Freight Forwarding Turkey to Germany: Process, Transit Time, Documents and Customs

With freight forwarding from Turkey to Germany, a forwarder collects your goods from your supplier in Turkey, brings them to Germany by truck via the Balkans or by ferry, and handles customs clearance on request. With FulFra, road freight from Turkey to Germany typically takes 4 to 6 working days. The key to a smooth process is the right shipping option, complete documents and well-prepared customs clearance.

Freight forwarding Turkey to Germany: how it works

Road transport from Turkey almost always follows the same steps. If you know them, you can avoid queries and waiting times.

1. Request and quote: You provide the pickup and delivery location, type of goods, number and dimensions of packages, weight and preferred date. The price is based on this.
2. Pickup from the supplier: The truck collects the goods, for example in Istanbul, Bursa, Izmir or Ankara. With groupage services, the goods are first taken to a cross-docking warehouse and consolidated there with other shipments.
3. Export in Turkey: The supplier or its customs agent declares the goods for export in Turkey. At the same time, the transit procedure is opened, usually with a T1 document.
4. Transit: The goods travel under customs seal through the transit countries to the customs office in Germany.
5. Import customs clearance in Germany: The goods are declared for release into free circulation. Customs duties, where applicable, and import VAT are assessed.
6. Delivery: After release, the goods are delivered to your delivery address or to a warehouse.

Route and transit time

There are two common options for the land route. Which one is chosen depends on the pickup location, delivery location, season and capacity.

• Via the Balkans: The truck usually leaves Turkey via the Kapıkule border crossing into Bulgaria and continues via Romania and Hungary or via Serbia and Hungary to Austria and Germany.
• By ferry via Italy: Trailers are loaded onto a Ro-Ro ferry at a Turkish port, for example bound for Trieste, and travel from there across the Alps to Germany. This option avoids the land borders in the southeast.

With FulFra, road transport from Turkey to Germany typically takes 4 to 6 working days. The exact transit time depends on the pickup location, the shipping option and the waiting times at the borders. A groupage service can take a little longer than a direct full truckload, because the goods are consolidated and transshipped. For time-critical shipments, plan a buffer, especially before public holidays.

Partial load, full truckload or pallets: the right shipping option

The right shipping option depends on quantity, volume and schedule. Three forms are common in Turkey traffic.

Pallets and groupage

With just a few pallets, your goods are transported in a groupage service together with other shipments. You only pay for the space your pallets take up. This is worthwhile for sample deliveries, reorders or smaller retailers. The goods are transshipped several times, so stable packaging is particularly important.

Partial load

A partial load takes up a larger part of the cargo space, but not the whole truck. It is usually charged in loading meters and often delivered directly without transshipment. Partial loads make sense from several loading meters upwards, when a dedicated full truckload is not yet worthwhile.

Full truckload

With a full truckload (FTL), the whole truck is yours. A standard semi-trailer has a loading area of around 13.6 m in length and 2.40 m in width. The goods travel directly from the supplier to you without transshipment. This is the fastest solution and, for large quantities, usually the cheapest per unit.

You can find a detailed comparison in our article Groupage, partial load or full truckload. How to calculate the floor space of a shipment is explained in How to calculate loading meters.

The documents you need for transport from Turkey

Missing or incorrect documents are the most common cause of delays. Check the documents together with your supplier before pickup.

• Commercial invoice: It contains the seller, buyer, exact description of the goods, HS code, quantity, value, currency, delivery term (Incoterm) and country of origin. It is the basis for calculating customs duties and import VAT.
• Packing list: It shows what is in each package, with quantity, gross and net weight and dimensions. Customs uses it for inspection and reconciliation.
• A.TR movement certificate: The EU and Turkey form a customs union for industrial goods. The A.TR proves that the goods are in free circulation in Turkey. For goods covered by the customs union, this usually means no customs duty is payable. Agricultural products and certain steel products are not covered by the customs union. Other proofs and rules apply to them.
• T1 transit document: With the transit procedure (NCTS), the goods travel through the transit countries without customs clearance until they reach the customs office of destination in Germany. Only there are they cleared. Alternatively, the TIR Carnet is also used in road transport.
• CMR consignment note: It is the contract of carriage in international road freight. Sender, carrier and recipient confirm pickup and delivery on it. Damage and shortages are noted on the CMR.

Depending on the goods, further documents may be required, such as certificates, declarations of conformity or permits. You can read more about the individual documents in our blog.

Import customs clearance in Germany

Turkey is not part of the EU. Every shipment from Turkey must therefore be declared for import in Germany, even if no customs duty is payable thanks to the A.TR.

What is payable on import

• Customs duty: As a rule, none for industrial goods from the customs union with a valid A.TR. For other goods, the rate depends on the HS code. Anti-dumping or countervailing duties may apply regardless of the A.TR.
• Import VAT: It is generally payable, in Germany at 19 % or the reduced rate of 7 %. Companies entitled to deduct input VAT can reclaim it as input VAT.
• Clearance costs: The customs declaration is prepared by a service provider. These costs are added to freight and duties.

What you need as an importer

• an EORI number, without which no customs declaration is possible,
• the correct HS code for each product,
• a power of attorney for the service provider who declares on your behalf,
• a deferment account with customs if you want to defer duties.

FulFra handles customs clearance for shipments from Turkey, including document checks. In the bonded warehouse in Lehrte near Hannover, goods can be stored for up to 90 days without customs clearance. This means you only pay duties when the goods are actually released into free circulation.

Typical delays and how to avoid them

Most delays have known causes. With a little preparation, many of them can be avoided.

• Incomplete invoice: If the HS code, country of origin or a clear description of the goods is missing, customs will hold the shipment. Ask for a draft of the invoice before pickup.
• Missing or incorrect A.TR: Without a valid A.TR, customs duty is charged at the regular rate. Make sure the details and number of packages match the invoice and packing list.
• Discrepancies between documents and cargo: If the quantity or weight does not match, an inspection often follows. The packing list should show exactly the goods that were loaded.
• Waiting times at the border: Long waiting times can occur at the borders in the southeast, especially in peak season. Allow time for this.
• Public holidays: Turkish holidays such as Ramadan Feast (Eid al-Fitr) and Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) shift every year and can delay pickup and export by several days. In Germany, heavy trucks are banned from driving on Sundays and public holidays.
• Goods not ready for pickup: If the goods are not packed at the pickup appointment or the documents are missing, the truck loses a day. Confirm with the supplier that the goods are ready for pickup.

Customs rules, duty rates and requirements for safety and security declarations change. Check the current status with customs or your service provider before shipping.

Checklist for your first shipment from Turkey

1. Agree on the delivery term (Incoterm) with the supplier, for example FCA or DAP.
2. Clarify the dimensions, weight and number of packages and choose the shipping option.
3. Get a price and set a pickup date.
4. Check drafts of the commercial invoice and packing list.
5. Request the A.TR from the supplier if the goods are covered by the customs union.
6. Have your EORI number and power of attorney for customs clearance ready.
7. Provide the delivery address, opening hours and unloading conditions, for example whether there is a loading dock or a tail lift is needed.

Frequently asked questions

How long does truck transport from Turkey to Germany take?

With FulFra, typically 4 to 6 working days by road. The pickup location, shipping option, waiting times at the borders and public holidays affect the exact transit time.

Do I have to pay customs duty on goods from Turkey?

For industrial goods covered by the customs union between the EU and Turkey, there is usually no customs duty with a valid A.TR. Import VAT is still payable. Different rules apply to agricultural products and certain steel products.

Who issues the A.TR?

The A.TR is applied for in Turkey by the exporter and endorsed by the Turkish customs authorities. Request it from your supplier in good time.

Is a full truckload worthwhile or is a pallet shipment enough?

For a few pallets, groupage is usually cheaper. From several loading meters, a partial load can make sense, and with a full loading area, a full truckload. The easiest way to compare the options is directly in the price calculator.

Calculate your transport from Turkey to Germany in the price calculator: the fixed price appears instantly, without an account, and you can add customs clearance as an extra.