GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Transit through a third country
Transit through a third country is a customs procedure under which goods travel, under official supervision, through a country that is neither their origin nor their final destination.
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Source: https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/business/customs-procedure/transit_en.htm
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Logistics Concept
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Definition & Explanation
Transit through a third country is a customs procedure under which goods travel, under official supervision, through a country that is neither their origin nor their final destination. Import duties and taxes are suspended for the duration of the transit and fall due only when the goods are released for free circulation at the end destination. The procedure typically requires a security—a guarantee or cash deposit—to cover the fiscal risk borne by the transit country. Common examples include truck shipments from Turkey to Western Europe passing through Balkan states, or rail containers from Asia crossing Russian territory en route to Europe. This procedure is distinct from EU transit movements (T1/T2 under the Union Transit Convention), which form a harmonised system for the EU and associated countries.
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