Customs, new digital tools for goods and purchases (cross-border guide)

Context

In brief

• DaziT concludes at the end of 2026 with over 40 apps and 250 microservices
• Passar simplifies cross-border trade freight traffic
• QuickZoll speeds up customs clearance for private purchases
• HTSV modernization and border control systems

Key Facts

• What: FOCBS Digital Transformation Programme for Customs (DaziT)
• When: End of the year 2026
• Where: Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS)
• Who: Karin Keller-Sutter (Federal Councillor), Christoph Mäder (President economiesuisse)
• Reach: Over 40 applications, approximately 250 microservices

The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security's (FOCBS) IT transformation programme DaziT will be completed at the end of the year. The announcement was made in Basel on Tuesday by Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter and economiesuisse President Christoph Mäder. This programme enables the Confederation to collect revenue more effectively by strengthening border security and improving the framework conditions for the Swiss economy.

The FOCBS's IT environment has been completely modernised. The programme has introduced more than 40 specialised applications, consisting of around 250 microservices. This is a structural intervention that transforms the way Switzerland manages cross-border freight traffic and customs control.

New platforms for businesses and individuals

Companies and private individuals now have two new digital services at their disposal. The "Passar" platform simplifies the cross-border traffic of commercial goods. The "QuickZoll" app speeds up customs clearance for private purchases and enables electronic tagging. Both services significantly reduce time and administrative complexity for those who trade or buy across borders.

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Operational details

Practical implications: what really changes

The modernisation of the DaziT programme is not just an administrative matter: it has concrete implications for companies and private individuals operating across borders. The digital transformation of the Federal Customs translates into measurable benefits in daily work.

Operational simplification for companies

Swiss companies that trade cross-border goods benefit from the Passar platform in a tangible way. Processes that used to require manual intervention and paper checks are now automated. Digital traceability makes it possible to identify packages, quantities and recipients in real time. For regular exporters or importers, this means reduced customs times, lower downtime costs and predictable transits. Customs agents and freight forwarders gain operational speed and reduce the risk of administrative errors. A company transporting components from Zurich to Italy benefits from smoother controls at the Ticino border.

Expedited Private Customs Clearance

Private individuals who buy online abroad or receive international parcels implicitly use QuickZoll. The electronic marking allows for a more streamlined process: the package is digitally identified, customs processes it automatically when possible, and collection is accelerated. Those who buy from European sites and have to pay VAT on collection benefit from a unique and digitally tracked process, without duplication of documentation or bureaucratic delays.

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Key points

How to use Passar and QuickZoll: operating guide

Now that the DaziT programme is in operation, businesses and individuals need to know how to take advantage of the new tools. The procedures are simple, but it is useful to know the main steps to get the most out of it.

Companies wishing to use the Passar platform must register with the FOCBS via official channels. The platform is dedicated to cross-border trade traffic: suppliers, exporters, importers and customs brokers log in with federated credentials. Once registered, companies upload shipment data (consignees, quantity, goods description, declared value), and the system automatically processes most of the checks. Manual testing is carried out according to risk criteria, not in random bulk. For shippers and customs brokers, this simplification represents a significant gain in clearance speed and reduction in administrative and downtime costs.

QuickZoll for private individuals and electronic cash on delivery

Private individuals who receive parcels from abroad already implicitly use QuickZoll. When a parcel enters Switzerland, the courier or customs automatically generates an electronic sticker via the app. For the private individual, the process is invisible in most cases: the parcel is processed automatically by the system, and if there are no security problems, it arrives at its destination without any further formalities. If there is VAT to be paid on a purchase (e.g. clothing or electronics from an EU website), the system calculates the tax and communicates it to the recipient, with simplified payment at the courier collection.

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