Which format of the carnet shall I use?

The format you must use depends entirely on the digital readiness of the Customs administrations involved in your journey. During the transition phase (2026–2027), both paper and digital procedures will coexist globally.

1. General Rule by Country Type

• Paper Countries: In territories where Customs accept paper carnets only, you must present the physical paper carnet for all declarations.
• Digital Countries: In territories that have officially activated the eATA system, you must present the digital QR code from your app or desktop. Digital countries should not be asked to process paper carnets for standard transactions.

2. Handling Hybrid and Mixed Itineraries

If your itinerary includes any paper countries, your physical paper carnet must always be validated at the point of departure to ensure it is legally recognized when you arrive at a paper-only destination later.

• Parallel Processing at Export: When departing from a digital country toward an itinerary that includes paper destinations, Customs will process your digital carnet for activation/exportation AND simultaneously stamp your physical paper carnet’s green cover and yellow export counterfoil.
• Re-importation: In a digital country, re-importation is processed digitally, while stamping the physical paper counterfoil remains optional.

3. The 6 GTP Use Cases

The eATA Global Transition Plan defines six specific scenarios to guide you on which format to use:

• Case 1 (Paper to Paper): Use Paper only for the entire trip.
• Case 2 (Paper to Digital): Use Paper at home; use Digital abroad.
• Case 3 (Digital to Digital): Use Digital only for the entire trip.
• Case 4 (Digital to Paper): Use Digital at home; use Paper abroad. (Requires parallel validation at export).
• Case 5 (Paper to Mixed): Use Paper at home and in paper countries; use Digital in digital countries.
• Case 6 (Digital to Mixed): Use Digital at home and in digital countries; use Paper in paper countries. (Requires parallel validation at export).

Operational Advice

• Verify Before Departure: Check the digital readiness of every country and territory on your itinerary before you leave by consulting the official ICC directory or your local Issuing Association.
• Format Consistency: If you use a paper carnet for importation, you must use the same paper format for the corresponding re-exportation to ensure the transaction chain remains valid.
• Carry the Paper Copy: During the current coexistence phase, it is a recommended best practice to always carry your physical paper carnet as a backup and for mandatory validation when travelling through a mix of paper and digital territories.