General Cargo Customs Clearance

Whichever route your cargo takes, it continues on its way without waiting at customs.

General cargo refers to palletized, boxed or crated commercial freight that does not require special handling such as dangerous goods, cold chain or valuables. Raw materials and semi-finished goods, machinery and spare parts, textiles, automotive, electronics and consumer products fall into this category. General cargo customs clearance covers preparing the import, export and transit declarations for this cargo, calculating the duties and completing customs controls so that the goods are released for free circulation or exported abroad.

We handle all customs procedures end to end for your full (FCL/FTL) and partial (LCL/LTL) loads carried by air, sea and road. With accurate HS code classification, we calculate customs duty, additional customs duty, VAT, special consumption tax and any anti-dumping obligations in advance, and quickly register your declarations electronically. This way, you plan your budget from the outset and face no surprise costs at customs.

Most delays in foreign trade stem from missing documents, incorrect tariff classification or an incorrect customs value declaration. These errors can leave cargo waiting for days, cause storage and demurrage charges and even lead to penalties. Thanks to the document check and pre-declaration we carry out before the cargo departs, your shipment is ready to be processed when it reaches customs.

Services We Offer

General cargo customs procedures - import and export clearance of container cargo at the port

What we offer within general cargo customs clearance:

Import (Release for Free Circulation) Declarations
Export Declarations and Certificates of Origin
HS Code Classification and Customs Valuation
Preliminary Calculation of Customs Duty, VAT and Special Consumption Tax
TAREKS and Product Safety Inspections
Transit (NCTS) and TIR Carnet Procedures
Bonded Warehouse and Temporary Storage Procedures
Customs Clearance for Partial, Consolidated and Full Loads

Documents Required for Customs Clearance

Although documents vary depending on the type of cargo and the regime, the following are usually required for general cargo customs clearance:

Commercial invoice and packing list
Transport document: bill of lading (B/L), air waybill (AWB) or CMR
Certificate of origin or A.TR, EUR.1, EUR-MED movement certificates
Product-specific permits, conformity and analysis documents
Documents showing freight and insurance costs
Power of attorney issued to the customs broker

How Does the General Cargo Customs Clearance Process Work?

1. Preliminary check and cost calculation: We review your invoice, packing list and transport documents, classify the HS code and determine in advance the duties payable and the inspections that apply.

2. Pre-declaration: We submit the pre-declaration before the cargo reaches its destination and start product-specific permit and inspection applications in parallel.

3. Declaration registration: The import, export or transit declaration is submitted electronically to the customs administration and registered.

4. Control channel and inspection: Depending on the risk analysis, the declaration is processed in the green, yellow or red channel. When a document check or physical inspection is required, we follow the process on site.

5. Duty payment and delivery: Once duties are paid, the goods are released from customs and delivered to your address or warehouse through our warehousing and distribution network.

Frequently Asked Questions

General cargo is standard commercial freight that does not require special handling, and its customs procedures follow the usual processes. High-value shipments such as gold, jewelry, foreign currency or works of art, on the other hand, require a security escort, a valuables vault and insurance matching their value. For these shipments, see our valuable cargo customs clearance service.

The HS code (known as GTİP in Türkiye) is the 12-digit code that identifies every product. The duty rates applied to your product, import and export restrictions and the inspections it is subject to are all determined by this code. An incorrect HS code leads to underpaid or overpaid duties, penalties and delays.

Yes. If you share your invoice and product information, we classify the HS code and prepare a preliminary cost calculation covering items such as customs duty, additional customs duty, VAT and special consumption tax. This way, you know your total cost before your cargo arrives.

Declarations are routed to different control channels based on risk analysis. In the green channel, the procedure is completed without document or physical checks; in the yellow channel, documents are checked; and in the red channel, a physical inspection of the goods is carried out in addition to the document check. Complete documents and an accurate declaration ensure the inspection is completed quickly.

With consolidated loads, the same container or vehicle carries goods from multiple shippers. On arrival, the cargo is separated at a temporary storage facility and each shipment is cleared separately with its own declaration. Having your documents ready in advance allows your cargo to be released quickly, independently of the other shipments.

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How We Work

Our Service Process

We plan every step transparently, from the first contact to final delivery, and keep you informed throughout the process.

01

Request & Needs Analysis

We listen to your cargo type, route and priorities, and identify the solution that best fits your needs.

02

Planning & Quotation

We optimize the route and transport mode and quickly present a clear, competitive price quote.

03

Operations & Transport

Our expert team runs the entire operation, from loading to customs, meticulously and on time.

04

Delivery & Tracking

Your shipment is delivered safely; we stay by your side with real-time tracking and reporting throughout the process.

Why Us?

What Can You Expect from This Service?

We safeguard your operations in General Cargo Customs Clearance with the same working principles we apply to every service.

24/7 Operations Tracking

Our expert support team is ready to answer your questions at every stage of your shipment.

Insured & Secure

Your cargo is protected by comprehensive insurance coverage at every step of the journey.

Competitive Pricing

Thanks to optimized routes and our strong network, we offer solutions that fit your budget.

On-Time Delivery

With well-planned operations management, we deliver within the timeframe we commit to.

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Share the details of your shipment and our expert team will quickly come back to you with the most suitable solution and price quote.

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General Cargo Customs Clearance