Freight from Riga to Kazakhstan: Air to Almaty and Astana, Road and Rail
Unicore ships cargo from Riga to Kazakhstan by air, road and rail. Air freight to Almaty (ALA) or Astana (NQZ) takes 2–4 days door to door, road FTL 10–14 days and rail 18–25 days. Riga to Almaty is the air lane Unicore flies most often.
Transit times by mode
Air freight
Door to door, via Istanbul or Dubai
Road freight (FTL)
Door to door
Rail freight
Terminal to terminal
Middle Corridor
Rail to Aktau, Caspian ferry, then onward; avoids Russia
Air freight from Riga to Almaty: what Unicore has flown
Since May 2025 Unicore has completed 22 air shipments from Riga (RIX) to Almaty (ALA) for 9 customers, about 8.9 tonnes in total. The cargo includes pharmaceuticals and medicines, cosmetics, spare parts, laboratory equipment, lighting, electronics, polymer samples, toys and wine.
Shipments fly with one transfer, usually in Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) or Dubai (flydubai). Flight time is about 14–17 hours; allow 1–2 more days for customs clearance and delivery in Kazakhstan. Unicore can also collect cargo from several suppliers in Europe by road, clear it for EU export, consolidate it and fly it to Almaty as one shipment.
Example: medical equipment to Kazakhstan. All air services: air freight.
What sets the air rate to Kazakhstan
- Chargeable weight: actual or volumetric, whichever is higher
- Destination airport: Almaty (ALA) or Astana (NQZ)
- Routing and transit hub: Istanbul or Dubai
- Service level: express or standard
- Cargo type: general, dangerous goods or temperature-controlled
- Fuel and security surcharges
Unicore prices each shipment on its actual weights and dimensions. Request a quote.
Cross-trade into Kazakhstan without passing through Latvia
Since May 2025 Unicore has also flown 8 cross-trade air shipments into Kazakhstan for 7 customers, from Singapore, Frankfurt, Madrid, Paris, Vilnius and Amsterdam. The cargo went straight to Kazakhstan and never entered Latvia; the Riga office ran the booking and the documents. See how it works on the cross-trade freight page and in the Singapore → Almaty case study: 8 crates of spare parts on a neutral air waybill.
How an air shipment to Kazakhstan runs
- 1
Send the details
By email, phone or the quote form: pieces, weights, dimensions, commodity and destination city.
- 2
Routing and booking
Unicore picks the routing via Istanbul or Dubai and books the next available flight to ALA or NQZ.
- 3
Pickup
Collection anywhere in Latvia, or across Europe by road, and delivery to the Riga Airport cargo terminal.
- 4
EU export clearance
The export declaration is filed at the RIX cargo terminal.
- 5
Flight
The shipment is tracked through the transit hub, and you get status updates.
- 6
Arrival in Kazakhstan
A local partner clears the cargo in ASTANA-1 and delivers it to the consignee.
Customs and documents
Export documents (EU side)
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- CMR or air waybill (AWB)
- EX1 export declaration
- TIR Carnet (for road)
Import documents (Kazakhstan)
- Customs cargo declaration, filed in ASTANA-1
- Import (supply) contract
- Commercial invoice, packing list and AWB
- EAC certificate of conformity for regulated goods
- Currency-control registration (contracts above USD 50,000)
- Permits or certificates for controlled goods
Important: Kazakhstan is part of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Regulated goods need EAC certification. Transit via Russia requires careful sanctions checking. Verify HS codes before shipping to avoid delays and unexpected duties.
ASTANA-1 customs system
Kazakhstan files every import and export declaration electronically in ASTANA-1, under the EAEU Customs Code. Unicore works with local partners who file in ASTANA-1 and know the cutoff times. The full declaration is due within a set period after arrival, and a short arrival notice may be needed as soon as the cargo enters temporary storage.
Common reasons for an import hold
- Data mismatch between the MAWB/HAWB, invoice, packing list and package markings
- Missing contract reference, or missing currency-control registration where it is required
- Certificates or permits for controlled goods not ready when the declaration is filed
Checklist for every air shipment to Kazakhstan
- 1
Confirm the broker will file in ASTANA-1 and knows the cutoffs.
- 2
Make sure the invoice, packing list and AWB match exactly: pieces, weight, description and HS code.
- 3
For imports, check that the contract and the currency-control registration are ready.
- 4
For controlled goods, get permits and certificates before handing over the cargo.
- 5
Confirm with the operating airline that it accepts dangerous goods, perishables or live animals; airline rules can be stricter than the general ones.
Major transport hubs
Frequently asked questions
Q.How long does cargo from Riga to Almaty or Astana take?
Air freight is fastest at 2–4 days direct or via transit (RIX → IST/DXB → ALA/NQZ). Road FTL takes 10–14 days. Rail freight takes 18–25 days. The Middle Corridor (avoiding Russia) takes 25–30 days. Unicore quotes all four side-by-side.
Q.Does Unicore ship regularly from Riga to Almaty?
Yes, since May 2025 Unicore has completed 22 air shipments from Riga to Almaty for 9 customers, about 8.9 tonnes in total. It is the air lane Unicore flies most often. Typical cargo includes pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, spare parts, laboratory equipment and electronics.
Q.Which airports in Kazakhstan does Unicore deliver to?
Unicore delivers air cargo to both main airports: Almaty International (ALA) and Nursultan Nazarbayev International in Astana (NQZ). Cargo from Riga flies with one transfer, usually in Istanbul or Dubai. Unicore has also flown cargo to Karaganda (KGF).
Q.Can Unicore fly cargo to Kazakhstan from outside Latvia?
Yes, Unicore books cross-trade air freight into Kazakhstan from other countries, and the cargo does not pass through Latvia. Since May 2025 it has flown 8 such shipments for 7 customers from Singapore, Frankfurt, Madrid, Paris, Vilnius and Amsterdam, with the booking and documents run from Riga.
Q.Can cargo be shipped to Kazakhstan via Russia under current sanctions?
Yes, but every shipment requires a screening for EU dual-use and sanctioned goods (e.g., HS codes on the EU annexes). Non-sanctioned commercial goods can transit Russia under TIR or T1. For sensitive cargo Unicore routes via the Middle Corridor (rail to Aktau, ferry across the Caspian Sea, rail/road onward) — slower (25–30 days) but compliance-safe.
Q.Is a TIR Carnet mandatory for road freight to Kazakhstan?
Not strictly mandatory, but strongly recommended. TIR speeds up multiple border crossings (EU → RU/BY → KZ) and reduces inspection time. The alternative is a chain of T1 transit documents that must be cleared at each border. Unicore handles either approach based on the cargo type and destination city.
Q.What is EAC certification and which goods need it?
EAC (EurAsian Conformity) certification is mandatory in the Eurasian Economic Union (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan) for regulated goods: machinery, electronics, food, cosmetics, toys, PPE, and most consumer goods. Without EAC the goods cannot clear customs in Kazakhstan. Unicore can introduce certified labs that issue EAC certificates.
Q.Is a Transaction Passport still required in Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan requires currency-control registration with the importer's bank for contracts above USD 50,000 (the modern equivalent of the old transaction passport). The importer prepares this on their side; Unicore provides the commercial invoice and contract reference data needed.
Q.Which documents does Kazakhstan customs need for an air cargo import?
Unicore checks the core set before the cargo flies: the customs cargo declaration (filed in ASTANA-1), commercial invoice, supply contract, air waybill, packing list and, where it applies, currency-control registration. Pieces, weights and descriptions must match across all of them, because a mismatch is a common reason for a customs hold.
Q.What customs system does Kazakhstan use for air cargo?
Unicore's partners in Kazakhstan file every import and export declaration in ASTANA-1, the country's automated customs system. It works under the EAEU Customs Code, and the partners know its filing cutoffs.
Q.Can dangerous goods (DG / ADR) be shipped to Kazakhstan?
Yes. Unicore is IATA DGR and ADR certified. Air DG requires a Shipper's Declaration plus airline-specific approval; road ADR requires a UN-marked packaging, a certified driver, and an ADR transport document. Lithium batteries, flammables, and limited-quantity DG are routinely handled.
Related services and guides
Ready to ship to Kazakhstan?
Send the pieces, weights, dimensions and destination city. Unicore will come back with routing options by air, road or rail.
Request a quoteRelated resources
- Case Study: Singapore → Almaty Cross-Trade AirSpare parts flown to Almaty on a neutral air waybill, never entering Latvia.Read
- Case Study: Medical Equipment to KazakhstanTime-critical air freight with EAC clearance preparation.Read
- Geopolitical Events & Freight RoutesRed Sea, Russia sanctions, and the Middle Corridor in 2026.Read
- What Are Dangerous Goods?UN classes, packaging instructions, and IATA DGR essentials.Read