For everything you need to know about digital ATA Carnets – Amy Pope (Air and European Manager) is our TPS expert on the new rules and digital process. We caught up with her on the changes and how to use the App.

What Is Changing?

• QR codes will replace manual stamps at customs.
• Documentation is stored and presented on a mobile, tablet, or laptop.
• Some itineraries still require paper, so carnets will be digital, paper or mixed.

Commonly referred to as a ‘passport for goods’ a Carnet (pronounced car-nay) is an international customs document that permits duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods for up to one year.

This change will affect any operator moving goods temporarily across international borders — mainly event productions, touring artists and athletes, exhibition freight, film and television equipment, samples and prototypes.

The new electronic carnets, also known as digital ATA Carnets, eATA Carnets or ecarnets, are rolling out worldwide over the next 18 months.

It’s a big process change – the paper based system has been in place since the 1960’s, but the new ecarnet will eliminate the risk of losing carnets on busy event sites and incorrectly filled in information.

Freight forwarders will be able to produce the exact barcodes the drivers need to use for border crossings.

The UK, EU, Norway and Switzerland are all now using the digital format of ATA Carnets, and all remaining countries are expected to complete their transition by Q1 2028. This means that until then some routes will require mixed Carnet documentation.

How it works

Most of the operational steps used for paper ATA Carnets are the same for the digital Carnets. Applicants will continue to apply through their issuing chamber.

The Carnet user downloads Carnets to a mobile phone or web app to create digital itineraries. These QR codes are then scanned at Customs to access and process Carnet declarations.

Where countries are still using paper, validation will take place on paper documentation, in some cases, for example from the UK, through Europe and then onward, validation will be mixed, both digital and paper Carnets will be issued.

We recommend taking time now to brief your team. Ensure truck drivers, production managers, and freight agents know how to present documentation in both formats.

The process

There is a mobile app and a web-based app.

For occasional users we recommend the ATA Carnet mobile app. For freight forwarders and high volume users, the web-based app is easier, it works on the same principles as the ATA Carnet App (users can download Carnets, create and share QR codes and monitor Travels) and it synchronises with the Mobile Phone App to avoid duplication.

But it means office based employees can create Travels (QR Codes) and these will be visible on the user’s Mobile App after they download the same Carnet to the app.

Digital Carnets can either be shared as a whole Carnet or as individual declarations.

What if the driver doesn’t have the QR code or there’s a mistake?

You use the pre-declaration button in the app after the goods have arrived at the port. Border force can open the declaration without scanning the QR code.

In some cases pre-declarations are required – for example in countries that require pre-notification or Customs locations without permanent customs presence. This can be done from the app and can also be used when the driver is at port and missing the QR code declaration or has an incorrect declaration.

Prepare your travel declarations before you leave

Complete your travel declarations in the Digital Carnet app before arriving at the airport. WiFi and mobile signals can be unreliable, and it’s much easier to resolve any issues before you travel.

If you’re hand-carrying goods, make sure you visit Border Force (In the Commercial Exports area) before checking in for your flight. This is an essential part of the process and shouldn’t be left until the last minute.

When you land you need to have your Digital Carnet validated, so head to the Red Channel (Goods to Declare) If there’s no one around use the Customs Enquiries red phone.

Passenger Carnets get processed at passenger terminals / freight Carnets at freight terminals.

Allow plenty of time.

For assistance with an ATA Carnet contact Amy – amy.pope@tps-global.com  +44(0)1622 237979