# Immediate Transit Clearance for Air Freight

*Last updated: 2026-06-24*

> Immediate Transit Clearance for Air Freight is a customs procedure under which air cargo arriving at an intermediate airport is not formally imported there but proceeds directly under customs control to the final destination airport, where full import clearance takes place.

Immediate Transit Clearance for Air Freight is a customs procedure under which air cargo arriving at an intermediate airport is not formally imported there but proceeds directly under customs control to the final destination airport, where full import clearance takes place. Duties and taxes are deferred to that endpoint, keeping shipments in bonded transit status throughout. At major hub airports, freight routinely transfers between carriers under this procedure without entering the domestic market of the transit country. Airlines and freight forwarders rely on it to eliminate redundant customs examinations and maintain competitive turnaround times. It should not be confused with a bonded warehouse arrangement, where goods are placed in storage; here, they remain in continuous transit movement.

**Source:** [https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/customs-procedures/transit/index_en.htm](https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/customs-procedures/transit/index_en.htm)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Immediate Transit Clearance for Air Freight |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 117 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-24 |
| Source | https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/customs-procedures/transit/index_en.htm |

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