ATA carnets go electronic: pre-register trips and show QR codes at customs

ATA carnets for the temporary admission of goods other than means of transport are moving to the electronic systemEmta built by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Since 1 June 2026 the EU Member States, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom use the eATA system for administering ATA carnetsEmta, issued under the ATA or Istanbul Conventions and backed by an international guarantee covering national customs duties and other prescribed charges. In Estonia carnets are issued by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

During the transition period from 1 June 2026 to 31 December 2027Emta both digital and paper carnets are used, depending on the destination countryEmta. Paper carnets issued before 1 June 2026 remain valid until their expiryEmta. One carnet covers export and re-import in the country of departure, temporary admission and re-export in the destination country, and transit in countries passed through.

Using an eATA carnet changes what the traveller does at the border. After issue, the carnet is downloaded, managed and presented to customs in the ATA Carnet mobile app or the ATA Carnet Desktop web version. Before any customs operation under an eATA carnet, trips must first be added in the app or the Desktop versionEmta. The system creates a separate QR code for each customs operation: the activation code is shown to customs first, then the QR code of the specific trip, and once customs has activated the carnet the app delivers a confirmation message. Further detail on issuing and using eATA carnets is available from the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The same page update removes the earlier COVID-19 notice under which customs could exceptionally extend a re-export deadline when goods could not be re-exported on time because of the spread of COVID-19, along with two older guidance PDFs (the customs-clearance guide for ATA carnets and the Estonian model carnet). The general extension rule remains: where the use stated in the authorisation cannot exceptionally be achieved within the period, customs may extend it by a reasonable time on a reasoned application from the authorisation holder.

Legal basis: Ajutise sisseveo konventsiooniga ühinemise seadus, by which Estonia acceded to the Istanbul Convention on Temporary Admission of 28 June 1990, and the ATA and Istanbul Conventions under which ATA carnets are issued.