How to ship cargo to Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan: 7 steps from enquiry to delivery
1. Find the HS code and check sanctions
The code decides not only the duties but also the route: the EU prohibits the transit of certain goods through Belarus (Regulation (EC) 765/2006) and through Russia (Regulation (EU) 833/2014). Take the code from the invoice and run it through the free HS code check – the result shows which route is open. More in how to check an HS code for sanctions.
2. Choose the transport mode
Groupage (LTL) is accepted from 1 kg or 0.1 m³; a full truck carries up to 24 t and 120 m³. Rail suits heavy regular volumes, air suits urgent and high-value consignments. Indicative transit times:
| From Vilnius to | Groupage (LTL) | Full truck (FTL) | Rail | Air |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tashkent | 11–15 days | 9–13 days | 15–22 days | 1–3 days |
| Almaty | 10–14 days | 8–12 days | 14–20 days | 1–3 days |
| Astana | 9–12 days | 7–10 days | 12–18 days | 1–3 days |
From Germany or the Netherlands to Tashkent, groupage usually takes 14–20 days door to door, including collection.
3. Prepare the documents
- commercial invoice with HS codes and the value of each line;
- packing list with gross and net weights and number of packages;
- the exporter’s EORI number;
- where needed – certificate of origin, veterinary or phytosanitary certificate (issued in Lithuania before dispatch).
On the receiving side, Uzbekistan requires an importer contract registered in the customs system and, for regulated goods, a certificate of conformity; Kazakhstan requires the importer’s contract, an invoice in EAEU format and, for regulated goods, an EAEU declaration or certificate of conformity.
4. Collection and consolidation
We collect from the supplier anywhere in the EU or the UK, usually within 24 hours of the cargo being ready. Goods from several suppliers are combined into one consignment at the warehouse in Vilnius; 3–6 trucks a week leave Vilnius for Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, so a pallet does not wait for a full truck.
5. EX-A export declaration and T1 transit
We lodge the export declaration and the T1 transit in Lithuania and issue the CMR. Since 1 December 2024 the IE599 exit confirmation is sent as soon as the goods are released for T1 in Lithuania. Without a confirmation, the declaration is invalidated after 150 days. More in What is EX-A.
6. Route by HS code
Permitted codes go by the northern route through Belarus, or through Latvia and Russia. If a code is under a transit ban, the options are the Caspian route via Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan (18–28 days) or air freight.
7. Import and door-to-door delivery
Kazakhstan is an EAEU member: after the EAEU external border the truck drives to the consignee without a second customs stop, and the consignee clears the import. Uzbekistan is not an EAEU member: EAEU transit through Kazakhstan, then import clearance at the Uzbek border or at the destination customs office; a consignee who prepares the contract and certificates in advance saves 2–4 days. We deliver door to door – in Tashkent, Samarkand, Fergana, Almaty, Astana, Shymkent and other cities.
What it costs
Indicative prices: groupage from €200 per pallet, full truck from €180 per tonne, air from €1 per kilogram. We send a fixed quote within 24 hours of receiving the packing list and HS codes. More in the cost of shipping to Tashkent.
Sources: Regulation (EC) 765/2006 and Regulation (EU) 833/2014 (consolidated texts); Lithuanian Customs, “Export”. Transit times and prices are INFOBETA’s 2026 guide figures. This article is general information, not legal advice.
Services: groupage to Uzbekistan · groupage to Kazakhstan