Stored my car in Kazakhstan for 2 years, how to leave Kaz now?
 

Hi,

I have stored my car in Kazakhstan after a trip in 2010. I had to go back to Europe again and this year I am going to travel again with that car.

Now, how can I best deal with this situation? How can I leave the country again to continue travel?

I understand (now) that the car was not allowed to stay that long in Kazachstan? Wat is the way to deal with this problem?

The car papers are with it and it has all the needed documents. I don't want to leave it there (too valuable).

Erik

Well I have to say during my whole time in Kaz no one checked my temporary import documents. What about crossing into Uzbekistan or Kyrgystan and getting a new temporary import doicment on the way back in? Just a thought.

Thanks for your quick answer!

Yes, I can give that a shot, but I have to have a plan B of course. What IF they ask for that document and I tell them I parked my car in Kaz for 2 years? They registered that may latest entry was in 2010 so I can't hide from that. Easy to check in my passport.

Erik

well its not going to be easy

Your vehicle was by law imported into Kazakhstan as soon as it overstayed its temporary import permit and is technically owing import duty to the state. If you overstay the permit by a week or so you might get a slap on the wrist penalty at the border, but 2 years?

Getting it out of the Russia - Belarus - KZ customs zone should theoretically be impossible without them assessing the market value of your vehicle in KZ, and applying whatever import duty is due (probably 30-40% of its KZ value). You will almost surely have the problem realised when you attempt exit the common customs zone.

Good luck to you, but this is probably not going to end pretty.

There are plenty of threads on here saying you can not indefinitely store foreign vehicles in Russia or Kazakhstan ... only as long as the temporary import permit gives you grace against paying import duties.

I know, it's a nasty situation. But where is it described, who is going to define the value?

It would be better cross via a small border I guess?

I need to find out more. Where are these things written down, which organisation can help me with more information about this?

BTW I did not find any info on this yet, do you remember any threads on this?

Erik.

Use a small, remote border crossing.

Hand papers over.

If problems ensue, hand over a hundred dollars in increasing multiples until they let you through?

Will likely be cheaper than the tax....

If the problem relates to what's written/stamped in your current passport, can you have another/a new passport issued?

I assume the Rus/Kaz/Bel customs don't have a networked IT system?

Good luck
Chris

I thought of that. But all entries and departures are registered.

It might be the case that the small borders are not networked, but they do have phones, so they can call to check.

@Docsherlock: That's a good plan. As bribing is quite common over there. Though, I don't want to end up in jail.. Is it risky?
Also, I need to know what happens if this is not working. Who's deciding on the value of the car. If custom officials, are, you bet they overvalue the car.

Attempting to corrupt a local official can always land you in hot water but if it's common practice and you are offering the guy a month's wages to look the other way in used $20 notes, he's probably gonna do it, no?

Chris has a good point about no IT hook up between the remote posts and customs, but the date is there in black and white. You need to encourage the border guard to overlook the date.

Everyone has their price.... I would try and go through and if there is a problem, ask if there is a "fine" that you can pay on the spot, in cash, in USD and carry on - plausible deniability....

Good luck with it.

I would like to know how to do it the formal way too.

Will they charge me for permanent import, because according to this:

New customs duty on previously-owned vehicles to be introduced in Kazakhstan July 1. Kazakhstan. Tengrinews.kz

You have to pay 4 Euro's per cubic inch, in my case with 3,2 litres it will be 12800 dollar. I can't afford that of course.. :(

I'm very, very unsure what to do now.

Does this apply even when you leave the country with the car, be it too late then, but still I'm taking the car out again..

That doesnt add up 3.2 litres is 196 cubic inches. That is $1000.

Sorry, typo, it is cubic centimeters.

"Euro 4 per cubic centimeter for engines of 1800-3000 cubic centimeters."

Contrary to popular misconception, Kazakhstan is not a poor country and government officials are paid reasonably well. The average customs officer is probably making USD $2000+ a month, and you would have to pay the boss of the post off to let it slide. He is probably making triple that.

Well, my suggestion is not going to work, then, is it?!:innocent:

Ah Bribes aren't worth a months wages in Kaz anyway. Cops get paid the same and will let you off a speeding ticket for about $6-$10. :)

And no I am not recommending that, the customs/passport officers seem very diligent in some respects. You should see the looks on their faces when they see that you have 2 passports from the one country.

Yeah but a pair of cops will collect 50 of those in a day ... that adds up. Speeding isnt a big deal - its the default revenue raiser, thats all. Customs violations (or drink driving) are big deals and will cost you thousands to get out of.

A big deal at a customs post on an issue with a full audit trail with a lot of other people around is very very different from 30 unauditable seconds in the back of a cop car in the middle of nowhere.

I know, I know just having a joke.

I would not recommend this at all despite the endemic corruption.

Hah what about in the middle of a GAI post with 5 others standing around. :)

Hello everybody,

I have a similar problem. I drove a car to Almaty, but the driver who would return the car to Holland cancelled on the last moment. I cannot find how long the car is able to stay in Kazakhstan under the temporary import document. I did not recieve any paperwork when entering the country.

Thanks

Koen

Your docs will be from entering the customs union - not necessarily Kazakhstan - were u in Russia and or Belarus prior to KZ?

The first of those countries you entered will have issued the permit. These days they are for a standard 3 months from entering the customs zone.

The permit is a sticker placed on the back of your customs form that you filled out when you entered the customs union.

As mentioned it will almost certainly be for 3 months from date of entry

He,

thanks for the reply. We entered through Russia, so we will probably have three months from the date of entry.

Thanks again!

Hi ErikCH,

When you returned to Europe and left your car in Kazakhstan did you have any issues leaving the country?

Reason I ask this is that my brother is in Kazakhstan now with a broken rear wish bone with his Subaru Forester, and tells me its unlikely that its going to make it out of the country.

What is likely to happen/what should he do when he reaches the border with no car, having entered with a temporary import license?

Thanks

He Arch,

I never had any problems crossing into China without the car.

Neither on the Kazakh or the Chinese side did they mention the car.

Koen

I would

-1 get a new passport

-2 enter KZ overland this time by a road border (so you have a car stamp in your passport - car means you entered by road, not necessarily with your own car.

-3 Get out of KZ to either Kyrgyzstan or Uzbekistan. At the border say you are an idiot, very careless, and have lost the paper they gave you when you entered the country this time around. Hope they don't have a computer system. Have all your ownership documents which show you have owned the car for ages, and if they pick up that you entered with the car two years ago, say there must be a mistake, you have owned the car for ages, and that of course you came with it to KZ this time around. It could easily happen that you car was not entered correctly on some database somewhere.

-4 IF you get past this, then come back into KZ, re-enter the RUS - BY - KZ customs zone and get three months

-5 Drive home

When I exited Kaz to Uz they did not take my customs document from Russia and I did not get another when I re entered Kaz from Kyg. I later used this customs document to exit Russia to Mongolia.

You could convinecably exit Kaz without the documents and maybe get through and then re enter and get the correct paperwork.

No certainty though and there would be a lot of trouble if you were caught.