Brexit changed the rules for every business moving goods between the United Kingdom and Turkey. Five years on, the system has stabilised — but it still trips up importers and exporters who don't keep up with the detail. Here's what you need to know in 2026.
The UK–Turkey Free Trade Agreement
The UK–Turkey FTA has been in effect since 1 January 2021, preserving zero or reduced tariffs on the majority of industrial and processed agricultural goods moving in either direction. The agreement broadly mirrors the previous EU–Turkey Customs Union arrangement.
To claim preferential treatment, you must:
- Hold an A.TR movement certificate for goods in free circulation in Turkey, or
- Hold a EUR.1 movement certificate or Origin Declaration for goods of Turkish origin
Without the correct paperwork, your goods clear customs but at standard MFN tariff rates — which can mean significant unnecessary cost.
The Customs Declaration Service (CDS)
Since November 2024, all UK imports and exports must be declared via the Customs Declaration Service (CDS), HMRC's modern declaration platform. The legacy CHIEF system has been switched off entirely.
CDS uses the UN/EDIFACT data model and is more strict than CHIEF about commodity codes, valuation, and documentary evidence. Mistakes can result in delays, penalties or post-clearance demands. A professional customs agent will get this right first time.
GVMS for Road Freight
If your cargo is moving by road into the UK via a roll-on roll-off (RoRo) port like Dover or Eurotunnel, your haulier needs a Goods Movement Reference (GMR) before arrival. The GMR links the vehicle to the relevant customs declarations through the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS).
Without a GMR the vehicle cannot board the ferry or train. With it, clearance happens automatically in most cases.
What Documents Do You Actually Need?
For a typical UK import from Turkey:
- Commercial invoice — including HS commodity code, country of origin, Incoterms, EORI of both parties
- Packing list — gross/net weights, number of packages, dimensions
- Transport document — CMR (road), Bill of Lading (sea), AWB (air)
- A.TR or EUR.1 — for preferential tariff claim
- EORI number — mandatory for both importer and exporter
- Product-specific certificates — health certificates, CE marks, REACH compliance etc. depending on the goods
Common Pitfalls in 2026
After hundreds of declarations a year, we see the same mistakes:
- Missing A.TR certificate. Importers pay MFN duty unnecessarily because the Turkish supplier didn't issue an A.TR.
- Wrong commodity code. Even small errors result in a different duty rate or a stopped consignment.
- No GMR before arrival. The truck shows up at Dover with no GMR — and gets turned away.
- EORI mismatch. The invoice EORI doesn't match the declarant EORI — declaration rejected.
- Incorrect valuation. Forgetting to include freight and insurance in the customs value where required.
How to Stay Compliant
If you ship UK–Turkey more than a few times a year, the only realistic answer is to work with a customs agent who specialises in the lane. Generic customs brokers often lack the Turkish-language capability and the trade-agreement experience needed to maximise duty savings.
A specialist forwarder will:
- Classify your goods correctly the first time
- Confirm A.TR / EUR.1 status with your supplier in Turkish
- Submit GVMS / CDS declarations before arrival
- Maintain audit-ready records for HMRC compliance checks
- Operate under AEO status, which means lower inspection rates for your cargo
Next Steps
Brexit didn't kill UK–Turkey trade — but it did make it more paperwork-heavy. Get the paperwork right, and your shipments move faster and cheaper than they ever did under the Customs Union.
Contact our team for help with your next UK–Turkey customs declaration.