The TİO certificate (Transport Affairs Organizer Authorization) grants individuals or logistics companies the legal right to carry out freight forwarding activities in Turkey. It is issued and regulated by the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, and is a mandatory requirement for companies or sole proprietors involved in national or international logistics operations.
The certificate is designed to ensure that companies providing transportation services comply with the Transport Affairs Organizer Regulation and fulfill their legal obligations. As such, the TİO certificate plays a critical role in professionalizing the sector and enhancing the reliability of logistics providers.
TİO stands for “Taşıma İşleri Organizatörlüğü” in Turkish, meaning Transport Affairs Organization. This certificate applies to transportation activities across four major logistics channels: road, air, sea, and rail. It defines the rights and responsibilities of companies involved in freight forwarding within these domains.
Introduced in 2019, the TİO certificate replaced several older documents such as R1 and R2 for road transport and DD documents under the Railway Authorization Regulation. Today, companies providing multimodal logistics services are required to obtain the TİO certificate to operate legally and securely.
The TİO certificate offers multiple benefits and regulatory functions:
Grants legal authority to individuals and companies to offer logistics services.
Clearly outlines the rights and responsibilities of both shippers and consignees.
Standardizes service conditions for freight forwarders.
Supports monitoring and auditing of transport operations.
Ensures compliance with international logistics standards.
Helps establish secure and transparent contractual relationships.
Additionally, the TİO certificate is used for identity verification in customs operations, confirming the legitimacy of exporters or shipping companies. It also plays a vital role in ensuring the security and legal validity of payment terms within contracts.
To obtain a TİO certificate, applications must be made directly to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure—regional offices are not authorized to issue this certificate. The required documents include:
Completed TİO Application Form
Trade Registry Gazette
Payment receipt for the certificate fee
Chamber registration certificate
The certificate is valid for 5 years, and renewals are subject to a renewal fee set as 5% of that year’s certificate cost.
Applications can be tracked or printed via Turkey’s e-Government portal (e-Devlet) by navigating to the Ministry’s section and selecting the TİO services.
Operating without a TİO certificate is considered a legal violation and subject to administrative fines. These penalties are issued per invoice and are based on the current penalty rates. To avoid disruption in business operations and legal consequences, companies must obtain the certificate as soon as they begin freight forwarding activities.
Both individuals and legal entities can apply for the TİO certificate, provided they meet the following conditions:
Turkish nationality (for individuals) or establishment under Turkish law (for legal entities)
A minimum capital of 150,000 TL
Active tax liability
Registered business address
Registration with a professional chamber (e.g., Chamber of Commerce or Chamber of Tradesmen)
Compliance with professional qualifications
Enrollment in the electronic notification system (e-Tebligat)
Meeting these criteria ensures eligibility for both initial applications and renewals.
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