Key points
- A TIR carnet suspends duties and taxes in every transit country; you pay them only at destination.
- Only approved carriers with approved, sealable vehicles can hold carnets; shippers do not buy them.
- China, Central Asia, Türkiye, the Caucasus, the EU, Iraq and Saudi Arabia all operate TIR.
- In the EU the guarantee is capped at EUR 100,000 per carnet; higher-value loads need extra security.
- TIR does not replace export or import clearance, and it does not remove sanctions checks.
What a TIR carnet is
TIR stands for Transports Internationaux Routiers. The system rests on the TIR Convention of 1975, which entered into force in 1978 and is administered by UNECE, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Around 78 parties have joined, including the European Union as one party. The guarantee chain is run by the IRU through national road transport associations, which issue the carnets to approved carriers. Each carnet covers one transport by one vehicle or combination: a convoy of three trucks needs three carnets. Customs authorities in every country along the route accept the same document and the same seals, which is the whole point.
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How TIR speeds up border crossings
Without TIR, a truck leaving China for Türkiye would need a separate national transit procedure and guarantee in each country it crosses, with possible inspection of the load at every border. Under TIR, customs at the office of departure checks the goods, seals the cargo compartment and accepts the carnet. Transit borders then normally check only the seals, the carnet and the vehicle, keep their voucher and wave the truck on. Duties stay suspended until the office of destination, where the goods are either cleared for import or placed under another procedure. Because the data arrive electronically in advance through TIR-EPD, customs can target the risky trucks and let the others pass.
- Export clearance at originThe shipper or its agent files the export declaration in China. TIR does not replace export formalities.
- Loading and sealingGoods are loaded into an approved trailer or container. Departure customs checks the load against the carnet and fixes its seals.
- Carnet acceptedCustoms stamps voucher No. 1 and its counterfoil and sets a time limit for reaching the next office.
- Transit bordersAt each border the officer checks seals and documents, removes the voucher for that country and records entry and exit. The load stays closed.
- Office of destinationDestination customs checks the seals, ends the TIR operation and the importer clears the goods and pays duty and VAT there.
- Carnet returnedThe used carnet goes back to the issuing association, which closes the guarantee.
Which countries use TIR on routes from China
TIR is strongest on the overland routes that link China, Central Asia, the Caucasus, Türkiye and Europe, and it has spread into the Middle East. The status below is as far as we could verify in November 2026. The IRU and UNECE publish the current list, and operations at individual crossings can change, so our team confirms each route before quoting.
| Country or group | TIR status | Notes for shippers |
|---|---|---|
| China | Party since July 2016; operations since 18 May 2018 | First crossings: Dalian, Erenhot, Manzhouli, Horgos, Irkeshtam, Suifenhe; more added since |
| Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan | Parties and operational | Main road link from Khorgos and Irkeshtam |
| Azerbaijan, Georgia, Türkiye | Parties and operational | Middle Corridor road link; Türkiye also uses common transit (NCTS) toward the EU |
| European Union | Party and operational | Inside the EU, TIR data run through NCTS; carnets are not used for purely intra-EU moves |
| Iraq | Party since March 2023; fully operational 1 April 2025 | TIR mandatory for road transit through Iraq since November 2025 |
| Saudi Arabia | Party; operational since February 2020 | Border posts include Al-Batha, Al-Khafji and Al-Haditha |
| Kuwait | Party | Accepts TIR trucks arriving from Iraq without trailer swaps |
| UAE, Oman, Qatar | Parties | Whether a TIR operation can start or end there depends on the route; our team checks |
| Russia, Belarus, Iran | Parties and operational | Sanctions and, for Iran, war risk; any request goes through our compliance review |
The route above is a typical TIR road movement on the Middle Corridor: truck from southern China to the Khorgos border, across Kazakhstan to the Caspian port of Aktau, a ferry to Baku, then through Azerbaijan and Georgia into Türkiye at Sarp. TIR allows one sea leg like the Caspian ferry, as long as at least part of the journey is by road. Our China to Turkey and Europe service by Middle Corridor and TIR trucks is running, with a published typical transit of 15–25 days; the Caspian crossing is the part most likely to add days.
What a TIR carnet costs
As a shipper you rarely see a separate line for the carnet. The carrier pays for it and includes it in the trucking rate, which our team quotes per shipment within one working day. It still helps to know what sits behind that rate, because these items explain why TIR trucks are offered only by established carriers.
- The carnet itself, bought from the national association. Prices are set per country; for example, the Luxembourg government guide lists EUR 72 for a 4-voucher carnet and EUR 95 for a 14-voucher carnet from the Belgian association FEBETRA.
- Admission to the system: a one-off fee and a security, such as a bank guarantee, that the carrier lodges with its association.
- Vehicle approval: customs inspects and certifies each trailer or container, and the approval must be renewed, in Luxembourg at most every 2 years.
- Insurance covering the carrier's liability toward the association if a transport is not properly closed.
- Extra security when duties at risk exceed the guarantee cap, which in the EU is EUR 100,000 per carnet.
TIR or another transit procedure?
- One document and one guarantee across many countries
- Works across non-EU and EU countries alike
- Needs an approved carrier and a sealable vehicle or container
- Best for multi-country road trips such as China to Türkiye or Central Asia
- Used between the EU, EFTA countries, Türkiye, the UK and other Common Transit Convention members
- Electronic declaration with a guarantee lodged by the principal
- Often used instead of TIR once a truck is inside this area, for example from Türkiye into Bulgaria
- Covers Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia as one customs territory
- Goods can enter at Khorgos and clear at an inland customs office
- Electronic navigation seals are increasingly required for some goods
- One country only, for example a sealed bonded truck from Khor Fakkan to Jebel Ali
- Guarantee or bonded carrier licence under national rules
- Simplest choice when no border is crossed
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Frequently asked questions
What is a TIR carnet?
It is a customs transit document under the UN TIR Convention, backed by an international guarantee, that lets sealed goods cross several countries without paying duties at each border.
Who issues TIR carnets?
National road transport associations within the IRU network issue them to carriers that customs has authorised. Shippers and importers do not buy carnets themselves.
How much does a TIR carnet cost?
Prices are set by each association. For example, a Luxembourg government guide lists EUR 72 for a 4-voucher and EUR 95 for a 14-voucher carnet from FEBETRA. For shippers the cost is normally included in the truck rate.
Is China part of the TIR system?
Yes. China joined in July 2016 and started TIR operations on 18 May 2018 at Dalian, Erenhot, Manzhouli, Horgos, Irkeshtam and Suifenhe, with more crossings added since.
What is the TIR guarantee limit?
In the EU the association's maximum liability is EUR 100,000 per carnet since 1 July 2018. Other countries set their own limits, and higher-value loads need additional security.
What is the difference between TIR and CMR?
The CMR note is the road transport contract and receipt. The TIR carnet is the customs transit document. A truck on an international road trip usually carries both.
Can TIR be used to Iraq and Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi Arabia has operated TIR since February 2020, and Iraq became fully operational on 1 April 2025 and made TIR mandatory for road transit from November 2025.
Sources
- European Commission: TIR (international road transport) customs transit
- Irish Revenue: TIR instructions to staff (guarantee level, vouchers, time limits)
- Guichet.lu (Luxembourg government): International road transport (TIR)
- Norwegian Customs: Contracting parties to the TIR Convention
- Iraq Business News: Iraq now a key land bridge for TIR transit (22 June 2026)
- China Services Info: First TIR transports in China (May 2018)
- Wikipedia: TIR Convention (history, eTIR Annex 11)
General information checked on the date shown. Rules and rates change: our team confirms the details for your shipment.