Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are switching road transport permits to electronic format. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Sputnik Kazakhstan.
According to an agreement between the transport ministries of the two countries, from July 1, 2026, permits for international road transport will be issued only in electronic form. This measure is aimed at reducing queues at border crossings and speeding up the transportation process.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan, the new system will increase cargo turnover between the two countries by 30%. In 2025, trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan amounted to $1.2 billion, and in the first half of 2026, this figure increased by 15%.
The electronic permit system operates through the e-government portal. Carriers will be able to obtain permits online, reducing the time needed to prepare paper documents. The system was tested in pilot mode from March 2026.
According to Elnur Mamedov, a representative of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of Azerbaijan, the introduction of electronic permits will strengthen trade and economic ties between the two countries. "We have seen the effectiveness of this system from our own experience. Queues at border crossings with Kazakhstan have halved," he said.
On the Kazakh side, this initiative was supported by Berik Kamaliev, Vice Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan. He noted that the introduction of electronic permits will reduce bureaucratic barriers for carriers.
The new system also plays an important role within the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route. This route connects Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan via the Caspian Sea and is one of the main corridors for cargo transportation between Europe and Asia.
The transition to an electronic permit system is part of Kazakhstan's digital transformation program. The country's government plans to convert all transport permits to electronic format by 2027.