EUR.1 Movement Certificate
EUR.1 is the preferential-origin document that lets your goods clear customs in the destination country at a lower (often zero) duty; filled out correctly, it reduces your buyer's landed cost and gives you a competitive edge. This page explains what it does, which markets it is valid in, who issues it, how long it stays valid, and how it differs from the A.TR certificate.
An EUR.1 Movement Certificate is an official proof-of-origin document that certifies the preferential origin of goods exported to countries with which Turkey has a free trade agreement or preferential regime, enabling a reduced or zero customs duty in the destination country. It is issued on the exporter's application and endorsed by the customs authority of the exporting country.
What it does / which markets
EUR.1 proves that goods qualify for preferential origin, securing the agreed reduced or zero customs duty in the destination country. That is a direct cost advantage: the buyer pays less duty on the same product, so your offer lands cheaper than competitors'.
- Used for exports to countries Turkey has a free trade agreement (FTA) with (e.g. EFTA states, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Serbia and other FTA partners).
- With the EU it is used for agricultural products and coal-steel (ECSC scope) products; free circulation of industrial goods within the EU is instead covered by the A.TR certificate.
- It is assessed together with countries inside the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) cumulation of origin.
- For the certificate to be valid, the goods must meet the origin rules of the relevant agreement (sufficient working/value criterion or wholly obtained status).
Who issues it and validity
EUR.1 is issued on the application of the exporter or an authorised representative and is endorsed by the customs authority of the exporting country. In Turkey the application is usually filed through an authorised chamber or exporters' association, and the customs authority endorses the document.
- The applicant and responsible party is the exporter; the exporter is liable for the accuracy of the origin declaration.
- The official endorsement belongs to the customs authority; without it the certificate is not treated as preferential.
- Validity varies by agreement; under PEM it is generally 4 months from the date of issue. It must be presented to the destination customs within that period.
- If it was overlooked after the shipment left, an EUR.1 can be issued retrospectively where the agreement allows.
Watch-outs / common mistakes
Errors on an EUR.1 lead customs to reject the preferential tariff, leaving the buyer to pay full duty. The most common problems are avoidable up front.
- Issuing EUR.1 without meeting the origin rule: if the goods do not satisfy the agreement's origin criterion the certificate is invalid and you may face penalties later.
- Wrong market: when shipping industrial goods to the EU you need A.TR, not EUR.1; do not mix up the country and the product scope.
- Missing the validity window: if not presented to customs before the 4-month (agreement-specific) period expires, the preference is lost.
- Mismatch between the certificate and the invoice/origin: the goods description, quantity and country of origin must match the commercial invoice and other documents exactly.
- Being unprepared for a verification request: the destination customs may later ask for proof of origin; keep your production and input records.
How it relates to Sighthem
EUR.1 is not a separate module in Sighthem; it is tracked as part of the shipment's document set. That way you can see, in one place, which origin/movement certificate was prepared for which shipment.
- The certificate is kept in the shipment's document set and managed alongside the rest (commercial invoice, packing list, transport document).
- Because the product's customs classification (GTIP) lives on the product card, origin and tariff data stays consistent with the shipment paperwork.
- For sales that need preferential origin, the Incoterm and payment terms are set at the proforma/quotation stage, where the need for an EUR.1 is planned.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between EUR.1 and the A.TR certificate?
A.TR shows that industrial goods are in free circulation within the Turkey-EU Customs Union and is independent of origin. EUR.1 proves the preferential origin of goods and secures reduced customs duty in free-trade-agreement countries (and, with the EU, for agricultural and coal-steel products). In short, A.TR is about free circulation, EUR.1 is about preferential origin.
Who issues and endorses an EUR.1 certificate?
The certificate is prepared on the application of the exporter or an authorised representative and is endorsed by the customs authority of the exporting country. In Turkey the application is usually filed through an authorised chamber or exporters' association, while the official endorsement belongs to the customs authority. The exporter is responsible for the accuracy of the origin declaration.
How long is an EUR.1 certificate valid?
Validity depends on the relevant agreement, but under the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean cumulation it is generally 4 months from the date of issue. The certificate must be presented to the destination customs within this period; otherwise the preferential tariff may not apply.
Can an EUR.1 be obtained after the shipment has left?
Yes. If it was not issued at the time of export, the certificate can be issued retrospectively to the extent the relevant agreement allows, and this is noted on the document. Even so, the cleanest approach is to confirm the origin rule is met and prepare the certificate on time before shipping.
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