Latest News

Smart Border Austria – Current Developments and Timeline for Customs Digitalization

Status: 08 July 2026

Digitalized border crossing – On-site instructions:

Here you will find step-by-step instructions on how to cross the border easily and securely using the digitalized system. On-site instructions (PDF, 566 KB)

 

Completed Project Phases

The following processes are already in regular operation:

  • Goods Location Corridor – Entry & Exit: Operational since 01 July 2024

  • Transit – Entry: Mandatory since 01 January 2026

Digitalization of Border Customs Offices

As part of the digitalization of border customs offices, an exclusive transition to the digital processes of Smart Border Austria is taking place. This completes the exclusive switch to the digital processes of Smart Border Austria. Information on the continued use of the paper-based routing slip procedure ex Wolfurt can be found in the table below.

Border Customs Office only digitized processes from
Tisis 24.06.2026 (operational)
Höchst 03.08.2026 (Laufzettel ex Wolfurt possible until 02.08.2026)
Mäder 03.08.2026 (Laufzettel ex Wolfurt possible until 31.08.2026)
Lustenau 03.08.2026 (Laufzettel ex Wolfurt possible until 07.09.2026)
Meiningen 17.08.2026
Hohenems 08.09.2026 (Laufzettel ex Wolfurt possible until 07.09.2026)

Digitized border crossing (Border Crossing Light) at the border customs offices

The digitized border crossing (Border Crossing Light) is planned at these border customs offices from this point forward:

Border Customs Office Digitized border crossing
Tisis 24.06.2026 (operational)
Höchst 25.08.2026
Mäder 01.09.2026
Lustenau 08.09.2026
Meiningen 15.09.2026
Hohenems expected 22.09.2026

Start of the Rolling Corridor Pilot Phase

The pilot phase for the Rolling Corridor process will follow the digitalization of the border customs offices and will commence on the following dates:

Border Customs Office Rolling Corridor - Exit
Tisis 25.06.2026 (operational)
Höchst 03.08.2026
Mäder 03.08.2026
Lustenau 08.09.2026
Meiningen 15.09.2026
Hohenems expected 22.09.2026

ATTENTION: The economic operator is required to independently verify the arrival of the means of transport in Vorarlberg and submit the electronic message IEATBT44 to Smart Border Austria before arrival at the border customs office.

The service for transmitting the IEATBT43 message (arrival information) will be put into operation at a later date.

 

Discontinuation of the Transit Slip Procedure

The transit slip procedure (Laufzettelverfahren) will be discontinued entirely on 08 September 2026!

From this date onward, participation in the Smart Border Austria processes will be mandatory for all cross-border freight transport operations.

Full Operational Launch

The nationwide full-scale operation of the Smart Border Austria processes is scheduled to begin on 01 December 2026.