Glossary / The Difference Between the HS Code and GTİP
The Difference Between the HS Code and GTİP
The HS code is the 6-digit international goods classification system used jointly by the member countries of the World Customs Organization; GTİP is Türkiye's national code, which extends these 6 digits to 12 digits within Türkiye's own Customs Tariff Schedule.
The first 6 digits of GTİP are identical to the internationally shared Harmonized System (HS) code — these digits stay the same regardless of which country is involved. Because Türkiye is part of the Customs Union, its 7th and 8th digits largely align with the European Union's Combined Nomenclature (CN) code; the 9th digit onwards is a purely national breakdown and statistical code specific to Türkiye.
The HS system is managed by the World Customs Organization (WCO), and the vast majority of member countries share the same 6 digits — this shared base is what keeps international trade statistics comparable. But the HS code alone does not determine the duty rate or permit obligations a country applies; that information sits within each country's own national extension.
Türkiye's national extension has two layers: the first 8 digits largely align with the EU's Combined Nomenclature code, while the remaining 4 digits are a national sub-breakdown and statistical detail specific to Türkiye. This is why two products under the same HS heading can be subject to different duty rates once Türkiye's national extension diverges.
When You Encounter It
This comes up most often when an overseas supplier or buyer writes the "HS code" they know onto an invoice or packing list. That code is usually 6 digits — only the first half of Türkiye's 12-digit GTİP — and it cannot be carried straight into the customs declaration until the remaining digits are separately determined.
The reverse happens in exports: the buyer's country requires its own national code, which may diverge from Türkiye's GTİP after the sixth digit. Even though the first 6 digits are shared, the remaining digits are set separately under each country's own rules — so assuming "the HS code matches, so GTİP matches too" is risky on either side of the trade.
What It Doesn't Cover
- Sharing the first 6 digits internationally does not eliminate classification disputes altogether — even within the same HS heading, customs administrations may disagree on which subheading a product falls under.
- An HS code supplied from abroad is not proof that the GTİP has been correctly determined in Türkiye; the national extension must be checked separately and independently.
Often Confused With
| Comparison | Difference |
|---|---|
| The Difference Between the HS Code and GTİP vs Combined Nomenclature (CN) | CN is the code through which the European Union extends the first 6 digits of the HS to its own 8 digits. As part of the Customs Union, Türkiye keeps the first 8 digits of GTİP largely aligned with CN; the last four digits of GTİP are a purely national sub-breakdown and statistical detail specific to Türkiye. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the HS code the same as GTİP?+
No, they are not the same, though one is built on the other. The HS code is the 6-digit international portion; GTİP is the national code that extends these 6 digits to Türkiye's own 12 digits. The first 6 digits are shared, and the remaining 6 are specific to Türkiye.
Is the HS code my supplier gives me directly valid in Türkiye?+
Not on its own. That code is usually 6 digits; the remaining part of the 12-digit GTİP required for the customs declaration in Türkiye must be separately determined through the national tariff schedule.
How many digits of GTİP are the same as the HS code?+
The first 6 digits. The 7th and 8th digits largely align with the EU's Combined Nomenclature code; digits 9 through 12 are a national breakdown specific to Türkiye.
Who determines the HS code?+
The overall structure of the HS system is set by the World Customs Organization (WCO), and member countries share these 6 digits. Each country completes the remaining digits under its own national legislation; in Türkiye, this extension is carried out in the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule prepared by the Ministry of Trade.
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Where This Term Comes Up in Our Work
The Difference Between the HS Code and GTİP is one of the documents we track in our customs brokerage service.
Customs BrokeragePreparation, registration, and tracking of your import and export customs declarations.The Turkish original of this page was reviewed by our licensed customs broker. This translation is provided for information; the Turkish version prevails.
Source
Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade — Customs Procedures Frequently Asked Questions (Tariff) — The Harmonized System (HS) is managed by the World Customs Organization; the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule is prepared on this basis by the Ministry of Trade and published in the Official Gazette as a Presidential Decree.
Last updated: September 1, 2026