Modes and equipment
TIR carnet
An international customs transit document and guarantee that lets sealed trucks cross several borders with minimal customs checks.
In four languages
The TIR system is based on the 1975 TIR Convention, administered by the UN Economic Commission for Europe, with the guarantee chain run by the IRU through national associations. Goods travel in an approved, sealed truck or container, backed by an international guarantee, and customs along the route generally accept the seals of the departure office instead of reopening the load. A digital version, eTIR, is being introduced step by step. China has been a party since 2016 and started TIR operations in 2018 at crossings such as Horgos and Irkeshtam. Saudi Arabia operates TIR, and Iraq made TIR mandatory for road transit from November 2025. Example: a truck from Kashgar to Tashkent via Irkeshtam can run under a TIR carnet, crossing Kyrgyzstan without full customs clearance at each border.
Questions
Is a TIR carnet the same as a CMR note?
No. The CMR note is the road transport contract document, while the TIR carnet is a customs transit document. A truck often carries both.
Do I need a TIR carnet for China to Central Asia trucking?
It is often used on these routes, but the carrier arranges it. Whether TIR or a national transit procedure is used depends on the route and the border.