Where is the Türkgözü Border Gate and which route leads into Georgia?

Gates on the Georgian border

Four land gates are defined between Türkiye and Georgia; three of them are operational. Türkgözü is one of the two gates in Ardahan: it is located in the village of Türkgözü in Posof district, actually started operating on 25 November 1995, and since 2010 has worked in a new service area of about 24,000 m². It reports to the Kaçkar Regional Directorate of Customs and Foreign Trade. The customs office describes itself as "generally a transit entry and exit gate"; transit goods and vehicles passing through mostly go to or come from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia and the Central Asian countries.

Why is it considered an alternative to Sarp?

The main gate for trucks going to Georgia, and via Georgia to Russia, Azerbaijan and Central Asia, is the Sarp Border Gate. When Sarp's coastal road becomes congested, the inland gates come into play. The Directorate General of Customs' "mandatory route" letter of 22 September 2023 made this a rule: vehicles entering via Kapıkule, Hamzabeyli and İpsala and transiting via Georgia to third countries are directed primarily to Aktaş, and on request to Türkgözü and other gates, to reduce congestion at Sarp. The arrangement started on 25 September 2023; the periods in which it applies are determined according to congestion and weather, and the entry customs offices choose the gate to which vehicles are directed in consultation with the Kaçkar Regional Directorate.

Türkgözü's advantage is its geography. After Vale, the road leads via Akhaltsikhe and Borjomi to Georgia's main east–west road and Tbilisi. For cargo going towards Tbilisi, Azerbaijan or Armenia without passing through Batumi and the coastal strip, this inland route can offer an advantage in distance. A truck bound for Russia reaches Upper Lars from Tbilisi via the Georgian Military Road.

How do winter conditions affect planning?

Ardahan is one of the provinces with the harshest winters in Türkiye. The Ilgar Mountain pass on the Ardahan–Posof road can be closed by snow and blizzards; there have been periods when the Türkgözü–Posof–Damal road was closed to truck traffic because of heavy snow and storms. Ice on the approach to the gate can lead to accidents and temporary closures. For a trip planned between November and March, therefore:

• announcements by the Highways Directorate and the governor's office are checked on the day of departure,
• the vehicle carries chains and winter tyres,
• the Sarp coastal road is kept ready as a back-up route, and the transit documents are arranged accordingly.

Sarp or an inland gate?

1. Determine the destination: For Batumi and western Georgia, Sarp stands out; for Tbilisi and further east, the inland gates.
2. Consider the loading location: For a truck loaded in Eastern Anatolia, the Ardahan gates are closer.
3. Check the transit situation: For a transit vehicle entering via the western gates, find out from the entry customs office whether the mandatory route arrangement is in force.
4. Monitor the weather: In winter, the access roads to the inland gates may be closed.
5. Match the documents: The office of exit in the transit declaration must be the same as the gate the vehicle will use.

The whole chain to Russia is described in the entry transit to Russia via Georgia, and the Azerbaijan connection in the entry truck transport from Türkiye to Azerbaijan.

How does Voltim Global support you?

Voltim Global plans part of the supply shipments from Russia to the Akkuyu site region by road via Upper Lars and Georgia, with contracted carriers. During the Georgian transit, the driver's location is collected via the Voltim mobile app, shown in the customer panel and shared through a daily status report. The scope is described on the international road freight page.

Published: 14.11.2026 · Voltim Global