-country origin that have entered free circulation in Turkey or the EU can also move under ATR.
- Do not confuse ATR with EUR.1: EUR.1 is for preferential origin (agriculture, coal-and-steel, or FTA countries), while ATR is for Customs Union free circulation
- Expired window: if the 4-month presentation period is missed, customs may not accept the certificate
- Missing approval/visa: a certificate without chamber approval or a customs visa is invalid
- Wrong scope: issuing an ATR for an out-of-scope product does not grant exemption
How it relates to Sighthem
ATR is not a separate module in Sighthem; for shipments to the EU it is tracked as part of the shipment's document set.
- Document tracking: ATR is kept in the shipment document set alongside the commercial invoice and packing list, so it is clear from one place which document is attached to which shipment
- Context: for EU-bound shipments, the operations team uses the document set to track that an ATR (or a EUR.1 for agriculture/steel) needs to be prepared
- Note: the official steps such as chamber approval and the customs visa are done outside Sighthem, before the authorized bodies
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ATR Movement Certificate a certificate of origin?
No. ATR does not prove the origin (country of manufacture) of the goods; it only shows that the goods are in free circulation under the Turkey-EU Customs Union. Goods of third-country origin that have entered free circulation in Turkey or the EU can also move under ATR.
What is the difference between ATR and EUR.1?
ATR is for the duty-free movement of industrial and processed agricultural goods within the Customs Union between Turkey and the EU, and it proves free-circulation status. EUR.1 is a preferential origin certificate, used for unprocessed agriculture and coal-and-steel products or trade with free-trade-agreement countries, and it proves the goods' preferential origin.
Who issues and endorses the ATR Movement Certificate?
The exporter or its representative fills it in. In Turkey the certificate is approved by chambers of commerce/industry and visaed by the customs authority; without chamber approval and the customs visa it is not considered valid.
How many months is the ATR certificate valid (presentation period)?
ATR must generally be presented to the importing country's customs within 4 months of the visa date. If this period is missed the certificate may not be accepted by customs; in case of delay, acceptance may be possible with a duly justified reason.
Keep your ATR, commercial invoice and packing list in one document set for EU-bound shipments, and never lose track of which document is attached to which shipment. Try Sighthem free for 14 days.
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