The ATA carnet just went digital
The passport for goods has just taken its biggest step forward in decades, with the UK, EU, Norway and Switzerland now processing digital ATA Carnets.
If your business moves equipment, samples or exhibition goods across borders, the way you manage temporary exports changed on 1 June 2026.
The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), working with the World Customs Organization (WCO), has built the eATA Carnet System. A suite of digital tools that digitises the entire carnet lifecycle, from application and issuance through to customs declarations, transactions, and claims.
From 1 June 2026, 30 countries and customs territories — the EU27, the UK, Norway, and Switzerland — went live with digital carnet procedures. At customs checkpoints in these countries, QR codes presented via the ATA Carnet App replace the stamped paper booklet. The US is expected to join later this year, with full global adoption on 1 January 2028.
Important: Because this is a phased transition, if your itinerary includes countries that have not yet activated digital procedures, paper carnets still apply for those legs. Mixed itineraries may require both formats, with paper taking precedence where digital has not been activated.
How the digital system works
The eATA Carnet System has three components:
- ATA Carnet Core — the central database that manages data exchange securely between issuers, customs authorities, and holders
- ATA Carnet Customs — a web portal enabling customs officers to verify carnets and approve digital transactions
- ATA Carnet App — a mobile digital wallet (iOS and Android) where holders store their carnet, prepare border declarations, and present a QR code at customs
At the border, holders present the QR code from the app. Customs scan and validate electronically. No paper stamps, no physical booklet to manage across multiple crossing points.
The app includes functionality to share digital declarations with drivers, or representatives, which is a practical step for event logistics where goods are often in transit with a third party.
What this means for event logistics
For touring productions, music events, festivals, and large-scale live shows, the ATA Carnet is a critical document, because any customs delay is not an inconvenience; it is a visible failure on show day.
The move to digital carnets brings genuine operational benefits for event logistics:
- Faster border processing QR code presentation replaces manual paper checks and stamping
- Real-time tracking - digital transactions are recorded instantly, giving full audit trails of each border crossing
- Reduced document risk - no physical booklet to lose, damage, or leave behind when equipment is in the hands of transport crews
- Simplified audit - all transactions stored centrally and accessible digitally, making end-of-period reconciliation straightforward
- ESG benefit, paperless processing reduces the administrative carbon footprint of temporary export documentation
Practical steps before your next shipment
Whether you are planning a trade show, a touring production, or a cross-border equipment movement, prepare now:
- Download the ATA Carnet App — available on iOS and Android; search "ATA Digital Carnet" or "Carnet Wallet" to find the official ICC app
- Check the digital readiness of every country on your itinerary — confirm whether each destination is in the digital list before departure; for countries not yet live, paper carnets remain required
- Apply for your carnet in the correct format — your issuing chamber (in the UK, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry or Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce) will issue digital, paper, or dual-format carnets depending on your itinerary
- Enable sharing —use the app's sharing functionality to give representatives access to the relevant declarations
- Pre-notify customs for early crossings — during the initial rollout period, pre-notification at least 48 hours in advance ensures a trained officer is available
- Plan for mixed itineraries — if any leg of your journey involves a country not yet in the digital system, dual-format carnets cover both scenarios
Logicall's Touring and Events team manages time-critical, multi-border logistics for global music tours, festivals, and large-scale productions with expert customs handling built in from the start. The eATA transition adds a new layer of preparation to every international equipment movement, and getting it right before departure is far less costly than resolving a border hold on show day.
Planning an international tour, exhibition, or equipment movement? Get in touch with Logicall's events team today. We'll make sure your carnets, your documentation, and your shipments are ready for the digital border.