Kazakhstan has introduced updated requirements for electronic preliminary information for transport under the TIR procedure, which are critical for transit through the country towards the EAEU, China and Central Asia. In practice, this changes the usual rhythm of flight preparation: some of the data that was previously indicated briefly now needs to be disclosed in the TIR-EPD structure, and the package of documents uploaded as scans.
The key change is related to the expansion of the required fields. The system requires detailed information on the cargo, the vehicle, and the participants in the transportation. A field appears with the destination code of the goods, where you need to indicate the purpose of movement: personal use, humanitarian aid, commercial cargo. For companies from the EAEU, clarifications on the type of entity and mandatory identifiers are introduced, including INN or passport data for individuals.
A separate point concerns the status of the EPI as a transit declaration in Kazakhstan. To do this, the Kazakh identifier BIN/IIN/UIN is required in the company information. Without it, the preliminary information ceases to pass as a transit declaration, and this increases the risk of stopping at the border and processing the package already at the arrival stage.
The most sensitive part for the market relates to documents. Scanned copies of supporting documents are now required to be attached to the EPI. The basic set includes a CMR, a commercial invoice and a packing list, if any. The system limits downloads to one file per document type, so multi-page materials are combined into a single file in advance. This format directly affects the preparation of the flight: the logistics department, the forwarder and the carrier must agree on a list of documents before departure, then collect the scans, then upload them to the correct sections.
An important calendar guideline is reflected in the comments of the professional community.:
"Since February 18, 2026, the system has started accepting updated data – they have become mandatory, but at the initial stage, the new information will not yet be transmitted to the customs authorities. The full–fledged launch of the updated format began from February 20 to February 21, 2026," the Association of International Automobile Carriers of Uzbekistan (AIRCUZ) noted.
What should carriers and cargo owners who work through Kazakhstan do? It makes sense to update company cards in TIR-EPD in advance, check for Kazakhstani identifiers, update counterparty data, create templates for new fields, and appoint a person responsible for collecting scans and controlling file formats. With high transit intensity, it is useful to implement an internal checklist for the flight: data on the participants in the chain, the purpose of the goods, the subtype of the vehicle, a set of documents, combining files, and final verification before shipment. This mode reduces the likelihood of delays and re-submission of EPI.
