Knowing what TAREKS is is not enough; what really matters is that the application is made at the right time, with the right documents. We covered the general concepts in our article What Is TAREKS?; in this article we focus on the steps of the application process and the preparation stage.
Who Makes the Application?
The TAREKS application is generally made electronically, as part of the customs declaration process, by the authorized customs broker on behalf of the importer. However, the smooth progress of the application depends not only on the information the customs broker has on hand, but on the completeness of the technical file and documents the importer has prepared in advance. For this reason, the process should begin well before the customs declaration, at the product procurement stage.
Preparation Stage Before the Application
- Clarify whether the product falls within TAREKS/ÜGD scope through its HS Code.
- Obtain the EU Declaration of Conformity, a technical file summary and relevant test reports from the manufacturer.
- Make sure the product label and the Turkish user manual are present and comply with legislation.
- Organize the technical file so it can be submitted completely in case of a document review.
- Send the technical file and documents to your customs broker before the shipment arrives.
We list which documents are particularly scrutinized at this stage in our article Which Documents Are Required?.
The Electronic Application Process
- The product's HS Code is entered into the system when the customs declaration is created.
- The system automatically determines whether the product falls within TAREKS/ÜGD scope.
- If it is within scope, the required information (manufacturer, model, standard references, etc.) is entered into the TAREKS screen.
- The system carries out a risk analysis and reports the result (direct approval / document review / physical-laboratory inspection).
- If document review is requested, the file is sent to the relevant regional directorate.
- If the result is favorable, customs procedures are completed; if not, corrective action or an appeal process is initiated.
Factors That Speed Up or Slow Down the Process
| Speeds It Up | Slows It Down |
|---|---|
| Technical file prepared in advance | Documents only starting to be prepared after the shipment arrives |
| Correct HS Code declaration | Use of an incorrect or ambiguous HS Code |
| Turkish user manual ready | Only a foreign-language manual being available |
| Clean inspection history on previous shipments | Recurring non-conformities in the same product group |
Most Common Mistakes
- Starting to prepare the application only after the product reaches customs.
- Placing an order without requesting a technical file from the manufacturer.
- Declaring the HS Code based on estimation rather than the product's actual technical characteristics.
- Leaving the Turkish translation of the user manual to the last moment.
- Submitting the file incompletely or in a disorganized manner when a document review is requested.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the TAREKS application?
The application is generally made electronically by the authorized customs broker on behalf of the importer; however, the smooth progress of the process depends on the importer having prepared the technical file and documents in advance.
Which documents should be ready before applying?
Having documents such as the EU Declaration of Conformity, a technical file summary, test reports (if any), the Turkish user manual and the product label ready before the application speeds up the process.
How long does it take for the application result to arrive?
For shipments assessed as low risk, the result can arrive quickly, while for shipments requiring document review or physical/laboratory inspection, the duration can be longer.
What happens if the application is rejected?
If documents are found missing or non-conforming, they can be completed and the application resubmitted; if non-conformity is found in the product itself, processes such as corrective action, return, or destruction may come into play.
Conclusion
Whether a TAREKS application proceeds smoothly is determined not by a decision made at customs, but by the preparation done before import. Completing the technical file, the declaration of conformity and the labeling/manual requirements in advance is the biggest guarantee of a smooth process.
For more information, see our TAREKS & Import consultancy service.
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