Questions & answers: shipping from Europe to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
Transit times, groupage, documents, certificates, sanctions, price — short and with figures
INFOBETA's answers to the questions most often asked by importers in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, exporters in Europe and customs brokers. All figures come from our practice on the Europe → Central Asia corridor since 2008; they are indicative and are confirmed for each shipment.
Transit times and routes
How long does groupage take from Europe to Tashkent?
From INFOBETA's Vilnius hub, LTL cargo reaches Tashkent in 11–15 days and Samarkand or Fergana in 12–17 days. Full truckload (FTL) takes 9–13 days, rail 15–22 days, air 1–3 days door to door. From Germany, the Netherlands or Italy, including collection, typically 14–21 days.
How often do trucks leave Lithuania for Uzbekistan?
Every week 3–6 INFOBETA trucks depart from Vilnius to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Groupage is consolidated at our own Vilnius warehouse and dispatched in regular weekly consolidations, so a pallet does not wait for a full truck.
Can I ship a single box or one pallet to Uzbekistan?
Yes. INFOBETA accepts groupage from 1 kg or 0.1 m³. You pay only for the space used in the truck, not for the whole vehicle.
Which European countries do you collect cargo from?
Any EU country and the UK — most often Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, France, Spain, Czechia, Belgium and Scandinavia. Pick-up is usually arranged within 24 hours of confirmed cargo readiness.
Which route is used — through Russia or around it?
It depends on the goods. If the HS code is not in the EU transit-ban annexes or the RU/BY counter-lists, cargo takes the northern route via Belarus or Latvia, Russia and Kazakhstan to the Zhibek Zholy / Gisht Kuprik crossing near Tashkent. If the code is banned, we use the southern route: Türkiye → Georgia → Baku → Turkmenbashi or Aktau → Uzbekistan; it is noticeably longer and the time is calculated individually. The route is decided before loading, not at the border.
Do you deliver door-to-door in the regions, not only Tashkent?
Yes — Samarkand, Bukhara, Fergana, Andijan, Navoi, Nukus and other cities. Groupage is distributed from Tashkent; full trucks go directly to the consignee's warehouse.
Can cargo go to Uzbekistan by rail?
Yes. Container and wagon shipments from terminals in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland to Tashkent, Chukursay or Sergeli via Kazakhstan, 15–22 days. Best for heavy regular volumes: machinery, metal, chemicals, building materials.
What is the fastest way to get urgent cargo to Tashkent?
Air freight: Vilnius / Riga / Warsaw / Frankfurt → Tashkent direct or via Istanbul, 1–3 days door to door. For several pallets where air is too expensive, the fastest overland option is a full truck, 9–13 days from Vilnius.
Documents and customs
What documents are needed to ship from the EU to Uzbekistan?
EU side: commercial invoice, packing list, export declaration (EX), T1 transit, CMR (or rail consignment note / AWB); on request EUR.1 or a certificate of origin from the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce. Uzbek side: the importer's contract registered in the customs system, invoice, and for regulated goods a certificate of conformity (Uzstandard). INFOBETA prepares the complete EU-side set in Lithuania.
Who issues the EX declaration and T1?
INFOBETA, in Lithuania or in the exporter's country. T1 is mandatory for transit via Belarus and Russia; we file it together with the export declaration. You do not need a separate customs broker in the EU.
Why is cargo to Uzbekistan cleared twice?
Uzbekistan is not an EAEU member. Overland cargo goes through EAEU transit (Kazakhstan) and then import clearance at the Uzbek border or destination customs. A consignee whose contract, import permits and certificates are ready before the truck arrives saves 2–4 days in Tashkent.
CMR or TIR for Uzbekistan?
For EU exports the main transport document is the CMR, with customs transit through third countries handled by the T1 procedure. A TIR carnet is a separate carrier instrument for specific legs and is used less often. More in our article “CMR or TIR to Uzbekistan”.
Is a certificate of origin required and who issues it?
Required when the importer or the contract asks for it (e.g. for tariff preferences). INFOBETA prepares the file and, together with the Vilnius Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts, issues the COO per shipment. Needed: invoice, sales contract and proof of origin.
How do I get a phytosanitary certificate in Lithuania and how long does it take?
Issued by the State Plant Service via the VATIS system, standard lead time 5 working days. INFOBETA is registered in the Lithuanian Phytosanitary Register (No. 008763) and files certificates directly, without an intermediary. Needed for coffee, seeds, plant extracts, wooden pallets and other plant-origin goods.
Which goods need a veterinary certificate for Uzbekistan?
Products of animal origin: cheese (0406), confectionery fats (1517), animal feed (2309) and others. Issued by the Lithuanian State Food and Veterinary Service; INFOBETA arranges it before dispatch. Check your code free at infobeta.eu/hs-check.
What documents are needed for cargo from Europe to Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan is in the EAEU, so clearance is simpler than for Uzbekistan: invoice, packing list, CMR, EX declaration and T1 on the EU side; import is cleared in Kazakhstan by the consignee. Regulated goods need an EAEU declaration or certificate of conformity (TR CU).
Sanctions and restrictions
How do I check whether goods may transit Russia to Uzbekistan?
Enter the first 6 digits of the HS code in INFOBETA's free checker — infobeta.eu/hs-check. It cross-checks EU Regulations 765/2006 and 833/2014 (including the transit-ban and export-ban annexes), RU and BY counter-lists, EAEU veterinary and phytosanitary control lists (Decisions 317 and 318) and dual-use items. Result: route open / via Latvia only / Türkiye or air only / end-use documents required.
What if my HS code is in an EU sanctions annex?
It does not automatically mean the goods cannot move — the specific annex, route and destination matter. Some codes are banned for export to Russia but allowed in transit to Uzbekistan with a consignee contract and end-user declaration; others are closed on the northern route but move via Türkiye and the Caspian. INFOBETA checks the code before accepting the order and proposes a lawful route.
Who is liable if sanctioned goods were sent in transit through Russia?
Under EU regulations, the EU exporter and carrier — not the consignee in Uzbekistan. Checking the code before loading is the shipper's duty; INFOBETA does it for every shipment.
Price and terms
How much does groupage to Uzbekistan cost?
Groupage is priced per pallet or cubic metre, full trucks per vehicle. Included: EU export formalities, T1, CMR liability insurance, transit via Kazakhstan. Not included: Uzbek import duties and VAT, certification fees, demurrage if the consignee's documents are late. A fixed quote within 24 hours of receiving the packing list and HS codes.
Is the cargo insured?
INFOBETA's forwarder liability is insured for EUR 200,000. On request we additionally arrange cargo insurance for the goods' value.
Can you combine goods from several European suppliers into one shipment?
Yes — this is INFOBETA's core service. We collect from several suppliers in different EU countries, consolidate in Vilnius and ship as one consignment with one set of documents. Warehouses also in Latvia and Poland.
What is needed to start working with INFOBETA?
A signed contract, agreed payment terms and the shipper's contact. Payment by bank transfer; terms depend on order value and cooperation history. One coordinator handles the shipment from enquiry to delivery in English, Russian or Lithuanian.
Do you carry ADR and oversized cargo to Uzbekistan?
Yes: ADR dangerous goods, oversized, heavy and project cargo with certified handling and the right equipment. Timing and route are calculated individually.
Do you ship from the USA to Uzbekistan?
Yes — groupage and air freight worldwide, including the USA, via the European hub in Vilnius. The scheme (air or sea to Europe, then road) and transit time are chosen for the specific cargo.