Möbelimport aus der Türkei: Dokumente und Lieferzeiten
Importing Furniture from Turkey: Documents, Customs and Lead Times (2026 Guide)
By Volkan Kıyan, founder of RVK Mobilya Dekorasyon. Last updated: 23 September 2026.
Quick answer
- EU: Turkey and the EU form a customs union for industrial goods. Furniture travelling with an A.TR movement certificate enters without customs duty; import VAT still applies [1].
- United Kingdom: A.TR no longer applies. Under the UK–Türkiye trade agreement, preferential tariffs are claimed with a declaration on origin on the commercial invoice [2].
- Norway: see our separate guide to importing furniture into Norway.
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Two EU rules to plan for: the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for wooden furniture and joinery from 30 December 2026 for large operators [3], and the formaldehyde limit for furniture in force since 6 August 2026 [4].
Why buyers source furniture from Turkey
A study using the synthetic control method estimated that without the EU–Turkey customs union, Turkish exports to the EU would have been 38 per cent lower [5]. A 2026 analysis of G20 countries found that Türkiye, together with Italy, Mexico and Indonesia, holds a significant comparative advantage in furniture, while the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Japan do not [6]. In practice, this means established supply chains, duty-free access to the EU and shorter transit than from the Far East.
Documents by destination
| Destination | Customs document | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| EU member states | A.TR movement certificate | Proves the goods are in free circulation in the customs union, so no customs duty is charged. It is not a certificate of origin. EU customs accept electronically issued A.TR certificates bearing a QR code [1]. |
| United Kingdom | Declaration on origin | Written by the exporter on the invoice. Goods must meet the agreement's rules of origin; otherwise the standard tariff applies. Valid for 24 months for UK imports [2]. |
| Gulf and other markets | Certificate of origin | Issued by the chamber of commerce in Türkiye. Check with your importer whether legalisation is needed. |
Every shipment also needs a commercial invoice, a packing list (packages, weights and, for projects, room or area labels) and a transport document: a bill of lading for sea freight or a CMR for road freight. Our customs broker files the Turkish export declaration.
HS codes for furniture and joinery
| Product | HS heading |
|---|---|
| Wooden kitchen furniture | 9403 40 |
| Wooden bedroom furniture (wardrobes, bedside units, beds) | 9403 50 |
| Wooden office furniture | 9403 30 |
| Other wooden furniture | 9403 60 |
| Parts of wooden furniture (fronts, panels) | 9403 91 |
| Wooden doors and frames | 4418 21 / 4418 29 |
Your customs broker confirms the final code for each item. Mixed project shipments often use several codes on one invoice.
Two EU regulations to plan for
EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)
Regulation (EU) 2025/2650 postponed the EUDR again. Large operators must meet their obligations from 30 December 2026, and micro and small enterprises from 30 June 2027 [3]. Wooden furniture and builders' joinery fall within its scope, so importers will need traceability information for the wood in each product. Ask your supplier early how they will provide it.
Formaldehyde limit (REACH)
Since 6 August 2026, furniture and wood-based articles placed on the EU market must not release more than 0.062 mg/m³ of formaldehyde under the prescribed test conditions [4]. Ask for panel emission documentation, and state the destination country when you request a quotation.
Lead times: production and transit
Production depends on quantity and finish. As a reference, a batch of 30 lacquered interior doors takes us about 10 days. Melamine furniture is quicker to produce than lacquered furniture, and approved samples at the start save weeks later.
Transit times published by freight forwarders give a realistic range:
| Route | Indicative transit |
|---|---|
| Turkey to UK, sea (LCL) | About 8–9 days port to port, 14–16 days door to door [7] |
| Turkey to Germany, road | Roughly 5–8 days, faster than the 10–15 day sea option [8] |
| Istanbul to Eastern Norway, road | 9–11 days; sea freight about 25 days [9] |
Always confirm the current schedule with your forwarder before you fix an installation date.
Shipping terms, payment and packing
- Terms: our standard quotations are EXW Istanbul. DDP delivery to Europe is available on request, with transport and customs arranged to your address.
- Payment: deposit with the order, balance before shipment.
- Packing: flat-packed parts sorted per item, palletised with stretch film and corner protection, or packed in labelled crates for sea freight. Crates made of particleboard or plywood are outside the ISPM 15 treatment rules; solid-wood pallets must carry the ISPM 15 mark.
- Installation: assembly guides and videos are supplied for your local team. We do not install outside Türkiye.
Buyer checklist
- Destination country and delivery address
- Required customs document (A.TR, declaration on origin or certificate of origin)
- HS code per item, confirmed by your customs broker
- EUDR traceability information and formaldehyde documentation for EU deliveries
- Incoterm (EXW or DDP) and who books the freight
- Packing list with room or area labels for project deliveries
- Installation plan and date, set after the confirmed arrival date
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay import duty on furniture from Turkey into the EU?
Not when the furniture travels with a valid A.TR certificate, because industrial goods in free circulation move duty-free within the customs union. Import VAT is still charged in your country [1].
Is an A.TR a certificate of origin?
No. It proves free-circulation status within the EU–Turkey customs union. For the UK, a declaration on origin is used instead [2].
Can you deliver to my door?
Yes, DDP delivery to Europe is available on request. Our standard quotations are EXW Istanbul.
How long from order to delivery?
Production time plus transit. For a typical European project, plan for sample approval, production of a few weeks depending on size and finish, and one to two weeks in transit.
References
- European Commission, Taxation and Customs Union. Turkey: customs union and preferential arrangements. taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu
- GOV.UK. Summary of the UK–Turkey trade agreement. gov.uk
- European Commission, Access2Markets. Delay until December 2026 and other developments in the implementation of the EUDR regulation. trade.ec.europa.eu
- Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1464 of 14 July 2023 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH) as regards formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers. EUR-Lex
- Aytuğ, H., Kütük, M. M., Oduncu, A., & Togan, S. (2017). Twenty years of the EU–Turkey customs union: A synthetic control method analysis. JCMS: Journal of Common Market Studies, 55(3), 419–431. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcms.12490
- Üçüncü, T., & Bayram, B. C. (2026). Analysis of international competitiveness in the furniture sector: The case of G20 countries. Anatolian Journal of Forest Research, 12, 1940846. https://doi.org/10.53516/ajfr.1940846
- Denholm Good Logistics. Importing from Turkey: sea freight transit times. denholmgoodlogistics.com
- CargoLinked. Turkey to Germany trade lane. cargolinked.com
- Collicare. Transport to and from Turkey. collicare.no
About the author
Volkan Kıyan is the founder of RVK Mobilya Dekorasyon (RVK Furniture Decoration), a Turkish supplier of custom kitchens, interior doors and fitted furniture for residential and hotel projects. He has managed export shipments to the United Kingdom, Bahrain and Tunisia.
Importing for a project? Send your drawings, quantities and delivery country through our contact page. Related guides: importing custom kitchen cabinets from Turkey, hotel furniture from Turkey and lacquer vs melamine.