Switzerland is a small but highly valuable market for Turkish exporters, with strong purchasing power and demand from its pharmaceutical, watchmaking, machinery and food sectors. Textiles, furniture, food products (dried fruit, hazelnuts, olive oil), building materials and automotive parts move from Turkey to Switzerland on a regular basis. Because Switzerland is not an EU member, every shipment has to be set up as transit trade: the goods cross the EU without being taxed there and are imported at the Swiss border. In this guide we explain the documents, transit procedures, the Swiss-specific tax structure (weight-based customs duty, 8.1% VAT, LSVA), transit times and departure schedules for commercial freight and groupage (part-load) shipments from Turkey to Switzerland.
Transit Trade Procedures: Crossing the EU Under T1
- The Turkish export declaration is closed at Kapıkule.
- A T1 transit document (Common Transit Convention, NCTS) is opened in Turkey; a guarantee is lodged and the load is sealed.
- The vehicle travels via Bulgaria – Serbia – Hungary – Austria – Germany (Basel), or via Austria (St. Margrethen) or Italy (Chiasso), to the Swiss border; no taxation takes place within the EU.
- At the Swiss border customs office the T1 is discharged and the Swiss import declaration (e-dec / Passar) is lodged.
- Duties and taxes are paid, or debited from the importer's customs account (ZAZ), and the goods are released.
The EFTA–Turkey Free Trade Agreement applies between Switzerland and Turkey: industrial goods of Turkish origin enter at zero customs duty with a EUR.1 certificate or an origin declaration on the invoice. The A.TR movement certificate is not valid in Switzerland; a proof of origin is required.
Swiss-Specific Duties and Charges
| Item | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Customs duty | In Switzerland duty is based on gross weight, not value (CHF per 100 kg). With a EUR.1 or origin declaration, industrial goods are at 0%. Agricultural products are subject to quotas and varying rates. |
| VAT | 8.1% (2.6% on food and certain other products), charged on the value of the goods + freight + duties. Deductible if the importer is VAT-registered. |
| LSVA / RPLP | Swiss heavy-vehicle distance charge, based on the kilometres driven within Switzerland; included in the freight rate. |
| Declaration fee | Fee for the Swiss customs broker's service. |
Documents
- Commercial invoice (HS code, Incoterms, consignee's UID number)
- Packing list (gross weight matters: duty is weight-based)
- EUR.1 movement certificate or an approved-exporter origin declaration
- Export declaration (Exporters' Association registration)
- CMR consignment note
- Product-specific: health certificate and Swiss labelling rules (DE/FR/IT) for food, CE/conformity for machinery, ISPM-15 for wooden packaging
Groupage and Dedicated Vehicle: Departures and Transit Times
| Model | Suitable load | Transit time | Departures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groupage (part-load) | 1-12 pallets | 6-10 days | Weekly (via Frankfurt) |
| Dedicated (full-load) vehicle | Full trailer | 5-7 days | On demand |
Border posts process commercial traffic during office hours, and in Switzerland lorries may not run on Sundays or at night (22:00-05:00). Departure schedules are planned around these restrictions. We deliver to Zurich, Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano and St. Gallen. You will find up-to-date information on our Switzerland route page.
Which Sectors?
- Food: dried fruit, hazelnuts, pulses, olive oil, spices (labelling and certificate support)
- Textiles and ready-to-wear; home textiles
- Furniture and interior fit-out projects (hotels, restaurants)
- Machinery, spare parts, metalworking
- Building materials: natural stone, ceramics, aluminium
- Exhibition logistics: Basel (Baselworld period, Swissbau), Geneva (Palexpo), Zurich (Messe Zürich)
Preparing the Consignee in Switzerland
If you plan to export to Switzerland regularly, the process runs faster when your consignee (or you) has the following in place on the Swiss side:
- UID number: the Swiss business identification number; it appears on the import declaration as the importer of record.
- ZAZ account: allows customs duty and VAT to be debited from a central account instead of paid in cash, which cuts waiting time at the border.
- VAT registration: the consignee must be a Swiss VAT payer to deduct import VAT; under a DDP model a foreign seller can also act as importer by filing an Unterstellungserklärung Ausland.
- Approved exporter status: for regular exporters in Turkey, the right to declare origin on the invoice, removing the need to issue a EUR.1 for every shipment.
Exhibition Logistics: Basel, Geneva, Zurich
For Turkish companies exhibiting at Swiss trade fairs, stand materials and samples enter duty-free under temporary admission with an ATA Carnet and return after the show; goods intended for sale are subject to normal import. We plan the delivery window around the fair calendar, offer timed-slot delivery to the exhibition grounds (Messe Basel, Palexpo, Messe Zürich) and store empty packaging during the event. Unsold goods return to Turkey under the same ATA Carnet after the fair.
Dangerous Goods and Special Cargo
Products covered by ADR (paint, chemicals, aerosols, lithium batteries) travel on certified vehicles with licensed drivers; Swiss tunnel crossings (Gotthard, San Bernardino) carry additional restrictions depending on the ADR class. For out-of-gauge machinery and construction equipment we arrange low-loader vehicles, route permits and planning that complies with Switzerland's heavy-vehicle rules.
What Determines the Cost?
- Number of pallets, volume and gross weight
- Collection and delivery addresses; distance within Switzerland (LSVA)
- Customs services: export declaration, T1, Swiss import declaration; VAT handling and fiscal representation if DDP is required
- Cargo insurance (invoice value)
- Additional services: tail-lift vehicle, timed delivery, warehouse holding
Common Mistakes
- Shipping with an A.TR — it is not valid in Switzerland; a EUR.1 is required.
- Declaring the gross weight incorrectly or incompletely — since duty is weight-based, this risks corrections and penalties.
- Preparing food labels in English only — one of Switzerland's official languages is required.
- Promising a delivery date without allowing for the Sunday and night-time driving ban.
- Failing to confirm the consignee's Swiss importer registration (UID) and VAT status.
Example Scenario: Hazelnut Shipment from Giresun to Zurich
A hazelnut processing plant in Giresun is sending 8 pallets (6 tonnes) of processed hazelnuts to a chocolate manufacturer in Zurich. The export declaration is closed in Istanbul with a EUR.1 and a health certificate, and the T1 is opened in Turkey. On day five the vehicle discharges the T1 at Basel/Weil am Rhein and lodges the e-dec declaration; thanks to preferential origin the customs duty is zero, and VAT is debited from the consignee's ZAZ account. On day six the goods are delivered to the factory in Zurich at the booked time slot.
Why REG Transport?
- Experience with Switzerland's dual customs structure; we handle both the T1 and the e-dec declarations.
- Our own vehicle fleet, with consolidation at our Istanbul, Gaziantep and Frankfurt warehouses.
- Transparent quotation (LSVA included), CMR cover plus optional cargo insurance, and a single point of contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a single pallet?
Yes, on our weekly groupage departures.
How many days does freight take to reach Switzerland?
6-10 days by groupage, 5-7 days by dedicated vehicle.
Is DDP delivery possible?
Yes. With import representation and VAT handling we offer delivery with all duties and taxes paid.
Do you carry return loads from Switzerland to Turkey?
Yes; we carry machinery, non-pharmaceutical chemicals and return consignments.
Get a Quote
Complete the quote form with your product details (HS code, pallets/packages, dimensions, gross weight) and addresses, and we will send a written quotation the same day. Learn more about our commercial freight services and customs clearance services.
