What Is Elektronka? Russian Customs Pre-Info

Short Answer — Elektronka

"Elektronka" is the colloquial name Turkish hauliers and drivers use for the cargo and vehicle information sent electronically to customs in advance for a truck entering Russia and the other Eurasian Economic Union countries. Officially called "preliminary information" (предварительная информация), this record is entered into the customs system before the vehicle reaches the border; the registration number issued by customs is used for the formalities at the border.

Where does the term come from?

"Elektronka" is an unofficial name used in everyday speech by hauliers working on the Russia route; it derives from the information being sent to customs electronically. When people in the field ask "has the elektronka been sent?", they usually mean whether the vehicle's cargo and driver details have been transmitted to Russian customs in advance. The word does not appear in official texts: Article 11 of the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) speaks of "preliminary information" (предварительная информация), and the Federal Customs Service of Russia (FTS) calls the procedure "preliminary informing" (предварительное информирование). Because the term is unofficial, making clear in correspondence which electronic record is meant prevents misunderstandings.

Legal basis and deadline

Under the EAEU Customs Code, preliminary information is submitted electronically, before the goods arrive, to the customs authority of the member state where the border crossing is located. The data set needed for risk analysis is mandatory. Customs registers the information, assigns it a registration number and notifies the sender of the result electronically. The details for road transport are governed by Decision No. 56 of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission of 17 April 2018. Since 1 April 2021 the information must be submitted before the goods arrive and no later than 2 hours before notification of arrival to customs.

What information is sent?

The person submitting the information and the carrier company
Tractor and trailer registration numbers, countries of registration, make and model, and the driver's name
Consignor, consignee, countries of departure and destination
Number, date and place of issue of the CMR consignment note
Number of packages, type of packaging, gross weight and the code of the entry border crossing
Description of the goods, a tariff code of at least 6 digits (TN VED, the equivalent of the GTİP (Turkish HS/tariff code)), quantity and value
Details of permits, certificates and licences, where required

How does it work step by step?

Documents are finalised: The commercial invoice, packing list, CMR and any certificates are finalised at loading.
Data is sent: The carrier, or a customs representative acting on its behalf, transmits the data via the FTS electronic channel.
Registration number is obtained: Customs registers the information; the number and its printout are passed to the driver.
Matching at the border: The officer finds the record in the system using the registration number or the vehicle and document details.
Errors are corrected: If an error is noticed after registration, corrected information is sent before the vehicle arrives.

Who is responsible?

Decision No. 56 places the obligation to submit preliminary information on the carrier bringing in the goods; the carrier may also do so through its representative. Some information, such as veterinary or phytosanitary data, may be submitted by other persons concerned. In practice the Turkish haulier works in coordination with the customs representative used by the consignee in Russia. The shipper's task is to ensure that the invoice details are correct and arrive on time. For the overall process, see the entry customs process for exports to Russia.

Common mistakes

The tariff code on the invoice differing from the code in the preliminary information
The registration number not being updated even though the tractor was changed en route
The gross weight not matching the CMR and the invoice
Sending the information too close to the border, leaving no time for corrections
Confusing preliminary information with the electronic navigation seal required for certain transit cargo

How does Voltim Global support you?

For Voltim Global's Russia shipments, customs formalities are handled through contracted customs brokers; on bonded and transit transport, vehicles are followed daily. The driver's location is collected via the Voltim mobile app and shown in the customer panel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is elektronka the same as a navigation seal?

No. Elektronka is the advance submission of cargo and vehicle information to customs and concerns all road cargo entering the EAEU. A navigation seal is a physical device introduced by Russia, with a GLONASS-based monitoring system, for certain sanctioned goods passing through its territory in transit. Both may be required for one shipment; one does not replace the other.

When should the elektronka be sent?

Under Decision No. 56, the information must be submitted before the goods arrive and no later than 2 hours before notification of arrival to customs. In practice it is safer to send it as soon as loading is complete and the documents are finalised, because if an error appears, the corrected information also has to be transmitted before the vehicle reaches the border.

Is elektronka required only for Russia?

The preliminary information rule comes from the EAEU Customs Code, so in addition to Russia it also applies to cargo entering Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia by road. The information is submitted to the customs authority of the member state where the border crossing is located; the details of the data set may vary by member state. The general framework of trade with the Union is described in the entry trade with the Eurasian Economic Union.

Sources

Published: 10.11.2026 · Voltim Global

What is "elektronka" and what is it used for?