The transition to NCTS-P5 is nearly complete, with more countries going live!
Learn what this means for transit declarations and operators.
The European Commission has confirmed that the transition to NCTS-P5 is now approaching full implementation, with several key countries completing the rollout.
Since January 21, 2025, nations like Andorra, Belgium, Hungary, Malta, Portugal, and San Marino joined Greece and North Macedonia in using the upgraded NCTS platform.
This marks the end of the long Transitional Period from NCTS-P4.
But what does this mean for economic operators, customs professionals, and the future of customs transit declarations? In this blog, we’ll delve into the key updates and provide insights on what these changes mean for your operations.
Top Six Questions we will answer:
What is NCTS-P5 and how does it differ from NCTS-P4?
Which countries are now fully on NCTS-P5 and why does it matter?
What does the final rollout mean for economic operators and customs professionals?
What are the four levels of the NCTS-P5 Transit Declaration?
How should businesses and customs authorities prepare for NCTS-P5?
What changes are expected with NCTS-P6 and how do they affect transit operations?
1. What is NCTS-P5 and How Does it Differ from NCTS-P4?
The New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) Phase 5 (NCTS-P5) is the upgraded system designed to facilitate more efficient and secure transit procedures across European Union Member States and Common Transit Convention (CTC) contracting parties.
It replaces the older NCTS-P4 system, which had limitations in terms of scalability, speed, and adaptability to emerging challenges in customs operations.
NCTS-P5 offers improved functionality, faster data processing, and better integration with other EU and international customs systems. For economic operators, this transition means a smoother, faster, and more secure experience when managing transit movements across borders.