Turkey-Ireland trade has grown sharply since Brexit — many Turkish exporters who previously used the UK as a European hub have shifted to Dublin or Rotterdam-to-Dublin routes. This guide is the cheat sheet we wish every new Turkish exporter had on day one.
The fundamental rule: Customs Union ≠ no paperwork
Turkey is in a Customs Union (CU) with the EU for industrial goods (HS chapters 25–97). The CU eliminates customs duties on most industrial products but does not eliminate customs formalities. You still need:
- An AIS import declaration in Ireland (lodged by your customs agent or importer).
- An A.TR certificate issued by Turkish authorities for the goods to clear duty-free.
- An IE EORI for the Irish importer of record.
- VAT accounting in Ireland (PVA strongly recommended).
For agricultural goods (HS 1–24), the Customs Union does not apply. These are covered by separate preferential agreements with reduced or zero quotas — duties may apply depending on the commodity and quota status.
Choosing your route
Three common routes from Turkey to Ireland:
Direct sea (Turkey → Dublin)
Less common, longer transit (3–4 weeks), but no transit territory issues. Best for FCL containers with non-time-sensitive cargo.
Sea via Rotterdam / Antwerp / Zeebrugge
Most common for both FCL and LCL. Goods land in mainland Europe, then are trucked or ferried to Dublin. AIS clearance happens in Dublin, not the European hub.
Road via the UK Landbridge (Turkey → EU → UK → Ireland)
Faster (10–14 days) but more paperwork. Goods leave the Customs Union when entering the UK, so you need a T1 transit document to keep them under customs control. We file the T1 in NCTS and discharge it at Dublin.
Since 2021, the UK landbridge has become less popular because of UK customs paperwork. Most Turkish exporters now use direct EU routes.
The A.TR — your most important document
The A.TR is the document that gives you zero duty on industrial goods. Things to verify:
- Issued by the Turkish Chambers of Commerce / Industry.
- Stamped and signed by Turkish customs.
- Goods description on the A.TR must match the AIS declaration commodity code and description.
- Original A.TR travels physically with the cargo (digital copy not accepted at Dublin).
Common rejection: the A.TR description says "industrial machinery parts" but the AIS declaration uses a CN code for finished machinery. Revenue rejects the preferential claim and full duty applies.
CBAM — the new layer
From 2026, Turkey-origin imports of certain goods (cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity, hydrogen) into Ireland must comply with CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism). This requires the Irish importer to:
- Be registered as an Authorised CBAM Declarant.
- Submit quarterly CBAM declarations.
- Eventually surrender CBAM certificates equivalent to the embedded carbon.
If you ship CBAM-covered goods, talk to us early — the Authorised Declarant registration is non-trivial.
Don't forget VAT
Even with zero duty, Irish import VAT (23%) still applies. Use Postponed VAT Accounting (covered in our PVA guide) to avoid cash payment at the border.
Quick win checklist for Turkish exporters
- Verify Irish importer has a valid IE EORI.
- A.TR certificate matches AIS declaration exactly.
- Use PVA to keep VAT off your cash flow.
- For CBAM-covered goods, confirm the Irish importer is registered.
- Lodge AIS before arrival, not after.
- Keep AES Exit Certificates if you also export Irish-origin goods back to Turkey.
For tailored advice on routes, documents and customs setup, contact us. We've moved thousands of Turkish containers through Ireland and know where the time gets lost.