Transport Documents: T1, T2, TR, CMR, A.TR, Invoice

Document guide

International transport documents

57 key documents encountered in the logistics process, grouped as commercial, transport, customs-transit, permit and operational documents. Correct and complete documents prevent waiting at customs, extra costs and delivery delays.

The small picture to the left of each document is a schematic example (the data is fictional and it does not replace the official printed form). Click to enlarge.

Commercial documents 8

Document	Mode	What is it used for?
Proforma Invoice	All modes	A preliminary invoice showing the price quotation and terms of sale before the sale; used in letter-of-credit and import-permit processes.
Commercial Invoice	All modes	The main document showing the type, quantity, value and delivery term (Incoterms) of the goods; it is the basis of customs value.
Packing List	All modes	Contains the number of packages/pallets, gross and net weight, dimensions and packaging information; used in loading, transport and customs checks.
Sales Contract / Order Form	All modes	The parties determine the product, price, payment and delivery terms.
Letter of Credit (L/C) and Bank Documents	All modes	Where payment is made with a bank guarantee, contains the set of documents and conditions required by the bank.
Customs Value Declaration Form	All modes	A form provided, where required, for the detailed declaration of customs value under the relevant conditions.
Certificate of Origin	All modes	Shows the country where the goods were produced; usually certified by a chamber.
Freight Invoice and Expense Note	All modes	The invoice issued to the customer showing the freight and costs of the transport service (waiting, transit, road charges).

Transport documents 19

Document	Mode	What is it used for?
CMR Consignment Note	Road	Evidence of the contract of international road carriage under the CMR Convention and proof that the cargo has been taken over.
TIR Carnet	Road	A document that enables guaranteed transit carriage through transit countries under the TIR Convention; it eases border procedures with a sealed vehicle.
Bill of Lading (B/L)	Sea	Evidence of the contract of carriage, a receipt, and as a rule a document of value representing ownership. Divided into Master (MBL) and House (HBL).
Sea Waybill	Sea	A non-endorsable sea transport document that does not represent title; the cargo is delivered to the consignee named in the document.
Air Waybill (AWB)	Air	Evidence of the contract of air carriage and a receipt for the goods. Issued as Master (MAWB) and House (HAWB); cannot be endorsed and is not a document of title.
CIM Consignment Note	Rail	International rail transport document under the COTIF/CIM rules.
FIATA Multimodal Bill of Lading (FBL)	Multimodal	A multimodal transport document used for carriage by more than one mode under a single contract and a single carrier's responsibility.
Delivery Order	Sea	An instruction given by the carrier/agent for the delivery of cargo to the consignee at the port or terminal.
Manifest	Sea / Air / Road	A list showing all cargo on the vehicle, vessel or aircraft; it is the basis of the summary declaration for customs.
Booking Confirmation	Sea	A space booking document containing vessel, voyage, container and date details.
VGM (Verified Gross Mass)	Sea	Under SOLAS rules, notification of the container's loaded gross mass before it is loaded on the vessel.
Delivery Note (e-Delivery Note)	Road	A document showing the dispatch of goods in domestic goods movement.
Proof of Delivery (POD)	All modes	A signed document showing that the cargo was delivered to the consignee in full.
Transport Order	Road	Written transport instructions given by the shipper to the carrier, containing the place of loading and unloading, date, cargo and vehicle type.
Shipping Instruction (SI)	Sea	Instructions the shipper gives the carrier on how the bill of lading is to be drawn up; contains the consignee, goods description and freight details.
Telex Release / Bill of Lading Release Notice	Sea	Notifies that the original bill of lading has been surrendered to the carrier and that the cargo can be released without presentation of the original.
Container Interchange Receipt (EIR)	Sea	A document recording the condition of the container when it is picked up from or returned to the terminal; essential for determining responsibility for damage.
Weighbridge Ticket	Road	Shows the laden and empty weight of the vehicle and the net payload weight.
Seal Record	All modes	Records the seal numbers of the vehicle or container and the results of loading and arrival checks.

Customs and transit documents 14

Document	Mode	What is it used for?
Customs Declaration (Export / Import)	All modes	The official declaration made to place goods under a customs procedure; it is processed together with the invoice, packing list and other documents.
T1 – Common Transit Declaration	All modes	Under the Common Transit Convention, used to carry goods without free-circulation status (foreign goods) from one customs office to another duty-free and guaranteed.
T2 – Common Transit Declaration	All modes	Used under the Common Transit regime to carry goods with Union/free-circulation status; it also shows the status of the goods.
T2L / T2LF	All modes	A document proving the Union (free circulation) status of goods; used to prove status in carriage that does not require a transit declaration.
TR – National Transit Declaration	Road	A national transit declaration used for carrying goods under customs supervision from one customs office to another within Türkiye's customs territory.
Transit Accompanying Document (TAD)	All modes	The accompanying document that travels with the goods once the transit declaration has been accepted in NCTS; it contains the MRN (movement reference number).
Transit Guarantee	All modes	A guarantee given for duties and obligations that may arise during transit (comprehensive or individual guarantee).
Summary Declaration (ENS / ICS2)	All modes	An entry summary declaration lodged for safety and security purposes before goods enter the European Union. An exit summary declaration may also be required on the export side.
A.TR Movement Certificate	All modes	A document showing that industrial goods have free-circulation status under the Türkiye–EU customs union.
EUR.1 / EUR-MED	All modes	An origin/movement certificate issued to benefit from preferential customs duty under free trade agreements.
Invoice Declaration	All modes	Under certain conditions, making the origin or status declaration directly on the commercial invoice.
ATA Carnet	All modes	An international customs document used for the temporary import/export of trade-fair goods, samples and professional equipment.
Inward Processing Permit (DİİB)	All modes	A permit enabling imported inputs used in producing goods for export to be brought in with a tax advantage.
Customs Power of Attorney	All modes	An authorisation document given to the customs broker for declaration and transit procedures.

Permit, certificate and conformity documents 11

Document	Mode	What is it used for?
Health / Veterinary Certificate	All modes	Shows that animal products comply with health requirements.
Phytosanitary (Plant Health) Certificate	All modes	Shows that plants and plant products are free from pests.
Certificate of Analysis (CoA)	All modes	Shows the product's laboratory analysis results; particularly requested for chemicals and food.
Conformity Documents (CE, TSE, etc.)	All modes	Shows that the product complies with technical regulations and safety standards. In Türkiye, product safety inspection via TAREKS applies on import.
Import / Export Licences and Permits	All modes	Licences, permits or surveillance documents that must be obtained from the relevant authority for certain products.
Dangerous Goods Documents	All modes	Declarations and certificates compliant with the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and ADR for road, IMDG for sea and IATA DGR for air.
Transport Authorisation and Permit Documents	Road	The authorisation document a carrier needs to carry out international transport (D2 in Türkiye) and the bilateral/multilateral road permits by country.
Vehicle and Driver Documents	Road	Vehicle registration certificate, driving licence and professional competence certificate (SRC), visa for the countries that require it.
Fumigation / ISPM-15 Certificate	All modes	Shows that wooden packaging and pallets have been treated against pests by heat treatment or fumigation; required for entry into many countries.
Free Sale Certificate	All modes	Shows that the product is freely sold in the country of origin; particularly requested for cosmetics, food and medical products.
Inspection / Surveillance Certificate	All modes	A certificate in which an independent inspection body documents the inspection of loading, quantity and quality.

Insurance and operations documents 5

Document	Mode	What is it used for?
Cargo Insurance Policy / Certificate	All modes	Provides cover against damage and loss that may occur during transport; under rules such as CIF/CIP it is the seller's obligation.
Damage / Dispute Report	All modes	A record of damage or shortages noticed on delivery; essential for insurance and carrier claims.
Loading / Unloading Report	All modes	Contains the count and condition findings made during loading and unloading.
Warehouse Receipt / Release Note	Warehousing	A record of goods movements into and out of the warehouse.
Green Card (International Motor Insurance)	Road	An international document showing that the vehicle's third-party liability insurance is valid abroad.

The difference between T1, T2 and TR

Foreign goods

Carrying goods that are not in free circulation from one customs office to another (for example from the border customs office to the office of destination) duty-free and guaranteed.

Goods with Union status

Carrying goods in free circulation under the Common Transit regime and showing their status.

National transit

Carrying goods under supervision from one customs office to another within Türkiye's customs territory.

The declaration states the codes of the departure and destination customs offices. You can find these codes on the Customs Offices and Codes page.

Regime practices vary by legislation, the status of the goods and the route; it is valid among the countries of the Common Transit Convention. When preparing the declaration, obtain current information from your customs broker and the relevant customs authority.

Common mistakes in documents

Quantities, weights and descriptions on the invoice, packing list and bill of lading that do not match one another.
Entering the HS code incorrectly or incompletely.
Late preparation of the origin or movement certificate.
Failure to make the dangerous goods declaration.
Writing the office-of-departure or office-of-destination code incorrectly in the transit declaration.

Frequently asked questions

What are T1 and T2?

Transit declarations used under the Common Transit regime. T1 is for foreign goods, T2 for goods with Union status.

What is a TR document?

A national transit declaration used for carrying goods under supervision from one customs office to another within Türkiye's customs territory.

What is an A.TR certificate?

A document showing the circulation of industrial goods in free circulation under the Türkiye–EU customs union.

What is a CMR document?

The document that is the evidence of the contract of carriage in international road transport and shows that the cargo has been taken over.

Which documents are required for export?

Commercial invoice, packing list, customs declaration, transport document and, if necessary, origin/movement certificate and product-specific certificates.

International Transport Documents