Transit checklist

Merchandise that transits through Switzerland must be declared to Swiss Customs in writing or electronically.

The transit declaration is usually created with the corresponding NCTS (New Computerised Transit System) software.

• If you wish to purchase this software, you can contact these providers (PDF, 256 kB, 15.08.2018).
• If you do not wish to purchase software, contact a haulage or courier firm. They can prepare the transit document for you for a fee.

Alternatively, you can

• use the TIR transit procedure (however, transport vehicles must meet certain conditions). This procedure is a purely paper-based solution and is more time-consuming than NCTS transit. In practice, it is only used in countries that are not yet connected to the CTP.
• use the ATA Carnet with additional transit sections.
  

How to proceed for transit

General prerequisites

Check beforehand

• whether your goods may be exported. General information on bans, restrictions and authorisation requirements can be found on our website. You will find this information and the specific tariff number for your goods in the customs tariff Tares.
• whether the accompanying documents from the consignor are complete: commercial invoice, delivery note, any authorisation (see previous point).
• with the foreign customs authorities, which export regulations apply in the exporting country and which import regulations apply in the country of destination.
• whether you have a UID if the declaration is to be made electronically via NCTS.

Select the transit procedure

Decide which procedure applies to you or with which procedure you would like to transit the goods:

1. International transit procedures are used for the cross-border movement of goods (e.g. transit through Switzerland). Essentially, there are two transit procedures. You will find all of the information on how to proceed below:

• the common transit procedure (CTP). This transit procedure is conducted electronically.
• the TIR transit procedure. This is a purely paper-based solution (more time-consuming and in practice only used in countries that are not yet connected to the CTP).
  
  Examples (for both transit procedures): merchandise transported from Paris through Switzerland to Vienna, or merchandise transported from the border to an authorised consignee in Switzerland and definitively cleared through customs there.
  

2. In the case of national goods traffic, the national transit procedure (NTP) is used for transporting goods that are uncleared or declared for exportation within the customs territory. For example, the goods arrive in Switzerland from Germany and are cleared through customs at the domicile of an authorised consignee. The national transit procedure is used for the transport from the border to the place of domicile.

3. Special procedures: ATA Carnet
The ATA Carnet is mainly used for temporary importation and exportation. However, it also allows for a transit procedure. This requires you to request additional transit sections for the ATA Carnet from the competent chamber of commerce (according to your company's domicile). Frequent examples of use:

• a tradesman from Germany travelling through Switzerland with his tools to perform work in Italy
  
• a vehicle manufacturer from Italy transporting an exhibition vehicle to the Palexpo customs office in Geneva for the Geneva Motor Show; thanks to the ATA Carnet with additional transit sections, the vehicle can transit from the border to the Palexpo customs office.
  

Transport and border crossing taking the example of NCTS

Below you will find information on importing by road
(transit clearance abroad-Switzerland-abroad)

• The transporter first brings the goods declaration (incl. NCTS) and the accompanying documents to the counter of the neighbouring foreign customs office, where the required documents must be presented in accordance with the clarifications. An inspection can also be carried out here.
• The transporter then reports to the Swiss customs office and presents the transit documents. The necessary formalities are carried out there. Merchandise in transit can be imported solely at certain customs offices and at certain times -> note the customs office opening hours.
• We may carry out a goods inspection.
• Performance-related heavy vehicle charge (LSVA) for vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes in total: transporters who do not use an LSVA device (emotach, EETS) have to use the ID card to buy a ticket for the LSVA at the automatic terminal.
• Once the Swiss customs office has confirmed receipt and given clearance, the goods can be brought through Switzerland.

Leaving Switzerland again:

• The transporter presents the NCTS document to the Swiss customs office when leaving the country in order to have re-exportation confirmed.
• At the same time, those paying the LSVA in cash (credit card also possible) must pay the corresponding road traffic fees.
• The transporter then presents the NCTS document to the foreign customs office for clearance.

A different procedure applies for rail traffic. Please refer to the information in regulation 16-01. The RailControl program is used for declaring goods in rail freight transport.

Costs for NCTS users

• NCTS use is not free of charge. If you wish to purchase this software, you will find a list of software vendors on the NCTS information page under Instructions -> General information. For NCTS use, you have to pay a lasting one-off flat-rate guarantee (we access this if the goods are delivered duty unpaid).
• There are usually no levies in the exporting country – check with the authorities in the exporting country.
• Levies are usually payable in the country of destination – check with the authorities in the country of destination.

Passar 1.0: changes from June 2023

• The current freight applications NCTS and e-dec will be gradually replaced by the new goods traffic system «Passar».
• The FOCBS will put Passar 1.0 into productive operation on 1 June 2023. NCTS can continue to be used until the end of November 2023. However, last goods declaration for transit and exportation in NCTS (phase 4) have to be submitted before the end of October 2023. E-dec Export may be used until the end of June 2024.
• The FOCBS provides a B2B interface to Passar (API), and later will also a user interface via ePortal (no later than when e-dec Web is replaced). As before, fees may apply when using commercial customs clearance software with an interface to Passar; contact your software provider if you have any questions about this.
• The use of Passar requires one-off registration in the Confederation's ePortal, which replaces the previous registration in the Customs client administration ZKV. The FOCBS will actively contact the users of the existing freight applications NCTS and e-dec and offer them various support services for the one-off registration in ePortal.
• Passar also brings some innovations at the level of processes. The goods declarations for transit and exportation are linked (referenced) in Passar with a transport declaration that contains information on the means of transport for the border crossing. This referencing is the prerequisite for automatically activating the goods declarations at the border. The Activ app is currently available for automated activation in road transportation. Additional solutions are planned. For the other modes of transport, the transport-specific transport information (e.g. air waybill) is used. Transport declarations are still optional with Passar 1.0.
  

More information

Further info

Customs applications and services at a glance

For postal traffic, please refer to the information in regulation 14-03.