14.07.2026 Regulation #EAEU #Import #E-commerce
EEC mandates IMEI codes for express smartphone cargo to KZ and KG
On July 14, 2026, the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission amended the procedure for filling out the passenger customs declaration for express cargo, approved by EEC Board Decision No. 158 of October 16, 2018. Going forward, declarants will need to indicate IMEI codes for mobile phones and tablets with cellular connectivity — but only for shipments entering the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, not across the entire Eurasian Economic Union.
What changes in the declaration form
The passenger customs declaration for express cargo (PTDEG) is used to declare goods for personal use delivered by express carriers — the main channel for cross-border marketplace and online-store purchases. Under the updated procedure, the declaration will now include a mandatory IMEI field for any device classified as a mobile phone or a tablet with cellular connectivity.
According to the EEC, the requirement stems not from Union-wide rules but from national regulations in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on registering and verifying mobile devices upon entry into the EAEU customs territory. For the other member states — Russia, Belarus and Armenia — no new IMEI requirement is being introduced in the PTDEG.
Who is affected in practice
The change directly concerns three groups of cross-border trade participants:
- Express carriers filing PTDEG declarations for parcels addressed to individuals in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan will need to collect and enter the device's IMEI at the data-preparation stage of customs clearance;
- Marketplace and foreign online store sellers shipping smartphones and tablets to buyers in these two countries will need to correctly transmit the IMEI code as part of the order's accompanying data;
- Consumers placing personal shipments of mobile phones and tablets via express delivery to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan risk clearance delays if the IMEI is missing or entered incorrectly.
For all other categories of goods moved under a PTDEG, the declaration procedure remains unchanged.
When the IMEI field becomes mandatory
The published EEC notice does not specify an effective date for the change. Express carriers and sellers working with buyers in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan should confirm the exact date the IMEI field becomes mandatory with the relevant national customs authorities, so they can adjust their processes for collecting device data from smartphone and tablet suppliers in advance.
Primary sources
This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice or customs consulting. Verify changes against the primary sources before acting.