When preparing a travel, which destination country should I select for the European Union?

When preparing a travel, the destination country should reflect where the importation transaction is expected to be performed.

In the context of the European Union, you may indicate either:

• the first country of entry into the EU, or
• the final destination country within the EU

Both options are valid, as the EU is considered a single customs territory for ATA Carnet purposes.

Practical recommendation

It is recommended to select the first country of entry into the EU, as this is typically where the importation transaction will be processed by Customs.

Important clarification

The country selection in the travel preparation step:

• is intended to support the user experience
• does not constitute the formal customs declaration, which is performed at the time of the Customs transaction

Customs authorities may also apply specific operational requirements. Holders should follow any instructions provided by the relevant Customs office.

Transit via a non‑EU country (e.g. Switzerland)

If goods move between two EU countries via a non‑EU country, the exit and re-entry must still be recorded.

Example: France → Switzerland → Italy

Generated transactions:

• Exportation when leaving the EU
• Transit open/close in the non‑EU country
• Re-importation when re-entering the EU

Additional tip

The optional “To location / city / event” field can be used to indicate the final destination or use of the goods.