The T1 procedure (external Union transit) moves non-Union goods across the EU customs territory with customs duties and VAT suspended - you settle them only at clearance in the country of destination. The typical scenario: a container from Asia or the US arrives in Hamburg or Rotterdam, and the import clearance is planned elsewhere in the EU. Without an open T1 the goods cannot legally leave the port inland.
How T1 handling works at CloseMRN
We handle the organisation of your T1 transit end to end. We collect and verify the shipment data, prepare the NCTS declaration and arrange the transit guarantee required by the procedure. You receive the ready set:
- the MRN of the transit declaration,
- the Transit Accompanying Document (TAD) as a PDF for the driver,
- support until the procedure is discharged at the office of destination.
You need no authorisations of your own, no comprehensive guarantee and no NCTS access. Everything runs by e-mail - just like our core service of closing export MRNs.
Ports we cover
- Antwerp
- Zeebrugge
- Ghent
- and more
- Rotterdam
- Amsterdam
- Vlissingen
- and more
- Hamburg
- Bremerhaven
- Wilhelmshaven
- and more
We know these ports from the system side - day to day we close export declarations there in ZAPP (Hamburg), BHT (Bremerhaven), Portbase (Rotterdam) and APCS (Antwerp).
What we need to open a T1
- consignor and consignee details
- goods description with tariff codes, number of packages, gross weight
- goods value and currency
- container number or vehicle/trailer plates
- the preceding document (bill of lading / manifest / previous declaration)
- customs office of destination and the planned presentation date
Frequently asked questions about T1 transit
What is a T1 transit document?
A T1 is a declaration for the external Union transit procedure (Art. 226 of the Union Customs Code). It lets non-Union goods move across the EU customs territory with customs duties and VAT suspended - they only become payable at clearance in the destination country. The declaration is processed electronically in NCTS, receives an MRN, and the driver carries the Transit Accompanying Document (TAD).
When do I need a T1?
Most commonly when a container from outside the EU arrives at a port in Germany, the Netherlands or Belgium, but the import clearance is to take place in another EU country (e.g. Poland). Without an open T1, non-Union goods cannot legally leave the port and move inland. T1 is also used for movements of non-Union goods between customs offices and for re-exports.
Do I need my own transit guarantee?
No. The security for the customs debt required by the transit procedure is covered as part of our service - you do not need your own comprehensive guarantee authorisation or a cash deposit at the customs office. You receive a ready MRN and the TAD, without your own NCTS access.
What data is needed to open a T1?
The standard set: consignor and consignee, goods description with tariff codes, number of packages, gross weight, value and currency, container or vehicle number, the preceding document (e.g. bill of lading / manifest), the customs office of destination and the planned presentation date. Once we have the full set, we take care of the lodgement - everything by e-mail, no port-system logins needed on your side.
What do I receive once the T1 is open?
The MRN of the transit declaration and the Transit Accompanying Document (TAD) as a PDF - the set the driver presents at the office of destination. The procedure is discharged by the office of destination once the goods are presented intact and on time.
Do you also close export MRNs?
Yes - that is our core specialisation. If your EXPORT declaration did not get closed after the goods left through a western port (missing CC599C/IE599 confirmation), we close the MRN in the port systems ZAPP, BHT, WHT, Portbase and APCS.