GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Aug 27, 2026

Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD)

A forwarder books a container from Rotterdam to Mombasa and has to file an Advance Cargo Declaration before loading, otherwise the carrier will not take the box.

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Last updated: 27 August 2026

Source: Frachtportal-Artikel "Kenia verlangt Frachtdaten vor der Verladung (ACD Code)" (24.08.2026); Kenya Revenue Authority, Public Notice ACD Platform; Maersk Customer Advisory

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Definition & Explanation

A forwarder books a container from Rotterdam to Mombasa and has to file an Advance Cargo Declaration before loading, otherwise the carrier will not take the box. An Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD) is an electronic pre-arrival cargo filing submitted in the country of departure, before loading, to the customs authority of the destination country. Kenya made this mandatory for containerised shipments on 3 August 2026: through the Kenya Revenue Authority ACD portal the draft bill of lading, commercial invoice, freight evidence and export declaration are uploaded, and after validation a 15-character alphanumeric ACD reference is issued which must appear on the final bill of lading. Without it, rollover and fines are likely. Comparable regimes are Egypt's ACID or the EU's ICS2; an ACD does not replace the import customs declaration.

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⚡ Current 2026

Passar Hub: Everything on the new Swiss customs system

Passar replaces E-dec and NCTS. Passar 1.0 (export) is live, Passar 2.0 (import) starts from Q2 2026. Roadmap, ePortal registration, deadlines and FAQ — all on one page.

Passar 1.0Passar 2.0 → Q2 2026Passar 3.0 → Q2 2027

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Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD)

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Related Terms

All-Cargo Aircraft Operations

Air Cargo Community Systems

Cargo Aircraft

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Liquid Bulk Cargo Tanker Operations

Multi-Cargo Terminal Operations Management

Passar Hub: Everything on the new Swiss customs system

Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox

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