What is an ATR1 certificate?
An ATR1 certificate is a movement certificate used in trade between Turkey and countries within the EU Customs Union, and, since 2021, the United Kingdom. It allows goods to move at preferential tariff rates, often 0%, by confirming that the goods are in “free circulation.” It does not prove where goods were made. It proves where they have been.
If you are coordinating shipments between the UK and Turkey, you will come across the ATR1 early. Getting it wrong means your goods attract full duty rates when they should qualify for a reduction or zero tariff. This article explains what the ATR1 is, when you need it, and how the process works under the UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement.
The ATR1 is a movement certificate. That distinction matters. Most trade documents: like the EUR1, focus on where goods originated. The ATR1 focuses on where goods are in free circulation.
Free circulation means goods have been legally released into the customs territory of a country. They have cleared customs, duties have been paid or waived, and they are now part of that country’s commercial market. When goods in free circulation move from Turkey to the UK (or the UK to Turkey), the ATR1 is the document that confirms their status.
The name comes from the Turkish phrase Avrupa Topluluğu Rejimi, meaning the European Community Regime. The certificate was originally created for Turkey’s relationship with the EU Customs Union under the 1995 Ankara Agreement. After Brexit, the UK replicated the arrangement through its own bilateral trade agreement with Turkey.
The ATR1 is issued in paper form. It consists of a standardised form, white with a green border, and follows a fixed layout recognised at customs points in both countries.
You need an ATR1 when you are exporting or importing goods between Turkey and the UK and those goods qualify for preferential tariff treatment under the UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement.
Without an ATR1, the goods will be assessed at the standard (MFN) duty rate. Depending on the commodity, that difference can be major. Industrial goods between Turkey and the UK regularly move at 0% under the FTA. Without the certificate, they may attract duties of 5–12% or higher.
The ATR1 applies to goods that are in free circulation in Turkey or the UK. You need the certificate at the point of export, it accompanies the goods on their journey and is presented to customs authorities on arrival.
Not every shipment will qualify. Some goods are excluded from the preferential arrangement. Agricultural products, for example, are subject to separate rules. Always check whether your specific commodity code is covered by the UK-Turkey FTA before relying on an ATR1.
Before Brexit, Turkey’s customs union arrangement was with the EU as a whole. UK goods entering Turkey could use the ATR1 because the UK was an EU member state. After 31 December 2020, that changed.
The UK government negotiated a standalone UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement, which came into force on 1 January 2021. This agreement preserved most of the trade preferences that existed under the EU-Turkey Customs Union for goods in the UK-Turkey bilateral trade corridor.
The ATR1 certificate carried over into the new framework. It remains the document used to claim preferential duty rates on eligible goods moving between the two countries.
There is one important post-Brexit complication. Under the EU-Turkey Customs Union, goods could move between Turkey, the EU, and the UK as part of a wider bloc. Now the UK sits outside that bloc. Goods that have been processed or value-added in the EU are not automatically eligible for UK-Turkey ATR1 treatment. The goods must have genuine free circulation status in either the UK or Turkey, not simply transit through both.
If your supply chain involves EU processing or sourcing before goods move to Turkey, take legal advice on whether an ATR1 is appropriate or whether a different document applies.
This is one of the most common points of confusion for new shipping coordinators. Both are green-bordered movement certificates. Both appear in trade documentation. They are not interchangeable.
| Feature | ATR1 | EUR1 |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Confirms free circulation status | Confirms country of origin |
| Based on | Where goods have been | Where goods were made |
| Used in | UK-Turkey trade | EU trade under preference agreements |
| Issued by | Turkish customs (Turkey exports); UK authorities (UK exports) | Customs authority of the exporting country |
| Proves | Goods are in free circulation | Goods meet origin rules |
| Relevant post-Brexit for UK? | Yes — UK-Turkey FTA | Yes — UK trade agreements with other countries |
The practical difference: a product manufactured in China, imported into Turkey, and cleared through Turkish customs can move from Turkey to the UK on an ATR1, because it is in free circulation in Turkey. But it could not use a EUR1, because it did not originate in Turkey.
Conversely, a product manufactured in Turkey and exported to the UK would use a EUR1 (or a Statement on Origin under the UK-Turkey FTA) to prove Turkish origin. The ATR1 is not the right document in that case.
If you are unsure which certificate applies to a particular shipment, check with your customs broker or freight forwarder before the goods are loaded.
Not all goods qualify. To use an ATR1 certificate, the following conditions must be met.
The goods must be in free circulation in either Turkey or the UK at the time of export. Free circulation means they have been legally imported, all applicable duties and taxes have been settled, and they have not been subject to any export control or duty suspension that would prevent their free movement.
The goods must be covered by the UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement. Agricultural goods and certain processed agricultural products operate under different rules and may not be eligible for ATR1 treatment.
The goods must not have been substantially transformed in a third country after entering free circulation. If goods are imported into Turkey from China, processed majorly in Turkey, and then re-exported, the nature of the processing matters. Simple operations, repackaging, labelling, minor assembly, generally do not disqualify the goods. Substantial processing may.
The ATR1 must be issued before or at the time of export. Retrospective ATR1 certificates can be issued in some circumstances (for example, if the certificate was accidentally omitted), but this requires additional declarations and is not routine.
When the UK is the exporting country, the process runs through HMRC and UK customs authorities.
Step 1: Confirm eligibility. Check that your goods are in free circulation in the UK and that they are covered by the UK-Turkey FTA. Use your commodity (HS) code to check the applicable tariff rate and whether ATR1 treatment applies.
Step 2: get the ATR1 form. The ATR1 form is a standardised document available from HMRC or commercial forms suppliers. Your freight forwarder will often handle this as part of export documentation. The form must be printed on specific white paper with a green border to the required specification.
Step 3: Complete the form. Fill in the exporter details, consignee details, description of goods, gross weight, and the customs declaration reference. The description must match the commercial invoice and the customs entry exactly.
Step 4: Submit for endorsement. The completed ATR1 must be endorsed by HMRC (or a customs authority acting on HMRC’s behalf). In practice, this is often handled by your customs broker as part of the export declaration process.
Step 5: Attach to the shipment documentation. The endorsed ATR1 travels with the goods. The Turkish customs authority will inspect it on arrival and apply the preferential tariff rate.
There is no fixed government fee for the ATR1 itself, but your freight forwarder or customs broker will typically charge for preparation and endorsement. Costs vary, budget between £30 and £80 for a straightforward shipment, depending on your provider.
A completed ATR1 certificate includes the following fields.
Every field must be complete and consistent. Any discrepancy between the ATR1 and the commercial invoice or packing list creates a problem at the Turkish border.
These are the errors that cause the most delays and duty disputes.
Using an ATR1 for goods that are not in free circulation. Goods under a customs warehouse procedure, a temporary importation arrangement, or an inward processing relief scheme are not in free circulation. Using an ATR1 for those goods is incorrect and may constitute a customs offence.
Mismatching the goods description. The description on the ATR1 must match the commercial invoice exactly. A difference in wording, even minor, can lead to the certificate being rejected. Use the same language and the same commodity description across all documents.
Missing or incorrect endorsement. An ATR1 without a valid customs stamp and signature is not valid. Make sure the endorsement is in place before the goods ship.
Applying ATR1 to agricultural goods. Many agricultural products are outside the scope of the UK-Turkey FTA for ATR1 purposes. Check the specific commodity code before issuing the certificate.
Issuing retrospective certificates without proper justification. If an ATR1 was missed at the time of export, a retrospective certificate can sometimes be got, but it requires a formal declaration explaining the omission. Do not issue backdated certificates without following the correct procedure.
Confusing ATR1 with EUR1. As covered above, these are different documents. Using the wrong one does not just create a bureaucratic problem, it can result in the goods being assessed at the full duty rate.
Can I use an ATR1 for all goods exported from the UK to Turkey?
No. The ATR1 only applies to goods covered by the UK-Turkey Free Trade Agreement and only where those goods are in free circulation in the UK. Agricultural goods and certain sensitive products have separate rules. Always check your commodity code against the FTA schedule before using an ATR1.
Does the ATR1 prove where my goods were made?
No. The ATR1 confirms free circulation status, not origin. If you need to prove country of origin (for example, to claim origin-based preferences), you need a different document, such as a EUR1 or a Statement on Origin.
Who issues the ATR1 when Turkey is the exporter?
Turkish customs authorities issue the ATR1 for goods exported from Turkey to the UK. Your Turkish supplier is responsible for getting and providing the certificate. Check with your supplier that the certificate is in place before the shipment arrives.
What happens if my ATR1 is rejected at the Turkish border?
If Turkish customs reject the ATR1, the goods will be assessed at the standard MFN tariff rate. The importer will need to pay the full duty to clear the goods. You may be able to appeal and claim a refund if you can show that the ATR1 was valid, but this takes time and involves Turkish customs procedures.
How long is an ATR1 valid for?
An ATR1 is valid for four months from the date of endorsement. It must be presented to the customs authority of the importing country within that period. If the shipment is delayed beyond four months, you may need a new certificate.
Can a freight forwarder handle the ATR1 on my behalf?
Yes. Most freight forwarders and customs brokers will manage ATR1 preparation and endorsement as part of the export declaration process. Make sure you confirm with them that ATR1 treatment applies to your goods before the shipment is booked.
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