How to File an NCTS Transit Declaration

Short Answer — NCTS Transit Declaration

In NCTS, the transit declaration is lodged electronically on the NCTS screen of the BİLGE Customs Platform by the holder of the procedure or by a customs broker on their behalf. The declaration type, offices of departure and destination, guarantee, consignment, item and seal details are entered. Once the declaration is accepted an MRN is issued; when the goods are released, the TAD is printed and travels with the vehicle.

What needs to be ready before the declaration?

Türkiye moved to Phase 5 of NCTS on 17 November 2024. In this phase the declaration requires more detailed data at house consignment and item level. Before sitting down at the screen, the following should be ready:

Access to the Ministry of Trade (Ticaret Bakanlığı) single sign-on screen and authorisation to act on behalf of the company; how the system works is explained in the BİLGE NCTS entry
The reference details and access code of the comprehensive guarantee, or an individual guarantee
Commercial invoice, packing list, CMR; for export cargo, the export declaration
Tractor and trailer plate numbers, container number, number of seals
For each item, the 6-digit GTİP (Turkish HS/tariff code), description of goods, number and kind of packages, gross and net weight

How is the declaration filed step by step?

Login: You log in via the single sign-on screen, select the company and start a new declaration in the office of departure section of NCTS. The login steps are described in the NCTS BİLGE portal login entry.
Transit operation: Declaration type T1 is selected for international transport and TR for national transport. The offices of departure, destination and transit at the border, as well as the countries on the route, are entered. For declarations lodged before the goods are brought to customs, additional declaration type "D" is selected.
Guarantee: The guarantee type is selected and the guarantee details are added. The screen does not check validity at this stage; an unsuitable guarantee returns an error on submission. The role of the guarantee is explained in the transit guarantee entry.
Consignment details: The consignor, consignee, means of transport and transport equipment are defined. The container number and number of seals are entered here.
Items: House consignment, item and package details are added.
Additional information: If a summary declaration or a warehouse declaration is to be opened for the goods at destination, the request is made on this screen.
Submission: Once the error panel is clear, the declaration is submitted. On acceptance, the LRN (the local reference of the draft declaration) is replaced by the MRN assigned by the system; the structure of this number is explained in the MRN number entry.
Presentation notification: If the additional declaration type is "D", a presentation notification (IE170) is sent when the goods arrive at customs.
Control and release: The customs office carries out a document check or physical inspection, seals the vehicle and releases the goods. The transit accompanying document (TAD) is printed.

Who can lodge the declaration?

The person who lodges the declaration, or on whose behalf it is lodged, is the holder of the procedure (the principal). The principal is financially liable for presenting the goods to the office of destination within the time limit and with the seals intact. In practice, the declaration is mostly lodged by a customs broker (gümrük müşaviri). Companies with authorised consignor status submit the declaration under the simplified procedure; in that case they enter the transit time limit and seal details themselves, and the goods depart from their own premises without being taken to the customs building.

How long does the process take?

If the declaration data and the guarantee are complete, processing in the system is quick; the actual time is determined by document checks and inspection. At busy border crossings, waiting in the queue can take longer than the procedure itself. Lodging the declaration in advance with additional declaration type "D", before the vehicle reaches customs, therefore shortens the waiting time.

Common mistakes

Selecting an office of destination different from the customs office where the goods will actually be unloaded
A seal number that does not match the seal on the vehicle
Item weights that do not add up to the gross weight of the consignment
Insufficient available balance on the comprehensive guarantee
Not following up the discharge of the operation at destination; the steps are in the how to close a T1 transit declaration entry

How does Voltim Global support this?

In its transit customs clearance and bonded and transit transport services, Voltim Global collects the vehicle, seal and document details needed for the declaration together with the trip plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if a mistake is made in the NCTS declaration?

If the declaration has not yet been accepted, the warnings in the error panel are corrected and it is resubmitted. After acceptance, an amendment can be made before the goods are released. For a declaration whose goods have already been released, the change is requested from the office of departure by e-petition (e-dilekçe). In some cases it is necessary to send an invalidation request and lodge a new declaration.

In which countries is an NCTS transit declaration valid?

A T1 declaration is valid in the contracting parties to the Common Transit Convention: the EU member states, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Türkiye (since 1 December 2012), North Macedonia, Serbia, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova and Montenegro. T1 cannot be used towards Russia, Iran or Central Asia; the TIR carnet is preferred for these countries.

Sources

Published: 22.10.2026 · Voltim Global

How is a transit declaration filed via NCTS?