Document errors cause more shipment delays than logistics problems. This checklist covers what you need, who issues it, and the mistakes to avoid.
Core Documents (Every Shipment)
1. **Commercial Invoice** — you issue it. Must match the L/C or contract wording exactly. 2. **Packing List** — item-by-item contents, weights, and dimensions per package. 3. **Bill of Lading (B/L)** — issued by the shipping line; the document of title to the goods. 4. **Certificate of Origin** — issued by your Chamber of Commerce (TOBB network).
Preferential Origin Certificates
• **ATR Certificate** — for EU shipments under the Customs Union: zero duty on industrial goods. • **EUR.1** — for countries with Turkish FTAs (many MENA & Balkan states) — big duty savings for your buyer, a genuine selling point.
Product-Specific Certificates
• Food: Health Certificate (Tarım Bakanlığı), sometimes Halal certification • Machinery/Electronics: CE Declaration of Conformity • Textiles: OEKO-TEX or similar where buyers require • Destination-specific: SASO (Saudi), SONCAP (Nigeria), PVoC (Kenya/Sudan) — verify your buyer's market requirements early.
Payment-Related
Under L/C, every comma matters — a misspelled company name can freeze payment. Send draft documents to your buyer for approval before shipping.
Timing Rule
Start certificates BEFORE production ends. Health certificates and legalized documents can take 1-2 weeks; ships won't wait.
Platform Support
The export dashboard's document checklist generates per-deal requirements based on product type and destination — so nothing gets missed.