GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Common Transit Procedure

The Common Transit Procedure is a multilateral customs arrangement allowing goods to move under customs supervision between contracting parties without a separate customs declaration at each border.

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: EU TAXUD (taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu): Common/Union Transit (Übereinkommen über ein gemeinsames Versandverfahren); BAZG (bazg.admin.ch): NCTS – gemeinsames Versandverfahren (gVV), Richtlinie R-14-01. Stand: Juni 2026.

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Passar Hub: Everything on the new Swiss customs system

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Definition & Explanation

The Common Transit Procedure is a multilateral customs arrangement allowing goods to move under customs supervision between contracting parties without a separate customs declaration at each border. Contracting parties include EU member states alongside non-EU countries such as Switzerland, Norway, and North Macedonia, which have acceded to the governing convention. It thereby extends the EU's own transit framework to third countries and is the standard instrument for cross-border freight between the EU and these partner states. The procedure runs electronically via the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS), opening at the office of departure and closing at the office of destination. A financial guarantee – typically a comprehensive guarantee or individual surety – secures the suspended duties. For forwarders operating regularly on EU–Switzerland or EU–Norway lanes, this procedure is everyday business. In Switzerland, the common transit procedure follows BAZG Directive R-14-01; it is handled via NCTS and linked to the Passar goods traffic system (goods declaration/GDRN and transport via the MRN). To be distinguished from the purely national transit procedure. Related terms: NCTS, Passar, BAZG, MRN, authorised consignor/consignee. As of: June 2026.