Digital & toolsen
NCTS (New Computerised Transit System)
The European IT system managing customs transit procedures, enabling electronic tracking of goods between customs offices.
The NCTS (New Computerised Transit System) is the IT system used to manage customs transit procedures in the EU, EFTA countries and other partner countries (Turkey, North Macedonia, Serbia, etc.).
NCTS covers two transit regimes:
- Common transit (Common Transit Convention): between the EU and signatory countries
- Union transit (T1/T2): within the EU
How NCTS works:
- The office of departure validates the electronic transit declaration and assigns an MRN (Movement Reference Number)
- The system transmits the anticipated transit message to the office of destination
- Goods travel under customs seals with the TAD (Transit Accompanying Document)
- The office of destination confirms the arrival, discharging the transit guarantee
NCTS Phase 5 (progressively deployed since 2023) brings major enhancements: new data model aligned with the UCC, modernised trader-to-customs interface, and enhanced interoperability with other customs systems (ICS2, AES).
NCTS replaced the paper-based transit carnet system (T1/T2 forms), significantly reducing fraud and accelerating procedures.