UK businesses that rely on ATA Carnets for international trade are being urged to prepare for a major digital shift, as the United Kingdom confirms it will be ready to adopt electronic ATA Carnets (eATA) from 1 April 2026.
The UK has formally notified the World Customs Organisation of its readiness, aligning with the European Union, Norway and Switzerland for the first phase of the transition. The move marks a significant step away from traditional paper Carnets towards a fully digital environment, with a complete transition targeted for 2028.
To support businesses through this change, a dedicated webinar will outline what traders, freight forwarders and logistics professionals need to know to remain compliant and operationally ready.The session will cover the official timelines for the shift from paper to digital Carnets and provide a practical demonstration of the ATA Carnet App for smartphones and the ATA Carnet Desktop (ACD) platform. Attendees will also receive guidance on the current “paper-first” rule, which requires paper Carnets to be endorsed by Customs before digital QR codes can be used during the transition period.
With testing playing a critical role, the webinar will highlight how businesses can trial digital Carnets during the key January and February testing window, ahead of test environments being withdrawn in March. Practical advice will also be shared on pre-notifying Customs at least 48 hours in advance to ensure a trained officer is available to process digital test Carnets.
Other topics include how to securely share digital declarations with freight forwarders or drivers using the app’s sharing functionality, and how QR codes and PIN or ID systems will work in practice.
The webinar is aimed at:
- UK businesses currently using paper ATA Carnets for temporary exports
- Freight forwarders and logistics providers managing multiple Carnets through the ACD
- Export managers and documentation officers seeking to strengthen their expertise
- International trade professionals preparing for a digital-first border environment.
The webinar will also explain how businesses can enable their system profile for digital Carnets and obtain the required PIN and Carnet ID to access documents via the app.
With less than two years until go-live, the message is clear: early preparation will be key to ensuring a smooth transition to digital ATA Carnets.
Interested in our forthcoming eATA Carnet webinar? Email your interest to internationaltrade@cambridgeshirechamber.co.uk and we will notify you when registration opens.