What Is a T1 Document?
Category: Customs Author: — Date: — Reading time: —
The T1 is an essential customs document. Learn everything about the T1 in this article.
Also known as NST1, the T1 is a transit document used under the T1 regime.
This is a regime that allows imported goods to be moved from a port or airport of arrival to another location without being cleared through customs beforehand. The goods are therefore moved from one customs office to another, as a T1 is issued from one customs office to another. Please note that goods under a T1 may under no circumstances be released for free circulation! The T1 must be discharged before a deadline.
Good to Know! What Does “Discharging a T1” Mean?
The T1 is said to be discharged by the customs authorities when they are able to establish, based on a comparison between the data available at the customs office of departure and the data available at the customs office of destination, that the procedure has been correctly completed. Once this is done, the T1 is discharged by customs, and the transit regime under which the goods were placed comes to an end. By “discharged” we mean the entry of the T1 number into the IMA system.
Validity of the T1
The T1 has a limited validity period (which varies by country, even within Europe). In France, the validity periods are generally as follows:
- Approximately one week if transit is by road
- Approximately 10 days if transit is by rail/road
- Approximately 14 days if transit is by barge/road
Failure to discharge the T1 before its validity expires exposes the importer to a customs fine.
Good to Know! The T1 Is Often Used for Two Main Reasons:
- By importers who have an in-house customs department and can carry out customs clearance at their own warehouse.
- By importers who prefer to clear customs at the customs office in their region/department, to be handled by customs officers who are familiar with the specific characteristics of their goods.