Türkiye – Approval of Import Certificate and End-Use Certificate for Dual-Use Materials and Technologies (Import: 2026/12)

Scope

This Communiqué governs the approval process (by the Ministry’s Import General Directorate) for:

• Import Certificate (İthal Şehadetnamesi), and
• End-Use Certificate (Nihai Kullanım Sertifikası)requested by the exporting side for dual-use materials and technologies that could be used in WMD-related activities (production, development, processing, storage, transport, proliferation), where the exporter requires these documents as part of its export control procedures.

It is supported by reference documents/lists such as:

• Circular No: 2021/1 (TPS – End-Use Certificate and Import Certificate),
• Dual-use control lists (e.g., Wassenaar Arrangement, Australia Group chemical precursor lists, and related GTIP lists).

Mandatory Surveillance Certificate

Under this Communiqué, the relevant documents are mandatory for approval when the exporting country/exporter requires them for export authorization to Türkiye:

• Import Certificate (TPS-1082) is subject to General Directorate approval.
• End-Use Certificate (TPS-1083) is subject to General Directorate approval.

Key liability rule:

• If the import is made in the name of another company (different from the applicant importer), the forms include both entities, and they are jointly and severally liable.
• If the end-user differs from the importer, both must be included and jointly and severally liable; the end-user’s signature/stamp is additionally required on the application form.

Application and Review Process

Submission channel: e-Government or the Ministry website via E-Services → E-Transactions → “İthalat Belge İşlemleri (İthalatBİS)”, using qualified e-signature.

Authorization of e-signature users: must be completed under Communiqué (Import: 2026/19) on electronic authorization.

Application content (Import Certificate – TPS-1082):

• Undertaking Application Form (Annex-1) signed by authorized signatories,
• The Import Certificate to be approved (Annex-3),
• Invoice or proforma invoice (PDF).

Application content (End-Use Certificate – TPS-1083):

• Undertaking Application Form (Annex-2) signed by authorized signatories,
• End-Use Certificate + Turkish translation,
• Invoice or proforma invoice (PDF),
• If end-user is different: end-user signature & stamp also required on the application form.

Deficiency completion rule:

• If the application contains missing/inconsistent information, the Ministry grants 5 business days to complete/clarify.
• Applications not compliant with procedure are not evaluated.

Approval output and notification:

• Approval is performed electronically; the applicant is notified by e-mail with a 23-digit Single Window (TPS) document number and document date.
• Approved documents are also sent as one physical copy to the applicant (Import Certificate: 1 copy; End-Use Certificate: 1 copy).
• The applicant sends the approved document(s) to the exporter for obtaining export authorization in the exporting country.

Customs Value Clarification and Practical Application

A critical compliance clarification is explicitly stated:

• The Import Certificate / End-Use Certificate (and the post-import confirmation) are not import permits, do not complete customs formalities, and do not provide a legal shield for issues arising from use or misuse of the goods.
• They are documents used by the exporting side to obtain export licenses; therefore, customs offices are not responsible for controlling the content of these certificates as an import-permit mechanism.
• The importer remains responsible for obtaining and presenting all other required permits/approvals under foreign trade and sectoral legislation, physically or electronically, at the relevant customs stage.

Validity and Legal Effect

• Validity period: 6 months from the approval date for both documents.
• No extensions are allowed.
• The exporting country’s processing timeline does not affect validity considerations for Turkish import operations.
• For the Tesellüm Teyidi Vesikası (post-import confirmation), the validity period of the Import Certificate is not a limiting factor.

Enforcement and Compliance Risk

Operational risk points for companies importing dual-use items:

• Single Window/TPS declaration discipline: the 23-digit reference number and date must be declared in the customs declaration Box 44 (“Belge Referans No / Belge Tarihi”).
• Registry prerequisite: if the importer has no customs registration, Single Window record approval may fail; after notification, the importer must complete registration within 5 business days and inform the General Directorate.
• Post-import confirmation process: importers requesting the Tesellüm Teyidi Vesikası must apply to customs with the import declaration and certificate details; this confirmation is then transmitted to the exporting authority (including “düşümlü”/deducted confirmation options subject to notification requirements).
• Free zone imports: the same rules apply to imports from free zones into Türkiye.
• Third-country shipment: if the goods are intended to be shipped to a third country, the importer must obtain an Authorization Letter/Permit from the exporter/exporting country and send it to the General Directorate. For goods already in free circulation, third-country shipment procedures follow Communiqué No: 2003/12 on export control of dual-use/sensitive items.

Repealed Regulation and Entry into Force

• Communiqué (Import: 2025/12) is repealed.
• This Communiqué enters into force on 1 January 2026.
• References made to the repealed Communiqué are deemed to refer to Import: 2026/12.

Compliance Assessment

From a corporate compliance standpoint, Import: 2026/12 should be treated as a document-approval and workflow regulation, not an import licensing simplification. Companies dealing with dual-use items should operationalize:

• Early identification of whether the goods fall into exporter-side dual-use control scope (supported by the referenced lists/circular),
• Internal readiness for İthalatBİS e-signature submission and correct TPS selection (1082/1083),
• Contracting and logistics timelines aligned with the non-extendable 6-month validity,
• A clear internal process for post-import Tesellüm Teyidi Vesikası when requested by the exporter/exporting authority,
• Separate tracking of all other import permits/approvals required under Turkish foreign trade/product/sector regulations, since these certificates do not replace them.

See the legislation document.