Digital ATA Carnets: One Month On – The Transition Is Working

When Digital ATA Carnets launched on 1 June 2026, many businesses understandably had questions.

• Would customs accept them?

• Would the technology work?

• Would border crossings become more complicated?

Just over a month later, the answer has been overwhelmingly positive.

The new digital process is now being used successfully across the UK, European Union, Norway and Switzerland, with excellent feedback from both travellers and customs authorities. Users are finding the ICC ATA Carnet App straightforward to use, and many are already discovering that travelling with a digital carnet is quicker and more convenient than managing paper documents alone.

An Important Change from 13 July

During the initial launch period, travellers were issued with a contingency paper carnet alongside their digital carnet when travelling between the UK, EU, Norway and Switzerland.

This was introduced purely as a precaution while participating customs authorities completed their rollout.

Following a successful launch, UKNATACO has now confirmed that, from 13 July, contingency paper carnets will only be issued in exceptional circumstances where there is a genuine concern that a particular customs office may not yet be able to process the digital carnet.

For the vast majority of journeys, the digital carnet is now the primary document that should be presented to customs.

Digital Carnets Are Not Optional

One of the biggest misconceptions we continue to encounter is that businesses can continue travelling with paper carnets until January 2027 and simply ignore the digital system.

That isn't the case.

Where countries have implemented Digital ATA Carnets, travellers are expected to present their digital carnet using the ICC ATA Carnet App.

Paper carnets remain an important contingency document where issued, but they are no longer intended to replace the digital process as a matter of routine.

Travellers should therefore ensure they are fully prepared before travelling.

Successful Travel Starts Before You Leave

Preparing for digital travel is straightforward.

Before your journey you should:

• Install the ICC ATA Carnet App.
• Download your Digital ATA Carnet.
• Confirm your PIN is working.
• Check your itinerary has been created correctly.
• Ensure your phone is fully charged before arriving at customs.

The process only takes a few minutes and can save unnecessary delays at the border.

Positive Feedback from Customers

Since launch, we've received consistently positive feedback from Carnet Pro customers.

Many users have commented that the digital process is simpler than expected, and once they've completed their first journey, they're confident using it again.

Customs officers are also becoming increasingly familiar with the new procedures as more digital carnets enter circulation.

Like any major international system change, there is a learning curve for everyone involved, but the transition is progressing well.

We're Here to Help

At Carnet Pro, we've supported ATA Carnet users for decades, and we're committed to making the move to digital as straightforward as possible.

Whether you're applying for your first carnet or you're a regular international traveller, our team can guide you through every stage of the process—from application through to customs clearance.

Digital ATA Carnets represent the biggest change to the ATA Carnet system in over 60 years.

Based on what we've seen so far, it's a change that's already delivering real benefits.