Where is the Dilucu Border Gate and how do you cross into Nakhchivan?

Profile of the gate

In the Ministry's list of land border gates, the neighbouring country column for Dilucu reads not Azerbaijan but simply "Nakhchivan"; the opposite gate is Sadarak. The customs directorate was established by a decree of 22 May 1992 and is about 40 km from the centre of Aralık district. Türkiye is connected to Nakhchivan by the Umut Bridge over the Aras. The customs area, rebuilt under the build-operate-transfer model, was taken into use on 31 August 2015. The gate handles exports, transit, empty vehicle entries and passengers; under a Council of Ministers decision of 2008 it is also authorised for border trade, but there are no import operations under border trade.

Iğdır's other land gate in Türkiye is Alican; however, this gate on the Armenian border is shown as "not operational" in the Ministry list. Dilucu is therefore the province's only operating land gate.

How does cargo get to Nakhchivan?

1. Transit permit: A valid permit for Azerbaijan is obtained for the Turkish-registered truck. The types of permit are explained in the entry bilateral road transport permit.
2. Customs: The export declaration is submitted at the place of loading. If the cargo is going to an inland customs office in Nakhchivan, a TIR carnet is usually used.
3. Turkish exit: At Dilucu the vehicle, driver and documents are checked and the export exit is confirmed.
4. Entry at Sadarak: Nakhchivan is an autonomous republic of Azerbaijan; import formalities are handled at the customs office in Nakhchivan under Azerbaijani customs legislation.
5. Delivery: The cargo is unloaded for the consignee in the city of Nakhchivan and its surroundings.

Can you reach mainland Azerbaijan via Dilucu?

Armenian territory lies between Nakhchivan and mainland Azerbaijan. Dilucu is therefore not the natural gate for cargo going to Baku or Ganja. The road connection from Nakhchivan to the mainland runs through Iranian territory, which for a truck means additional border crossings and an Iranian transit permit. Most trucks from Türkiye to Baku therefore travel via Georgia.

Details of shipments to the mainland are in the entry truck transport from Türkiye to Azerbaijan, and the ferry leg in the entry Caspian Sea ferry crossing.

Is Dilucu a gate to Iran?

No. Dilucu is often confused with the Türkiye–Iran border gates because it is located in the same region and is listed together with them in international bulletins. For example, IRU's Iran bulletin of 2 March 2026, while reporting the status of Gürbulak and Esendere, also included Dilucu in the same list with the note "operating normally". The gates to Iran are covered in the entry Türkiye–Iran border gates.

Points often confused on a Nakhchivan trip

• Planning cargo for Baku via Dilucu because the distance looks short.
• Thinking of Nakhchivan as a separate country and not asking about the permit and conformity requirements valid for Azerbaijan.
• Not taking into account the Iranian transit permit and the second border crossing for cargo continuing to Iran via Nakhchivan.

Local conditions in planning

The Nakhchivan market is limited; part of the cargo going there is carried as groupage (part loads) or in smaller vehicles rather than as full truckloads. With part loads, each shipper's invoice and origin document must be complete separately, because a single missing document can hold the entire vehicle at the border. A truck loaded in western Türkiye reaches Dilucu via Erzurum, descending to Iğdır from the direction of Ağrı or Kars. In winter, snow and ice on the mountain passes of Eastern Anatolia can extend the journey; this allowance is added to the trip plan from the outset.

The general planning of road trips using the eastern gates is described on the international road freight page.

Published: 14.11.2026 · Voltim Global