How to Make Your First Export from Turkey: A Step-by-Step Guide

For most businesses, the first export looks complicated: which registrations you need, which documents to prepare and how you will actually get paid can all feel unclear. In reality the steps follow a clear order, and each one is manageable on its own. This guide explains how to make your first export from Turkey, from registration to collecting the export proceeds, as a general framework.

Step 1: Get your company and tax registration in place

To export, you need to be a trading individual or legal entity registered for tax. In practice this usually means:

A company (limited, joint-stock, etc.) or a sole proprietorship,
Registration with the tax office and a tax certificate (vergi levhası),
Registration with the trade registry (or the craftsmen’s registry) and the trade registry gazette,
A signature circular.

It helps later with banks and customs if your registered activity (NACE code) matches the product you will export. Also talk to your accountant early about your invoicing setup (e-Invoice or e-Archive) and how export invoices should be issued.

Step 2: Join an exporters’ association

In Turkey, anyone who exports must be a member of the relevant exporters’ association for their product group and region; this is a legal requirement under Law No. 5910. The associations operate under the umbrella of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM).

When you apply, associations typically ask for:

A membership form and commitment letter
Your tax certificate and signature circular
The trade registry gazette
The HS (customs tariff) code of the product you will export

Apply before your first shipment. Required documents and fee rules can differ between associations, so confirm the current list with the one you will join. Membership also gives you access to sector information, trade fairs and details of government support schemes.

Step 3: Pin down your product and target market

Getting your product’s HS code right is the foundation of the whole process. It drives the export declaration, the import duty in the destination country and any restrictions.

Check the following:

Is the product on Turkey’s lists of goods whose export is prohibited, subject to prior permission or subject to registration?
Does the destination country require a licence, certificate, specific labelling or standards compliance?
Does Turkey have a free trade agreement or customs union arrangement with that country? If so, which origin or movement certificate is needed?

Step 4: Find a buyer and check them out

Common ways to find a first buyer include trade fairs, trade missions, referrals from exporters’ associations and commercial counsellors, B2B platforms and direct digital marketing.

Before you agree a deal:

Confirm that the company genuinely exists and is trading.
Ask for bank or trade references where possible.
On early deals, choose payment terms that reduce your risk.

Step 5: Issue a proforma invoice and agree delivery terms

A proforma invoice is your formal offer to the buyer. Buyers often use it to place the order, arrange payment or apply for their own import permits. It should clearly state:

Product description, quantity, unit price and total value
Currency
Delivery terms (the Incoterms rule and place, e.g. “FCA Istanbul” or “CIF Hamburg”)
Payment method and terms
Estimated shipment date and how long the offer is valid

The delivery terms decide who pays for freight and insurance and who carries the risk. For a first export, choose a rule whose responsibilities you can fully manage. Our Incoterms selector can help you find the right one.

Step 6: Choose a payment method

The main payment methods in international trade are:

Cash in advance: The safest option for the exporter.
Letter of credit: A bank’s payment undertaking gives balanced security to both sides.
Documentary collection: Documents are released to the buyer through banks against payment or acceptance.
Open account: The riskiest option for the exporter, best kept for buyers you already trust.

On a first deal with an unknown buyer, consider part-payment in advance, a letter of credit or export credit insurance rather than open account.

Step 7: Prepare the documents

Documents commonly used in an export shipment:

Commercial invoice: The formal sales invoice and the basis of the customs declaration.
Packing list: Shows the number of packages, weights and dimensions.
Transport document: A bill of lading (B/L) for sea, an air waybill (AWB) for air, a CMR note for road.
Origin or movement certificate: Depending on the country, a certificate of origin, A.TR or EUR.1.
Product-specific documents: Health, phytosanitary, analysis or conformity certificates.
Insurance policy: Where the delivery terms require it (e.g. CIF, CIP).

If you come across unfamiliar terms, check our logistics glossary.

Step 8: File the customs declaration and ship

Goods are exported by lodging an export declaration with customs. The declaration is filed through the Ministry of Trade’s electronic customs system and, in practice, is usually prepared by a licensed customs broker. It covers the goods, HS code, value, delivery terms and payment method.

Once the declaration is registered, the goods go through the required checks and are shipped. The record showing the goods have actually left the country (the closed declaration) matters for VAT refunds and export proceeds. Running customs clearance coordination and transport planning together helps avoid delays.

Step 9: Export proceeds and VAT refunds (general framework)

Bringing export proceeds into Turkey: Under Turkey’s currency protection rules, export proceeds must, as a general rule, be brought into the country within 180 days of the actual export date. When the funds arrive at the bank, an Export Proceeds Acceptance Certificate (İBKB) or Foreign Exchange Purchase Certificate (DAB) is issued. As of October 2026, there is also a requirement to sell a certain share of export proceeds to the bank; because the rate and its validity period change from time to time, check the current position with your bank and the Central Bank’s announcements.

VAT: Exports of goods are exempt from VAT, so no VAT is charged on the export invoice. VAT you paid when producing or buying the goods can, under certain conditions, be recovered by refund or offset. The refund conditions and paperwork are detailed, so plan the process with your accountant.

The information in this section is a general framework. Time limits, rates and exemptions can change, so confirm with your accountant and customs broker before you proceed.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to set up a company to export?

For commercial exports you need to be a tax-registered individual or legal entity. You can also export as a sole proprietor; discuss the right structure with your accountant.

Can I export without joining an exporters’ association?

No. Exporters in Turkey must be members of the relevant exporters’ association. It is best to apply before your first shipment.

Which payment method is safest for a first export?

For the exporter, cash in advance is the safest; a letter of credit also offers strong security. Open account with an unknown buyer carries high risk.

Can I file the customs declaration myself?

The rules allow it, but in practice most exporters work with a customs broker, which greatly reduces the risk of an incorrect declaration.

For your first export, Medius works through the process with you step by step, from choosing delivery terms to transport planning and customs coordination. See our logistics consulting service or fill in the quote form to plan it together.