Transit freight

What is transit freight?

The transit regime governs movements of goods under customs supervision. Goods not in free circulation and goods whose export customs formalities have been completed may move under transit when the relevant conditions are met. The departure and destination points and the customs status determine the declaration used.

The goods stay under customs control throughout the journey, which is why there are rules on the declaration, guarantee and seals. The regime ends when the goods and documents are presented in full at the customs office of destination.

Shipping from a free zone abroad

The origin of goods in a free zone does not by itself determine their free-circulation status. Goods already in free circulation may also be held there. The current status and applicable customs procedure are checked before shipment.

For an export or re-export from a free zone, the Free Zone Operation Form (SBİF) is approved first. A transit declaration is then opened in NCTS or a TIR carnet is issued. The vehicle exit notification at the zone gate is made through SEBİS and, for transit exits, matched with the MRN obtained in NCTS. Our truck then carries the sealed goods to the customs office of exit or all the way to the destination country.

Transit from a bonded warehouse

Under the customs warehousing regime, goods are stored in a bonded warehouse without import duties being paid. If they are to be sent abroad, they leave the warehouse under a transit declaration or a TIR carnet, after which the warehouse record is closed.

For transit shipments from bonded warehouses we plan the loading day and the preparation of the declaration and guarantee in advance, together with you and your customs broker.

Port cargo in transit to the Balkans

Some cargo never enters free circulation in Türkiye. Container cargo arriving at a port, for example, can be trucked on to Bulgaria or Serbia. The goods are not imported into Türkiye; they are dispatched abroad from the port customs office under the transit regime.

Planning the port release, the transit declaration and the vehicle together shortens waiting times at the port and at the border.

T1, NCTS or TIR carnet: which one when?

Türkiye has been a party to the Common Transit Convention since 1 December 2012. Movements under it are declared and tracked through the electronic NCTS system. A T1 declaration is used for non-EU goods, so cargo can travel from Türkiye to EU countries and to other contracting parties such as Serbia under a single declaration and guarantee. National transits that start and end in Türkiye use a TR declaration.

The TIR carnet is based on the international TIR Convention and is issued in Türkiye by TOBB. It is used mainly for countries that are not party to common transit; Bosnia and Herzegovina, for example, is not on the Turkish Ministry of Trade's list of contracting parties. Which document is used is decided with your customs broker according to the route, destination and status of the goods.

Transit time limit and guarantee

For road transit, a guarantee covering any customs duties that may arise is mandatory. The transit declaration sets a time limit for reaching the customs office of destination; if the cargo is not presented within that time, the guarantee comes into play. The route, possible waiting and travel time therefore need to be planned before the declaration is made.

Are transit trade and transit freight the same?

No. Transit trade is a commercial transaction: goods bought from abroad, a free zone or a bonded warehouse are sold on to another country without being imported into Türkiye. Transit freight is the physical movement of those goods under customs supervision. A company doing transit trade still needs a transit carrier to deliver the goods.

The role of the carrier and the customs broker

Transit and customs declarations are lodged by your company or your authorised customs broker, and the guarantee is provided by the principal. Koza International Transport is a carrier and does not provide customs brokerage.

As the carrier, our responsibility is to present the goods loaded under the transit document at the customs office of destination complete, with seals intact and within the time limit. Under our document follow-up service we make sure the papers travel complete with the vehicle and stay in contact with you and your broker.

Third-country transport and permits

When both the origin and the destination are outside Türkiye, the shipment is third-country transport. Road transport between Türkiye and many countries depends on bilateral agreements and requires permits distributed by the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. Permit types and quotas vary by country, so the route is planned together with the permit status.

Common mistakes

The mistakes below delay the closing of the regime, keep the guarantee tied up and create a risk of penalties. We check the documents for them with you before loading.

• Package and weight details on the invoice not matching the cargo.
• The seal number recorded incorrectly on the document.
• The guarantee not ready on time or insufficient.
• Exceeding the transit time limit or changing the route later.
• Not following up the closing of the regime at destination customs.