Following the restoration of its sovereignty, the Republic of Azerbaijan, on 30 January 1992, established the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
By resolution of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic dated 24 February 1992, the Customs Committee of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was also established, thereby marking a significant step in the formation of a fully-fledged national customs service.
Possessing a robust legal framework and advanced infrastructure, the Customs Service of Azerbaijan safeguards the economic interests and security of the nation across land, air, and maritime borders, while resolutely combating smuggling. The State Customs Committee has sought to align its operations with contemporary requirements and has strengthened cooperation by establishing working relations with customs administrations of foreign states.
The Republic of Azerbaijan acceded to the World Customs Organization (WCO) in June 1992. Since 1999, the State Customs Committee has been represented on the WCO Finance Committee; since 2000, on the WCO’s supreme body, the Policy Commission; and since 2002, on the Customs Cooperation Committee.
As a result of Azerbaijan’s proactive measures in the sphere of international customs cooperation, the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union and its member states was signed in 1996. That same year, Azerbaijan acceded to the Customs Convention on the International Transport of Goods under Cover of TIR Carnets. In May 2000, it became a party to the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System; in February 2000, to the International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods (Geneva Convention, 1982); in February 2002, to the International Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance for the Prevention, Investigation and Repression of Customs Offences (Nairobi Convention); and in December 2003, to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Kyoto Convention).
Furthermore, the breadth of the State Customs Committee’s activities is demonstrated by its cooperation with a wide range of international organizations, including the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), INTERPOL, the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM), the International Road Transport Union (IRU), the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSEC), and the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia, Azerbaijan, and Afghanistan (SPECA), among others.
To enhance the legislative framework governing customs affairs in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the following legal acts were adopted: the Law on the Customs Tariff (1995), the Customs Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1997; replaced by a new Customs Code in September 2011), the Regulation on the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1998), the Regulation on Service in Customs Authorities (1999), and in 2001, the Law on the Flag of the Customs Authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Law on the Identification Badge of the Customs Authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Also in 2001, the Collegium of the State Customs Committee adopted the Code of Honour of an Official of the Customs Authority. Collectively, these legislative acts define, with precision, the duties and powers of the customs authorities.
The State Customs Committee consistently advances the application of information technologies and digitalization in the organization of customs operations. Within this framework, electronic declaration procedures were introduced in 2016.
The Smart Customs initiative has facilitated the execution of all customs formalities via mobile devices. The integration of modern technologies and digital solutions into the customs system constitutes a strategic objective of the Azerbaijani Customs Service. In pursuit of this objective, the Automated Risk Analysis System (ARAS), based on artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms and developed by customs officers, was introduced in early 2024. This system has enhanced the speed of border crossing and clearance procedures, eliminated unnecessary time and financial losses, and improved the accuracy of accounting systems.
The ÖZÜNET and Smart Bot projects have been instrumental in improving accessibility, transparency, and user satisfaction for both citizens and entrepreneurs, while further expanding digitalization in customs services.
The Trans-Caspian Customs Transit Portal, initiated by the Azerbaijani Customs Service, provides for the implementation of digital and simplified customs solutions to facilitate the swift and efficient movement of goods along the Middle Corridor.