InsightsContact LVTFreight to Türkiye and the Caucasus – Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan
Türkiye has a customs union with the EU for industrial goods, but the goods still need customs declarations. In the Caucasus full clearance and tighter sanctions screening apply. Here is what you need to know.
Freight to Türkiye and on to the Caucasus takes more preparation than a delivery inside the EU. Türkiye has a customs union with the EU for industrial goods, but that does not make the border disappear: the goods still need customs declarations in both directions. Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are entirely outside the EU customs territory, and here sanctions rules and the screening of goods and consignees also come into play. These are the essentials.
Freight to Türkiye: customs union, but still customs clearance
The customs union between the EU and Türkiye means that industrial goods in free circulation can, as a rule, be traded without customs duty. But it does not happen automatically. You need to:
- file an export declaration in the EU, so the goods are formally exported from the EU customs territory
- clear the goods in Türkiye, where Turkish import VAT and any other charges are also paid
- show that the goods are in free circulation – usually with an A.TR movement certificate
The A.TR is not a proof of origin. It documents that the goods are in free circulation in the EU and gives access to duty-free treatment under the customs union for the goods it covers.
Goods outside the customs union
The customs union does not cover everything. Different rules apply to agricultural products and certain steel and coal products, and here it is usually the origin that must be documented – for example with a EUR.1. That is why it matters to have the right commodity code before the paperwork is prepared.
Türkiye is part of the common transit convention, so the goods can travel under a T1 transit up to the point of clearance.
The Caucasus: Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan
The three South Caucasus countries are outside the EU, and full customs clearance applies on import. Goods usually go by road via Türkiye or in combination with sea transport, and the route depends on the destination and the goods.
What needs to be in place:
- Export declaration from the EU – read more about the export declaration
- Commercial invoice, packing list and CMR with a precise description of goods and commodity codes
- A transit document that fits the route – where the transit convention does not apply, other solutions such as TIR are often used
- Consignee details for the local customs clearance
Sanctions and dual-use: screening is part of the job
The Caucasus and Türkiye sit in a region where the EU has sharpened its focus on goods that could be passed on to sanctioned countries. That makes screening a fixed part of planning:
- Dual-use. Goods that can be used for both civil and military purposes may need an export licence – whatever the destination.
- Sanctioned goods. Some product groups may not be exported to certain countries, or must not end up there via third countries.
- Consignee and end user. Both the consignee and the end user must be checked against sanctions lists. For some goods an end-user statement may be required.
That is why we always ask about the type of goods, the consignee and the final destination. It is not to make things difficult – the responsibility for the export lies with you as the exporter.
Customs and sanctions rules change often. We always check the specific shipment before it goes.
What we need to give you a rate
- Collection and delivery address
- Description of goods and commodity codes
- Number of packages, dimensions and weight
- Delivery terms and who clears the goods in the destination country
- Consignee and end user
Transit times and planning
Transit time depends on the route, border crossings and customs clearance. We always give an indicative transit time with the rate. See more on our pages for freight to Türkiye and freight to Georgia, with Armenia and Azerbaijan also covered under our markets.
LVT plans transport from Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland to 35 markets and back. You get one dedicated contact who coordinates transport, customs and screening, and you can track the shipment online.
