Voltim Global

Europe to Iran Trucking via Turkey: the Kapıkule–Gürbulak Route

Voltim Global carries goods by truck from Europe to Iran via Turkey: the cargo enters Turkey at Kapıkule, crosses the country under a TIR carnet or a transit declaration and enters Iran at the Gürbulak–Bazargan border crossing. Our Budapest office coordinates loading on the EU side, and our own team manages the documents, border coordination, daily tracking and delivery in Iran.

What is the Europe–Turkey–Iran corridor?

The Europe–Turkey–Iran corridor is the overland truck route that connects loading points in the European Union with consignees in Iran by crossing Turkey from west to east. The cargo stays on one truck from loading to delivery and travels under customs transit control, so it is not imported into Turkey on the way. IRU describes the Gürbulak–Bazargan crossing at the end of this route as one of the region's key road corridors, linking Turkey and Europe through Iran with Central Asia.

Which border crossings does a truck use from Europe to Iran?

The exact route inside the EU depends on the loading country. From the EU external border onward, the chain looks like this:

Stage	Point	What happens
1. Loading	Shipper's site in the EU	Loading slot agreed, cargo secured, CMR consignment note issued.
2. EU export formalities	Customs office of export in the EU	Export declaration by the exporter or its customs representative; transit document opened.
3. Entry to Turkey	Kapıkule (opposite Kapitan Andreevo, Bulgaria)	Turkish entry formalities; the cargo continues in transit.
4. Transit through Turkey	Kapıkule to the eastern border	Sealed load compartment, daily position reports.
5. Exit to Iran	Gürbulak–Bazargan	Turkish exit and Iranian entry formalities.
6. Delivery	Consignee in Iran	Import clearance by the consignee or its broker, unloading, CMR signed.

Gürbulak–Bazargan is the main road crossing between Turkey and Iran. The rebuilt Gürbulak customs facility, with 20 crossing points, opened on 27 April 2026 (Turkish Ministry of Trade). Another Turkey–Iran crossing is used only if the trip plan requires it.

What does our Budapest office coordinate on the EU side?

Our EU office is VG International Logistics & Trade Kft., Révay köz 4., 1065 Budapest. For shipments from the EU to Iran it:

agrees the loading date and time window with the shipper;
collects the commercial invoice, packing list and export documents before the truck arrives;
aligns the export declaration and the opening of the transit document with the exporter or its customs representative;
checks that the cargo matches the documents and is secured for a long road journey;
hands the shipment over to the team that follows it through Turkey to Iran.

When are the TIR carnet, T1 and CMR used?

Three documents carry most of the weight on this corridor:

TIR carnet: the international customs transit document of the TIR Convention. It lets goods cross several borders in a customs-sealed load compartment, backed by a guarantee. IRU calls TIR the only global transit system.
T1: a transit declaration lodged electronically in NCTS, the New Computerised Transit System, under which goods move under customs control without paying import duties on the way.
CMR consignment note: the road transport contract between sender, carrier and consignee, issued at loading and signed on delivery.

Depending on the goods and the loading country, a trip can run under a TIR carnet for the whole journey or under a T1 for part of it. We fix the combination in the trip plan so that the documents match at every customs office.

Are all countries on the corridor parties to the TIR Convention?

Yes, the key countries on this route are Contracting Parties. According to the UN Treaty Collection, Hungary ratified the TIR Convention on 9 March 1978, Turkey acceded on 12 November 1984 and Iran on 16 August 1984. IRU lists the national guarantee associations as MKFE in Hungary, TOBB in Turkey and ICCIMA in Iran, each with a guarantee of up to EUR 100,000 per TIR operation.

What determines the transit time?

We do not publish a fixed number of days, because it would not be accurate for every shipment. The schedule depends on:

the loading country and the distance to Kapıkule;
traffic at Kapıkule and at Gürbulak–Bazargan, which changes from week to week; demand on the Iran crossing rose in 2026 as disruption to sea routes pushed more trade onto the road;
whether all documents are ready before loading;
the cargo itself: oversized and ADR loads may need permits and escorts;
weekends and public holidays in the countries crossed.

We check these points for each request and state the planned schedule in the quote.

Who is responsible for EU sanctions and export control checks?

After the UN sanctions snapback, the Council of the EU re-imposed its nuclear-related restrictive measures on Iran in September 2025, covering asset freezes and trade, finance and transport restrictions (EU Sanctions Compliance Helpdesk). Some goods are prohibited outright and others need an export licence and end-use documents; in Germany, for example, the competent authority is BAFA. The current measures are listed on the EU Sanctions Map.

Checking that the goods, the parties and the payment comply with EU, UN and other applicable rules is the responsibility of the exporter and the consignee. This section is general information, not legal advice.

Which cargo types do we carry?

Full truckloads (FTL) and part loads (LTL).
Oversized and heavy cargo and project cargo that needs route surveys and special permits.
Dangerous goods under ADR; acceptance conditions in Iran are confirmed with the consignee before loading.
Goods moving under bonded and transit transport with transit customs formalities handled along the route, plus daily vehicle tracking and CMR insurance.

Why Voltim Global for Europe–Iran freight?

International road freight since 2014, with more than 1,500 trips completed across all lanes.
An EU office in Budapest and offices in Mersin (head office), Istanbul and Moscow.
An active transit lane through Iran: 25 trips from Russia to Mersin between 19 August and 30 September 2026.
No office, partner or agent in Iran: the operation is run by our own team from loading to delivery.

For direct shipments and the main crossings, see our overview of road freight between Turkey and Iran. Our other corridors: Russia to Iran via Georgia and Turkey and transit from Russia through Iran to Mersin.

Latest news: road freight corridors from Europe and Russia to Iran via Turkey.

What information should you send for a quote?

Loading place: city, country and, if known, the exact address
Delivery place: city and country of the consignee
Cargo: description of the goods and HS code if available
Dimensions and weight: gross weight, number of packages, length × width × height
Packaging: pallets, crates, bags, loose or unpacked
Ready date: when the cargo can be loaded
Special status: whether the cargo is dangerous goods (ADR class and UN number) or oversized

Send these details through our contact page and we will reply with a route plan for the Kapıkule–Gürbulak corridor and a written quote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you ship goods by truck from Europe to Iran via Turkey?

Yes. Voltim Global carries full truckloads, part loads, oversized cargo and ADR goods from EU loading points to Iran. The truck enters Turkey at Kapıkule, crosses the country under a TIR carnet or transit declaration and enters Iran at Gürbulak–Bazargan. Our Budapest office coordinates loading in the EU, and our own team handles the transit documents, border coordination, daily tracking and delivery to the consignee in Iran.

Which border crossings does a truck use from the EU to Iran through Turkey?

Trucks from the EU usually enter Turkey at Kapıkule, opposite Kapitan Andreevo in Bulgaria, and leave Turkey for Iran at Gürbulak–Bazargan, the main road crossing between the two countries. The route inside the EU depends on the loading country. If the trip plan calls for a different Turkey–Iran crossing, we state it in the quote together with the reason.

Is a TIR carnet or a T1 used for transport from Europe to Iran?

Both can be used. A TIR carnet is the transit document of the TIR Convention and can cover the journey from the EU customs office of departure to Iran; Hungary, Turkey and Iran are all Contracting Parties. A T1 is a transit declaration lodged in the NCTS system and may cover part of the route. Which combination applies depends on the goods, the loading country and the customs offices involved; we set it in the trip plan.

How long does road freight from Germany to Iran take?

We do not quote a fixed number of days in advance. The transit time depends on the loading city, traffic at Kapıkule and Gürbulak–Bazargan, document readiness, weekends and holidays, and the type of cargo. Waiting times at the Turkey–Iran border have varied widely during 2026. When you send your request, we check the current situation and give the planned schedule in the written quote.

Are EU exports to Iran still allowed after the 2025 sanctions snapback?

Some are, some are not. The EU re-imposed its nuclear-related measures on Iran in September 2025; certain goods are prohibited and others need an export licence and end-use documents. The EU Sanctions Compliance Helpdesk, the EU Sanctions Map and national authorities such as BAFA in Germany publish the current rules. Compliance of the goods, parties and payment is the exporter's and consignee's responsibility. This is general information, not legal advice.

Who coordinates loading in the EU?

Our Budapest office, VG International Logistics & Trade Kft. at Révay köz 4., 1065 Budapest, coordinates loading on the EU side. It agrees the loading window with the shipper, collects the invoice, packing list and export documents, aligns the export declaration and transit document with the exporter or its customs representative, and hands the shipment over to the team that follows it to Iran.

Can you move oversized or ADR cargo from Europe to Iran?

Yes. We carry oversized, heavy and project cargo, which needs route checks and special permits in each country crossed, and dangerous goods under ADR with suitably equipped vehicles and documents. For ADR loads we need the class and UN number; for oversized loads, the exact dimensions and weight. Acceptance conditions on the Iranian side are confirmed with the consignee before loading, and the plan is set out in the quote.

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Europe to Iran Trucking via Turkey: the Kapıkule–Gürbulak Route

What is the Europe–Turkey–Iran corridor?

Which border crossings does a truck use from Europe to Iran?

What does our Budapest office coordinate on the EU side?

When are the TIR carnet, T1 and CMR used?

Are all countries on the corridor parties to the TIR Convention?

What determines the transit time?

Who is responsible for EU sanctions and export control checks?

Which cargo types do we carry?

Why Voltim Global for Europe–Iran freight?

What information should you send for a quote?

Frequently Asked Questions

From the guide: questions about this service

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