Proof of Origin Guide: A.TR, EUR.1, Origin Declarations and Certificates of Origin

Whether goods exported from Turkey enter the buyer’s country at a reduced or zero duty rate often depends on having the right proof of origin. With the wrong document, your buyer pays full duty, chases a refund later and prices that into the next order. This guide explains what the A.TR, EUR.1, EUR-MED, origin declaration and certificate of origin are for, which one applies to which country, and where to get them in Turkey.

Why proof of origin matters

Origin means the country where goods were produced or, under the applicable rules, sufficiently processed. There are two types:

Preferential origin: Needed to benefit from duty reductions under free trade agreements (FTAs) and similar arrangements. It is determined by the agreement’s origin rules and proven with an EUR.1 or an origin declaration.
Non-preferential origin: Gives no duty advantage, but is used for import statistics, trade policy measures, letter of credit conditions or a general requirement of the importing country. It is proven with a certificate of origin.

Which document you need depends on the product, the destination and the agreement between the two countries.

Preferential origin also involves cumulation: agreements may allow inputs from certain partner countries to count as local inputs, so a manufacturer using imported materials can still achieve preferential origin. Which countries qualify and under what conditions varies from agreement to agreement, so check the rules before counting inputs from your supply chain towards origin.

A.TR movement certificate: for the EU Customs Union

The Customs Union between Turkey and the European Union covers industrial goods and processed agricultural products. The A.TR movement certificate used for these goods is not, strictly speaking, a proof of origin. It shows that the goods are in free circulation in Turkey or the EU. That is why an industrial product imported from a third country and released for free circulation in Turkey can also travel to the EU with an A.TR.

Points to watch:

The A.TR is valid only for goods covered by the Customs Union and only for EU member states.
Agricultural products and coal and steel products are outside the Customs Union; for these, an EUR.1 or origin declaration is used under separate agreements.
The United Kingdom is no longer in the EU, so exports there use the proofs of origin under the Turkey–UK FTA, not the A.TR.

For small-value e-commerce parcels to the EU, Turkey’s Ministry of Trade launched an electronic A.TR system in July 2026 that runs through authorised express carriers and the postal administration. Check the current announcements for its scope and value limit before relying on it.

EUR.1 and EUR-MED: for free trade agreements

The EUR.1 movement certificate proves preferential origin under the FTAs Turkey has signed. It is mainly used for:

Exports to Turkey’s FTA partners, where the agreement provides for it,
Exports of agricultural products and coal and steel products to the EU,
Trade with partners in the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean (PEM) cumulation system.

The EUR-MED certificate was used for diagonal cumulation within the PEM system. Turkey made the revised PEM rules mandatory for its exports from 1 January 2026, and under the revised rules the only proofs of origin are the EUR.1 and the origin declaration. EUR-MED may still come up in the limited cases where the older rules apply (as of October 2026). We recommend checking the PEM matrix published by Turkey’s Ministry of Trade to see which rule set and cumulation options apply with each partner.

Origin declarations (formerly invoice declarations) and approved exporters

Under the revised PEM rules, the term “invoice declaration” was replaced by origin declaration. The exporter writes the text set out in the agreement on the invoice or another commercial document and signs it; no separate certificate is needed.

For consignments up to EUR 6,000 in total value, any exporter may make an origin declaration (under PEM-type agreements, as of October 2026).
Above that amount, only exporters with approved exporter status may make one.

An approved exporter holds an authorisation from Turkey’s Ministry of Trade and can demonstrate compliance with the origin rules. For companies that ship often, it saves considerable time by removing the need to have EUR.1 certificates endorsed. Each FTA has its own rules, so check the threshold and wording in the relevant agreement.

Certificate of origin: for non-preferential origin

A certificate of origin is a general document showing that goods are of Turkish origin. It does not reduce duty. It is usually requested when:

The importing country requires a non-preferential certificate of origin,
A letter of credit or the sales contract calls for one,
The importing country applies measures (additional duties, quotas) to certain origins.

Where to get proofs of origin in Turkey

In Turkey, A.TR, EUR.1, EUR-MED and certificates of origin are issued electronically through MEDOS, the origin and movement documents system used by the chambers of commerce and industry affiliated with TOBB. The general flow is:

The company registers with its chamber or TOBB for MEDOS access.
The document is completed online, with supporting papers such as the invoice, a manufacturer’s declaration and, where needed, cost or capacity information.
The chamber checks the document. Movement certificates such as the A.TR and EUR.1 are also endorsed by the customs office.
The approved document is linked to the export declaration and sent to the buyer.

Documents are normally issued at the time of export. Retrospective issue is possible in some cases, but it takes more paperwork and time.

Whether your goods qualify for preferential origin depends on the share of imported inputs and the product-specific rules in the agreement. Work this out with your customs broker or adviser before issuing any document; an incorrect claim can come back to your buyer as duty and penalties.

Which document for which country? A quick summary

EU countries, industrial goods: A.TR.
EU countries, agricultural or coal and steel products: EUR.1 or origin declaration.
FTA partners (e.g. the United Kingdom, EFTA countries, Georgia): EUR.1 or origin declaration as the agreement provides.
Countries without an FTA: No preferential document; a certificate of origin if the buyer asks for one.

Agreements and product coverage change, so check the Ministry of Trade’s current FTA information before entering any new market.

Frequently asked questions

Can an A.TR and an EUR.1 be used together?

Usually not for the same goods. Industrial goods go to the EU with an A.TR; goods outside the Customs Union use an EUR.1 or origin declaration. If a shipment contains both, you can issue the right document for each.

Do I need to be an approved exporter to make an origin declaration?

Under PEM-type agreements, not for consignments up to EUR 6,000. Above that, approved exporter status is required.

Does a certificate of origin reduce duty?

No. It shows non-preferential origin. Duty reductions require the preferential proof of origin set out in the agreement.

Who should prepare the document, me or my customs broker?

The exporter is responsible for the document, though in practice applications are often filed through a customs broker. Either way, check that the details match your invoice.

Medius coordinates customs clearance so your proof of origin is ready on time. When you open a new market, our logistics consulting team can help, and you can request a quote for routes such as road freight to Germany.