ATR certificate (A.TR.)
Quick answer
The A.TR. movement certificate is used in trade between the EU and Türkiye within the customs union. It certifies that goods are in free circulation, not their origin. The abbreviation has nothing to do with temporary admission; that document is the ATA carnet.
With the A.TR. movement certificate, commonly called an ATR certificate, goods covered by the customs union can be traded duty-free between the EU and Türkiye.
What the abbreviation does not mean
A.TR. does not stand for Admission Temporaire or Temporary Admission. That terminology belongs to the ATA carnet, used for the temporary admission of goods under the ATA Convention and Istanbul Convention. It is a separate document with different rules and a different purpose.
A.TR. instead belongs to the association between the EU and Türkiye. The form appears in Annex I to Decision No 1/2006 of the EC–Turkey Customs Cooperation Committee, with box 4 preprinted “ASSOCIATION between the EUROPEAN COMMUNITY and TURKEY”.
What the certificate proves
The A.TR. movement certificate proves one thing: that the goods are in free circulation in the EU or Türkiye. Free circulation means that any customs duty has been paid and no customs formalities remain, either for the goods themselves or for the materials and components from which they are made.
The certificate says nothing about the origin of the goods. Goods manufactured in a third country may be accompanied by an A.TR., provided they are in free circulation.
This is why an A.TR. and proof of origin such as EUR.1 are not interchangeable. They certify different things.
The customs union does not cover everything
The certificate is useful for businesses buying or selling goods between the EU and Türkiye, but it does not apply to all goods. The customs union covers industrial goods and processed agricultural products.
- Coal and steel
- Covered by separate free trade agreements between the EU and Türkiye. A.TR. does not apply.
- Certain agricultural products
- Also excluded. Proof of origin is required instead.
Outside the customs union
If you trade in these goods, you therefore need proof of origin rather than an A.TR. Check the commodity code before ordering the certificate.
Benefits of the certificate
Using an ATR certificate allows businesses to benefit from duty-free treatment or reduced duty rates in trade between the EU and Türkiye. It simplifies customs procedures and reduces the administrative burden.
How to complete the form
Completing an A.TR. movement certificate can seem complicated, but the right guidance makes it manageable. Box 8 is for remarks, including entries required under the rules for duplicate certificates. We help you prepare and submit applications.
Read on
Importing from Türkiye? What the customs union covers is explained on our page about importing from Türkiye.
If the goods fall outside the customs union, proof of origin is needed instead, for example an EUR1 certificate.
All the documents are collected under customs documents.
Is A.TR. the same as an ATA carnet?
Does A.TR. certify the origin of the goods?
Does the certificate cover all goods?
Sources
The information on this page was checked against the following sources on 8 September 2026. Rules can change and the page may become outdated. Please let us know if you spot anything incorrect.
