On this route a truck loaded in Russia crosses into Georgia at Verkhniy Lars (Upper Lars), enters Turkey at Sarp, transits Turkey and reaches Iran through the Gürbulak–Bazargan border gate. Because Russia, Georgia, Turkey and Iran are all parties to the TIR Convention, the cargo can travel under a single TIR carnet and customs seal from the customs office of departure in Russia to the customs office of destination in Iran.
What is the Verkhniy Lars–Sarp–Gürbulak route?
The Verkhniy Lars–Sarp–Gürbulak route is the road lane on which goods loaded in Russia cross Georgia and Turkey in transit and are delivered to Iran by truck. The cargo passes three land borders, and at each one the checks of both countries are carried out one after the other. Other road options also exist between Russia and Iran; this entry covers the lane through the Caucasus and Turkey.
Which border gates are used?
| Border | Gate (exit / entry) | Direction | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Verkhniy Lars / Zemo Larsi | Russia → Georgia | North Ossetia–Alania; on the Georgian Military Road |
| 2 | Sarpi / Sarp | Georgia → Turkey | Black Sea coast, Artvin |
| 3 | Gürbulak / Bazargan | Turkey → Iran | Doğubayazıt, Ağrı – Maku, West Azerbaijan province |
Each gate has its own entry: the Verkhniy Lars border crossing, the Sarp border gate and the Gürbulak–Bazargan gate.
How is the document chain built?
The simplest solution on this lane is the TIR carnet. According to the UN Treaty Collection, Russia joined the TIR Convention in 1982, Iran and Turkey in 1984 and Georgia in 1994. The carnet is opened at the customs office of departure in Russia, its entry and exit vouchers are processed at every border, and it is discharged at the customs office of destination in Iran. Since Russia is not a party to the Common Transit Convention, setting off with a T1, as is done in Europe, is not possible.
On the guarantee side, the IRU's limits differ from country to country:
- Russia (ASMAP): EUR 60,000
- Georgia (GIRCA): USD 50,000
- Turkey (TOBB) and Iran (ICCIMA): EUR 100,000
The guaranteeing association covers the duties and taxes that become due in its country in the event of an irregularity, up to this limit; for high-value cargo, the difference between the limits is taken into account in the trip plan.
If the countries of loading and unloading differ from the country where the truck is registered, the trip counts as a third-country operation. According to the Turkish Ministry of Trade's TIR FAQ, Turkish hauliers then obtain a third-country transit permit from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure; the permit types are explained in bilateral road transport permits. The driver's visa status for Russia and Georgia is checked before departure.
How do the electronic queue at Lars and the weather affect planning?
According to a statement by the Russian Ministry of Transport on 8 June 2026, trucks heading for Verkhniy Lars have been placed in a free electronic queue since October of the previous year, and more than 100,000 trucks have passed through the system. The queue runs on the state information system for electronic transport documents (GIS EPD), with 7 fixed points and 1 mobile point operating around the clock. The same statement notes that weather can cause temporary traffic restrictions on the Georgian Military Road and lengthen waiting times.
Closures of the mountain pass in winter and the peak trading season in summer both affect the Lars side, and congestion at Gürbulak also changes from period to period. For this reason no number of days is given for the lane; the trip schedule is built around the season and the current situation at the borders.
What is Voltim Global's role on the Russia–Turkey–Iran lane?
Voltim Global coordinates loading in Russia from its Moscow office; the TIR paperwork, monitoring of the Lars, Sarp and Gürbulak–Bazargan crossings and delivery in Iran are managed by the company's own operations team. Since March 2024 the company has completed more than 450 shipments on the Akkuyu supply line via the Lars road route and the Tuapse–Taşucu RoRo service, and this experience of the Caucasus crossing carries over to trips towards Iran. Details of the lane are on the Russia–Turkey–Iran road freight page. For a price and a plan, simply share the loading city in Russia, the delivery address in Iran, the type of goods, dimensions and weight and the ready date via the contact page.