# Smart Border Austria is Reality **Category:** customs processes | **Source:** [Partner] Holenstein Transport Konstanz | **Published:** 2026-08-18 | **Updated:** 2026-08-20 **Tags:** Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Digitalisierung, Zoll > Digital Solution Advances --- With Smart Border Austria, customs processing between Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein is fundamentally digitalized: paper-based processes (customs slips) are replaced by mandatory digital pre-notification. This enables faster procedures, greater transparency and fewer bottlenecks at the border. The transition to Smart Border Austria simultaneously creates new requirements for companies, processes and data quality. Smart Border Austria: Digitalization at the border is advancing **The transition to Smart Border Austria is already underway**: Step by step, additional border customs posts and customs processes are being integrated into digital processing. Since early August, further important milestones have been implemented – with concrete changes for companies, freight forwarders and drivers. **Lustenau, Höchst and Mäder digital as of August 3rd** - As of **August 3, 2026**, goods movements via the border customs posts **Lustenau, Höchst and Mäder** are fundamentally processed through the **Smart Border Austria** procedures. - In **Höchst and Mäder**, camera recognition at the border customs post is not yet available. The corresponding entry and exit certificates or the **Border Transaction Number (BTN)** must therefore be presented to customs officials for scanning. Exceptions and transition regulations continue to apply for certain clearance types. - Until August 31, 2026, customs slips from Wolfurt are still possible at all border posts, and in Lustenau even until September 7! **Rolling Corridor: License Plate Recognition Activated** - Automation is also progressing with the **"Rolling Corridor – Exit"**. License plate recognition on the motorway has been installed but is currently deactivated due to technical issues. - In **Tisis**, processing is already automated via cameras, while in **Mäder and Höchst** at the border customs post, scanning by customs officials continues to be required. - **Important:** The BTN must continue to be carried by the driver despite automated license plate recognition. **Meiningen goes digital on August 17th** - Meiningen will be converted on August 17, 2026, after which customs slips will no longer be possible **Hohenems goes digital on September 8th** - Customs slips are possible until September 7 --- Most importantly: The transition affects not only customs but also your own dispatch operations and customs software. Before a trip across the affected border crossings, it must be clear which Smart Border process is required for the transport and whether the corresponding advance notification was transmitted correctly. The MRN (customs declaration reference number), the vehicle registration number, and the correct assignment of the transport are particularly important. The transition is not taking place at all border crossings simultaneously. Tisis is already operating digitally. Höchst, Mäder, and Lustenau were switched over on August 3, 2026, Meiningen on August 17. Hohenems is scheduled to follow on September 8 according to current planning. Individual consignment notes from Wolfurt are still subject to transition periods. Important for drivers: Digital currently does not mean completely paperless. For example, the transit entry certificate must still be printed and carried in the vehicle at transit entry, and the border customs office entry certificate must still be printed and carried at the goods location corridor entry. Freight forwarders should therefore now check whether their customs software supports the necessary interfaces, whether all registrations are in place, and whether dispatch and drivers are familiar with the new procedures. The Austrian Finance Ministry lists, among other things, EORI and RIN registration as well as the necessary IT interfaces as prerequisites. In short: Anyone who regularly travels between Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein should no longer treat Smart Border Austria as a future topic. The transition is already underway and paper consignment notes are disappearing gradually. --- Smart Border Austria applies to freight traffic between Austria and Switzerland or Liechtenstein. The objective is the digitalization of customs processes in Vorarlberg and the replacement of the previous manifest procedure. Tisis has been working exclusively with digitalized processes since June 24, 2026. Höchst, Mäder, and Lustenau were switched to digitalized processes on August 3, 2026. Meiningen followed on August 17, 2026. Hohenems is scheduled to be switched to exclusively digital processes on September 8, 2026. The previous manifest procedure is to be completely discontinued on September 15, 2026. From this date, participation in the Smart Border Austria processes for cross-border freight traffic is mandatory according to the Austrian Ministry of Finance. Full regular operation of Smart Border Austria is currently scheduled for December 1, 2026. Digital processes include, among others, transit entry, goods location corridor entry and exit, and rolling corridor exit. Despite digitalization, printed accompanying documents must continue to be carried in the vehicle for certain procedures. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Austria](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/at) - [Germany](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/de) - [Switzerland](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ch) ### Glossary - [Customs clearance](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-clearance) - [Freight forwarding](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-forwarding-2) - [Customs clearance](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/customs-clearance-5) - [Processing](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/processing) - [EU Smart Border Projects](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/eu-smart-border-projects) - [border customs post](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/border-customs-post) - [Ingress](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/ingress) - [EORI number](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/eori-number-2) - [AEO EU Criteria](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/aeo-eu-criteria) - [license plate recognition](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/license-plate-recognition) - [NCTS (New Computerised Transit System)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/ncts-new-computerised-transit-system) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/smart-border-austria-ist-realitaet-20260818082355](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/smart-border-austria-ist-realitaet-20260818082355)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/smart-border-austria-ist-realitaet-20260818082355](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/smart-border-austria-ist-realitaet-20260818082355)*