The TİO certificate authorizes individuals and logistics companies wishing to provide transportation services safely to conduct business. The certificate is obtained after applications made to the TR Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure are reviewed and approved.
The TİO certificate can be obtained by companies with an international logistics network or sole proprietorships engaged in exporting. You can learn more about this legally required certificate by reading the rest of the text.
What is a TİO Certificate?
Before answering the question of what the TİO authorization certificate is, it is necessary to mention what TİO stands for. TİO is Transport Operations Organizing (Freight Forwarder). The TİO certificate is a document issued by the TR Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure since 01.01.2019. It determines the rights and responsibilities of companies or individuals active in logistics areas such as road, air, sea, and rail. It is a mandatory document for individuals or legal logistics companies that will organize in the field of transportation.
What Does the TİO Certificate Do?
The most important aspect of the TİO certificate is that it prevents negative situations that may occur during export procedures and international product shipments. Its other purposes can be listed as follows:
• The TİO certificate authorizes individuals and logistics companies to provide services.
• It determines the service conditions of freight forwarders.
• It determines the rights along with the obligations of senders and recipients.
• It provides the supervision of transportation modes.
• It develops the audit system for effective service.
• It ensures that transport businesses operate in accordance with international legislation.
Who Issues the TİO Certificate?
The TİO certificate is issued by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to legal or real persons who will provide transport activities. The ministry completes and approves the applications in approximately thirty days. The validity period of the issued or renewed certificates is 5 years.
What are the Conditions for Obtaining a TİO Certificate?
The conditions required to obtain a TİO authorization certificate can be listed as follows:
• The company is not required to have a warehouse.
• The fee for the TİO certificate must be paid.
• There is no age requirement for the vehicles that will provide the service.
• There is no contract condition or requirement for distribution personnel.
• Ministry approval is required for the branches requested to be opened.
• Persons wishing to obtain or renew a TİO certificate must be citizens of the Republic of Turkey, and the partners or representatives must not be arrested or convicted.
• It must have a headquarters address.
• It must meet the professional qualification requirements specified in the regulation.
• It must be registered in the electronic notification system.
• Being an active taxpayer is also among the conditions.
Who Can Get a TİO Certificate?
Logistics companies belonging to real or legal persons working in combined transport or sea, land, rail, and air transport must have a Freight Forwarder Authorization Certificate in order to carry cargo and establish contracts. Any company that meets the requirements for obtaining a TİO certificate can receive the certificate after ministry approval.
How to Get a TİO Certificate?
To obtain a freight forwarder certificate, an application must be made to the TR Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. Regional directorates do not have the authority to perform TİO transactions.
There are documents required for the TİO certificate. First of all, the transportation operation organizing authorization certificate application form prepared by the ministry is filled out. The application is made by adding the documents required for the TİO certificate, which are the trade registry gazette, the receipt showing that the certificate fee has been paid, and the chamber registration certificate, to the file.
The validity period of the TİO certificate is 5 years. The fee for renewing the document is 5 percent of the document for that year. If the authorization certificate is not renewed within 540 days after its validity period, it is considered invalid and the right to renew is lost.
After the authorization certificate process is completed, you can make sure of its validity by querying and verifying the TİO certificate on E-government. To print the Authorization Certificate and Vehicle Card via E-government:
• E-government login is made.
• Go to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure page from the Institutions section.
For the Vehicle Card;
• Enter Authorization Certificate transactions and click 'Vehicle Card Inquiry/Issuance'.
• Whichever vehicle registered to the authorization certificate is to have a vehicle card printed, that vehicle's license plate is entered.
• The vehicle card is printed by clicking the create document button.
To print the Authorization Certificate;
• After clicking on Authorization Certificate transactions, click on the 'Authorization Certificate Inquiry/Issuance' tab.
• The authorization certificate to be printed is selected, click on the 'Create Document' tab, and click 'Download File' to print the document.
For What Purposes Is the TİO Certificate Used in Export Transactions?
The TİO certificate is a document required for logistics or commercial enterprises operating in Turkey to export goods abroad and has a legal requirement.
The TİO certificate can be used for multiple purposes in export transactions. These are as follows:
• The document verifies the identity of the exporter during customs procedures.
• It proves that the bilateral agreement made is valid and ensures their legal protection.
• It shows the payment terms as per the agreement made with the customer. It ensures that the payment is made securely.
• It shows the tax liability of the company or legal entities. It is used in preparing tax documents for the export transaction.
A complete and exact TİO certificate prevents negative situations that may occur during export procedures.
For What Purposes Is the TİO Certificate Used in Customs Transactions?
The TİO certificate enables the export carried out to be used in customs procedures. It ensures that the vehicles of companies or legal entities possessing a TİO certificate are subjected to inspection at customs without experiencing problems. Export products can clear customs more easily and quickly compared to other goods. It can also exempt certain fees. Thus, it can reduce costs. The TİO certificate is a document that provides advantages in import and export operations.
