Certificate of origin, EUR.1 and A.TR: which one do you need?
Preferential and non-preferential origin, what a certificate of origin, EUR.1, invoice declaration and A.TR each do, who issues them, and which one trade with Türkiye needs.
Alper AzakoğluForeign trade consultant
3 min read
Updated:
What origin means, and why it is asked for
Origin is the “economic nationality” of goods: the country where they were wholly produced or last substantially transformed. The importing country’s customs uses it to decide the duty rate and whether quotas or anti-dumping duties apply.
There are two kinds. Preferential origin gives reduced duty under trade agreements. Non-preferential origin proves where goods come from for measures such as anti-dumping, quotas and labelling; it gives no reduction.
Which document does what
| Document | What it does | Who issues it |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of origin (non-preferential) | Proves where the goods were made; gives no duty reduction. Issued when the importing country or buyer asks. | Usually a chamber of commerce in the exporting country |
| EUR.1 / EUR-MED movement certificate | Gives reduced or zero duty under a free trade agreement when the goods meet its origin rules. | Exporter fills it in; customs endorses it (in some countries after chamber checks) |
| Invoice declaration / origin statement | An origin declaration on the commercial invoice instead of EUR.1. Below a value threshold any exporter may issue it; above it, only approved exporters. | Exporter |
| A.TR movement certificate | Shows that industrial goods are in free circulation in the EU–Türkiye Customs Union; it is not a proof of origin. | Endorsed by customs |
Watch out
A preferential origin document is valid only if the goods really meet the agreement’s origin rules. Products with many imported inputs may not qualify; a wrongly issued certificate can come back years later as unpaid duty and penalties for the buyer.
Trade with Türkiye: which document?
A general guide for goods moving between Türkiye and its partners. The final answer depends on the HS code and the agreement.
| Route / product | Usually required |
|---|---|
| EU ↔ Türkiye, industrial goods | A.TR |
| EU ↔ Türkiye, agricultural and some steel products | EUR.1 / EUR-MED or invoice declaration, under the relevant agreement |
| Countries with a free trade agreement | EUR.1 / EUR-MED or an origin statement, as the agreement requires |
| Countries without an agreement | A non-preferential certificate of origin if the importing country asks for it |
Buying from Türkiye? Ask your supplier for the right document before shipment; without it you may pay duty you could have avoided: how to import from Turkey.
Common mistakes
- Preparing documents without asking the buyer: The wrong document means the buyer loses the reduction, or the goods wait at customs.
- Treating A.TR as proof of origin: It is not; another document may be needed when origin is asked for.
- Details that differ from the invoice: Buyer, description, quantity and weight must match the invoice and the bill of lading.
Documents prepared for the buyer’s country
We check which origin and movement documents the destination needs, and that every document matches, before the goods leave.
Frequently asked questions
Is a certificate of origin needed for every shipment?
No. A non-preferential certificate is needed only when the importing country or the buyer asks for it. Ask your buyer what its customs requires before shipping.
Does a certificate of origin reduce duty?
No. Reductions come from preferential origin documents (EUR.1, EUR-MED, origin statements) under trade agreements. A non-preferential certificate only proves origin.
What is the difference between A.TR and EUR.1?
A.TR shows that industrial goods are in free circulation under the EU–Türkiye Customs Union and does not prove origin. EUR.1 proves that goods meet a trade agreement’s origin rules.
What is the value limit for an invoice declaration?
Under the pan-Euro-Mediterranean rules it is commonly EUR 6,000 per consignment for exporters who are not approved exporters. Check the agreement that applies to your shipment.
Sources
- European Commission, rules of origin and the pan-Euro-Mediterranean convention: taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade, free trade agreements: trade.gov.tr
Author
Alper Azakoğlu
For 30 years he has worked as foreign trade consultant and foreign trade manager for manufacturers in industrial zones across Türkiye. He writes these guides from his own work in the field.