Last reviewed: 10 September 2026
Most shipments that get stuck at customs are not missing a document; their documents are inconsistent: the description on the invoice does not match the packing list, or the weight does not match the bill of lading. Below is the standard document set for a shipment leaving Türkiye, and the mistakes we see most often.
The four documents on every shipment
- Proforma invoice: before the order, the binding form of the quote. Payment and delivery terms are stated here.
- Commercial invoice: the financial document of the shipment. Product description, quantity, unit price, Incoterm and country of origin.
- Packing list: contents package by package, gross and net weight, volume, number of packages.
- Transport document: bill of lading (B/L) by sea, air waybill by air, CMR by road.
Origin and preferential trade papers
These documents show where the goods come from and which customs regime they benefit from. The wrong paper makes you pay duty you did not have to pay.
- Certificate of origin: evidences the country where the goods were produced. Asked for in almost every destination.
- A.TR movement certificate: a free-circulation document for industrial goods under the Türkiye–EU customs union. It is not a proof of origin.
- EUR.1 movement certificate: for preferential tariff treatment in countries with which Türkiye has a free trade agreement.
The destination country’s conformity certificate
Many countries require a pre-shipment conformity certificate for regulated products: SONCAP in Nigeria, KEBS PVoC in Kenya, SABER and SASO in Saudi Arabia, ESMA in the United Arab Emirates. These are obtained before the goods leave; obtaining them afterwards is usually not possible.
Added depending on the product
- Insurance policy: when the term is CIF or CIP.
- ISPM 15 heat treatment mark: mandatory when wooden pallets or crates are used.
- Health certificate and analysis report: for food and food-contact products.
- Test report and CE declaration: for regulated groups such as machinery, electrical goods and construction products.
Four common mistakes
- The product description on the invoice not matching the customs tariff heading.
- The weight on the packing list not matching the weight on the bill of lading.
- Under a letter of credit, a document name that is not word for word the name in the credit. The bank reads the text, not the cargo.
- Wooden pallets without an ISPM 15 mark, which risks destruction or return at arrival.
Who prepares what
The commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, A.TR or EUR.1 and coordination of the conformity certificate are on us. The transport document sits with us or with your forwarder depending on the term. Import clearance stays on your side; your local representative’s contact details are enough for that.