Turkey operates a layered import framework administered by the Ministry of Trade (Ticaret Bakanlığı): customs declarations filed through the BİLGE digital customs system, risk-based product verification through TAREKS (Dış Ticarette Risk Esaslı Kontrol Sistemi), telecom approvals through BTK (Information and Communication Technologies Authority), and product conformity assessment under TSE standards aligned with the EU Customs Union framework. Imports require a Turkey-registered party with a tax number, customs registration, and the correct sector approvals before shipment.
IOR Service operates as your registered Importer of Record (IOR) and Exporter of Record (EOR) in Turkey through a locally registered foreign trade company structure. We hold the local registration, manage TAREKS, BTK, and TSE workflows, file declarations through BİLGE, and pay duties and KDV (VAT) as the legal party of record.
Turkish customs and conformity rules sit alongside frequent regulatory adjustments and Turkish-language documentation requirements. Foreign companies shipping into Turkey without an in-country compliance partner face shipment hold, TAREKS rejection, BTK enforcement exposure, or post-clearance audit risk.
Local entity requirement: Only a Turkey-registered entity with a tax number and customs registration may serve as the importer of record. Foreign companies cannot self-clear.
GTİP classification accuracy: Turkey uses the GTİP (Gümrük Tarife İstatistik Pozisyonu), a twelve-digit extension of the Harmonized System. Misclassification is the leading cause of delays for IT and network equipment; switches, routers, and servers fall under specific GTİP positions that drive both duty rates and regulatory scope.
TAREKS scope and out-of-scope pre-approval: TAREKS applies risk-based verification to a wide range of regulated products. For network and IT equipment in 2026, formal TAREKS out-of-scope pre-approval is increasingly required before customs release where GTİP positions overlap multiple ÜGD communiqués.
BTK approvals for telecom and wireless: Telecom, radio, and wireless equipment requires BTK type approval before lawful import and use. IMEI registration applies to devices with cellular connectivity modules.
CE and TSE conformity: Turkey's Customs Union with the EU means CE marking carries weight, but TSE national standards and category-specific conformity assessments apply alongside CE for many product categories.
Turkish-language submissions: Customs declarations and supporting documents require Turkish-language submission through Ministry of Trade portals. Documentation mismatches between commercial invoice, packing list, and technical specifications trigger holds and re-checks.
As your registered IOR in Turkey, IOR Service manages the full compliance stack from pre-shipment review through delivery, under a single engagement.
Pre-shipment compliance review: GTİP classification, restricted-item check, TAREKS scope confirmation (including out-of-scope pre-approval pathway), BTK approval verification, and TSE conformity scope determination before goods leave origin.
Documentation and BİLGE declarations: Commercial invoice review with Turkish translation where required, certificate of origin verification (A.TR for EU-origin goods under the Customs Union, EUR.1 for Free Trade Agreement partners), packing list alignment, TAREKS and BTK documentation compilation, and customs declaration filing through BİLGE.
Duties and KDV handling: We pay applicable customs duty (preference under the EU Customs Union and FTAs where qualified) and 20% KDV from our account as the registered importer. Costs are billed transparently to the client.
Regulatory approvals coordination: Liaison with BTK for telecom and wireless type approval, TITCK for medical devices, TAREKS administrators for product verification, and TSE for conformity assessment where required.
Customs coordination and release: Ministry of Trade interface, query response, inspection coordination, and post-clearance audit management.
Recordkeeping and shipment updates: Declarations, TAREKS approvals, BTK certificates, and supporting documentation retained per customs retention requirements. Status updates per shipment milestone.
For re-exports, multi-destination projects, and equipment returns leaving Turkey, IOR Service operates as your registered Exporter of Record under a single engagement.
Pre-export compliance review: GTİP classification, restricted-item screening for dual-use and strategic items, destination market assessment, and export license pathway determination before goods leave Turkish territory.
Export documentation: Commercial invoice review, certificate of origin preparation (A.TR for EU destinations, EUR.1 for FTA partners), packing list alignment, export license coordination where applicable, and BİLGE export declaration filing.
Tax handling: KDV zero-rating documentation under Turkish export rules, export duty assessment where applicable, and customs fee settlement from our account as the registered exporter. Costs billed transparently.
Carrier and broker coordination: Interface with carrier, customs broker, and the Ministry of Trade for departure clearance. Query response and post-departure documentation.
Recordkeeping and shipment updates: Export declarations, license records, and shipping documents retained per customs retention requirements. Status updates per shipment milestone.
Re-export and multi-destination support: Project-flow coordination across multiple destinations, returned-equipment handling, and bonded warehouse consolidation for outbound staging
The Ministry of Trade administers Turkish customs through Turkish Customs (Gümrük İdaresi). All import and export declarations are filed through BİLGE, the digital customs system. The 2026 Digital Customs protocols added new submission and validation steps for regulated categories. Importers and exporters must hold a tax number and customs registration before declarations can be filed.
The Gümrük Tarife İstatistik Pozisyonu is Turkey's twelve-digit classification system, extending the Harmonized System. GTİP determines applicable duty rate under the Common Customs Tariff aligned with the EU Customs Union, KDV category, TAREKS scope, and any quotas or anti-dumping measures.
The Risk-Based External Trade Inspection System verifies regulated products against applicable technical regulations and conformity requirements. TAREKS applies on a category-by-category basis under Ürün Güvenliği ve Denetimi (ÜGD) communiqués. For 2026, a formal out-of-scope pre-approval pathway applies to certain IT and network categories where multiple ÜGD communiqués overlap. TAREKS clearance must align with the customs declaration before release.
The Information and Communication Technologies Authority administers type approval for telecom, radio, and wireless equipment. BTK approval is required before lawful import and use. Devices with cellular connectivity modules require IMEI registration; the IMEI registration step is mandatory and a frequent delay driver when missed.
Under the EU Customs Union, CE marking is recognized for many regulated product categories. TSE (Türk Standartları Enstitüsü) administers Turkish national standards; certain categories require TSE certification alongside CE. Scope confirmation is part of pre-shipment review.
Specific product categories trigger additional approvals: TITCK (Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency) for medical and pharmaceutical, Ministry of Agriculture for food and agricultural products, TRT for selected broadcasting equipment under the bandrol scheme. Strategic and dual-use items trigger additional export-control review.
Commercial invoice (with GTİP codes and Turkish translation where required)
Packing list
Bill of lading or airway bill
Certificate of origin (A.TR for EU Customs Union, EUR.1 for FTA partners, generic for others)
TAREKS approval or out-of-scope clearance (for regulated categories)
BTK type approval certificate (for telecom and wireless equipment)
IMEI registration documentation (for cellular-capable devices)
CE and TSE conformity documentation (for applicable categories)
Technical datasheets and product specifications
Sector-specific permits (TITCK, Ministry of Agriculture, TRT bandrol, etc.)
Insurance certificate (where applicable)
Classify equipment under the twelve-digit GTİP, identify regulated categories, confirm TAREKS, BTK, and TSE scope.
TAREKS application or out-of-scope pre-approval, BTK type approval, IMEI registration, TSE conformity, and sector-regulator requirements per item.
Invoice review with Turkish translation, certificate of origin verification, TAREKS and BTK documentation coordination, BİLGE declaration preparation.
Ministry of Trade submission through BİLGE, risk-lane assignment, query response, inspection coordination, release.
Paid by IOR Service as the registered importer, then billed transparently.
Delivery to consignee, documentation retained for audit under Turkish customs recordkeeping rules.
GTİP misclassification: The single most common delay driver for IT and network equipment. Switches and routers commonly fall under 8517.62; servers under 8471; misclassification triggers reassessment, TAREKS scope mismatch, and inspection.
Missing TAREKS out-of-scope pre-approval: Network and IT equipment falling under multiple ÜGD communiqués require formal out-of-scope clearance before customs release. Skipping this step results in a hold.
Wireless equipment without BTK type approval: Bluetooth, WiFi, RF, and cellular devices held pending BTK clearance. Type approval cannot be expedited at port.
Missing IMEI registration on cellular devices: Devices with cellular connectivity require IMEI registration; missing this step prevents lawful use and triggers customs review.
CE or TSE documentation gaps: Regulated categories arriving without complete conformity documentation are held pending submission.
Invoice and technical specification mismatch: Discrepancies between commercial invoice, GTİP code, and technical datasheet trigger Ministry of Trade queries and re-checks.
Used or refurbished IT equipment: Selected categories face additional scrutiny and may require supplementary documentation or restrictions on import.
Tell us the origin, the destination city, the equipment scope (including any wireless, cellular, or encryption capability), and the project timeline. Our compliance team returns a GTİP, TAREKS, and BTK assessment, customs documentation framework, and quote, typically within one business day.
Available on request
Shared after initial assessment.25+ Years of International Trade & Compliance Leadership
Backed by decades of experience in global trade, IOR Service delivers the compliance frameworks, regulatory oversight, and market-entry expertise required for successful international operations. From highly regulated industries to complex cross-border projects, we help organizations move forward with certainty.No. Only a Turkey-registered entity with a tax number and customs registration may be named on the customs declaration. Foreign companies without a Turkish subsidiary must work through a registered local IOR. IOR Service holds the local foreign trade company registration on your behalf, so you ship through us without establishing a Turkish entity.
TAREKS is Turkey's Risk-Based External Trade Inspection System, applying to a wide range of regulated products under Ürün Güvenliği ve Denetimi communiqués. For 2026, formal out-of-scope pre-approval applies to selected IT and network categories where multiple communiqués overlap. IOR Service confirms TAREKS scope and coordinates the appropriate pathway during pre-shipment review.
BTK type approval is required for telecom, radio, and wireless equipment before lawful import and use. Devices with cellular connectivity modules require IMEI registration. Common categories include WiFi routers, Bluetooth devices, RF modules, mobile devices, and telecom infrastructure. Scope confirmation is part of pre-shipment review.
KDV (Turkish VAT) is 20%, applied on CIF value plus customs duty. Under DDP terms, IOR Service pays KDV as the registered importer and bills it transparently to the client. KDV recoverability depends on the Turkish tax registration of the final buyer, where applicable.
Yes. Goods of EU origin with a valid A.TR Certificate generally enjoy preferential treatment under the Customs Union. Goods of FTA-partner origin (UK, EFTA, and others under bilateral agreements) qualify under EUR.1 documentation where applicable. Origin documentation is part of pre-shipment review.
Yes. IT, networking, server, AI compute, and GPU hardware are core categories. We coordinate GTİP classification under tariff position 8471/8517, TAREKS out-of-scope clearance where required, BTK approvals for any wireless components, and the appropriate customs pathway for time-critical or pre-release shipments.
In most categories, yes, with additional documentation. Refurbished equipment may require supplementary technical specifications, condition statements, and end-use information. Some categories face restrictions. Scope confirmation is part of pre-shipment review.
Yes. Under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms, IOR Service acts as the named importer, pays all duties and 20% KDV, manages TAREKS, BTK, and TSE workflows, and delivers cleared goods to the consignee. Your company appears nowhere in the Turkish customs record. IOR Service is the legal party of record.
Yes. IOR Service operates as registered Exporter of Record for outbound shipments, managing GTİP classification, export documentation, KDV zero-rating, A.TR or EUR.1 origin certification where applicable, and BİLGE filings under the same engagement structure as inbound IOR.
