The ATA carnet, one of the oldest workhorses of temporary international trade — trade fair stands, professional tools, commercial samples moved across a border and back without paying duty or VAT — has just taken its biggest step in decades. As of 1 June 2026, a fully digital version of the carnet, eATA, is officially accepted by customs in 30 jurisdictions: all 27 EU member states, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
What changed on 1 June 2026
Instead of a paper booklet stamped at every crossing, the digital carnet lives in the free ICC ATA Carnet app as a QR code. Customs officers scan and confirm the crossing in the app — export, arrival, re-export, final re-entry — rather than stamping a physical voucher. The system was built by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) with the World Customs Organization (WCO), following pilots that started in Belgium, China, Russia and Switzerland back in 2016 and were upgraded to production standard in 2023.
How you get one
The application process itself hasn't changed. In the Netherlands you still apply to the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) with a full itemised goods list and value, the same as for a paper carnet. Once approved, KVK issues a Carnet ID and access code, which you enter into the ICC app to activate the digital carnet. KVK still prints and posts the physical document as well during the transition — the process is not yet fully paperless, and chambers can issue paper, digital, or both depending on how ready the destination country is.
The global timeline
1 June 2026 is only the first wave. The remaining ATA Convention countries are expected to switch to digital gradually between now and the end of 2027, with the carnet procedure fully digital worldwide from 1 January 2028. Until your entire route is confirmed digital-only, keep carrying the paper carnet as a backup — a customs post that hasn't switched over yet will still expect the stamped booklet.
What it means for you
If you regularly send exhibition stands, demo equipment or samples into the EU, UK, Norway or Switzerland, nothing changes about what qualifies for a carnet, its one-year validity, or the security KVK requires — only how the crossing is tracked. Full background on eligibility, validity and the application process: ATA carnet.
Sources: ICC — Digital ATA Carnet launches in 30 countries · KVK — digital ATA carnet application guide · evofenedex — ATA carnet now digitally available.