Transit fallback procedure

Transit declarations are lodged electronically either via the Customs Clearance Service or via message exchange. The fallback procedure is used if the customer’s system or Customs’ system or the connection between them is not working.

  • The fallback procedure for the Customs Clearance Service is a declaration in document format.
  • The fallback procedure for message exchange is either a declaration lodged via the Customs Clearance Service or a declaration in document format.

You need a permission from Customs to use the fallback procedure when you use a declaration in document format as the fallback procedure. 

Authorised operators

  • Authorised consignors of T transits and authorised consignees of T or TIR transits must use an electronic form to request permission to use the fallback procedure: Transit fallback procedure (webropol form)
  • If the company cannot use the online form, the permission can be requested using the form: Request for the use of fallback procedure (Customs form No. 289, in Finnish) or a free-form request with the same information by email to: spake.passitus(at)tulli.fi
  • The request also serves a permission to use the fallback procedure.

Other operators

  • When the transit procedure is started as a standard T transit procedure or a TIR procedure at the customs office of departure, the holder of the procedure/declarant must, at the customs office of departure, orally request permission to use the fallback procedure. Customs gives permission by accepting the T transit declaration or TIR Carnet for processing without an electronic declaration.

Planned downtime

Customs’ notice of planned downtime also serves as a permission to use the fallback procedure during the downtime. You can subscribe to Customs’ downtime and disruption notices to receive them by email. Customs notifies of planned downtime with an advance notice at least two days in advance. When Customs notifies that the planned downtime is over, the use of the fallback procedure ends.

Unplanned downtime

A disruption notice sent by Customs by email also serves as a permission to use the fallback procedure. Customs will send a notice when the disruption is over. At the same time, the use of the fallback procedure ends.

End of the fallback procedure

Customs must be notified when a fallback procedure has ended. The notification is deemed to have been submitted the next time an electronic transit declaration is presented for approval.

Points to consider

The following documents, including loading lists, can be used for the fallback procedure:

The forms must be filled in and submitted to Customs in triplicate.

Presentation of comprehensive guarantee certificates

When T transits are started using the fallback procedure and the comprehensive guarantee is used, the holder of the procedure must, on request, present their comprehensive guarantee certificate TC31 or TC33 at the customs office of departure, so that the power of signature can be checked.


If the transit declaration has been submitted during the fallback procedure and the export declaration has been submitted electronically, the procedure code and MRN for the previous export procedure is provided in box 40 of the transit declaration. The authorised consignor must send the transit declaration as well as the export accompanying documents Tornio Customs for discharge. In the standard procedure, the customs office of departure discharges the export procedure when the transit is started.

Providing safety and security data

If the goods arrive to the Union from a third country or exit the Union, safety and security data must be submitted before the arrival or exit of the goods.

Transports arriving from outside the Union

If safety and security data are provided as part of the T transit declaration, they do not have to be submitted using a separate declaration.

If no safety and security data have been provided as part of the T transit declaration or if the goods are transported under a TIR Carnet, the safety and security data must be submitted using a separate Security and Safety Document (SSD form). If there is an interruption in Customs’ Arrival and Exit Declaration Service (AREX), the safety and security data are provided with an administrative document, a commercial document or a transport-related document.

Transports exiting the Union

When the transport arrives at the place of exit and the safety and security data have been submitted as part of the T transit declaration, they do not have to be submitted with a separate declaration. The goods are presented to the customs office of exit.

If the company cannot submit an electronic transit declaration for the TIR transport, the safety and security data are provided with a separate Security and Safety Document (SSD form) or with an administrative document, a commercial document or a transport document. The completed SSD form or an equivalent document must be presented to the customs office of exit or already at the place of dispatch, where the document is stamped. The stamped document must also be presented to the customs office of exit.

If the approved TIR Carnet is presented to the customs office of exit without the SSD form containing the safety and security data and stamped by Customs, the safety and security data must be submitted at the customs office of exit using the exit summary declaration. If Customs’ Arrival and Exit Declaration Service (AREX) is not working, the safety and security data should be provided using the SSD form.


If the authorised consignor has already submitted electronic transit declarations before using the fallback procedure, but the processing of the declarations has been interrupted before the release for the procedure, the authorised consignor must request invalidation of the transit declarations. 

The authorised consignor assigns a number to each T transit declaration submitted under the business continuity procedure and keeps a journal of the started T transits. The following details must be entered in the journal:

  • transit date
  • transit declaration number
  • identification of the vehicle
  • customs office of destination.

Copy 1 of the SAD form or the TAD documents must be scanned and sent by email to the Electronic Service Centre of Customs (passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi) at least 30 minutes before the transport of the goods begins.

The authorised consignor must send the transit declaration for information to the Customs Electronic Service Centre by email (passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi) at least 30 minutes before transport of the goods begins.

The authorised consignor fills in the transit declaration in accordance with the valid instructions and adds:

  • the stamp for the business continuity procedure or the stamp for the fallback procedure in box A or MRN of the form
  • the address for Tornio Customs in box “Return to” of copy 5 of the SAD form or in the return copy of the accompanying document
  • the text “Signature waived – 99207” in box 50 of the form, if the authorised consignor is not required to sign
  • a stamp, in accordance with Part II, Chapter II of Annex 72–04 of the Implementing Regulation of the Union Customs Code, in box C “Office of Departure”, unless the forms have been pre-stamped
  • details: “Authorised consignor – 99206”
  • the affixed seals and the time limit in box D “Control by office of departure”

If the T transit has already started in the fallback procedure, then the authorised consignee does not need to apply for a separate authorisation.

When the transport arrives to the authorised consignee’s facilities, the authorised consignee must register the condition of the seals as well as the ID number of the warehouse in the TAD of the transit declaration or on page 4 of the SAD form. The supplemented TAD or page 4 of the SAD form are sent by email to spake.passitus(at)tulli.fi.

If Customs has not been in contact with the authorised consignee or has not arrived at the location within 30 minutes from when the TAD or SAD document was sent, then the authorised consignee can remove the possible seals and unload the goods.

After the goods have been unloaded, the authorised consignee sends the unloading report, the T documents and possible attachments to: Tornio Customs, Transit follow-up, P. O. Box 47, FI-95401 Tornio or by email to passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi.

The unloading report must especially include possible excess goods, missing goods and any other possible breaches of regulations.


The business continuity procedure has already been used at the customs office of departure, and no electronic TIR transit declaration has been submitted:

  • No separate request for the use of the fallback procedure is needed.
  • On page 2 (volet 2) of the TIR Carnet, fill in the condition of the seals and the identification number of the warehouse (business ID + R number).
  • Notify Customs of the arrival of the goods by sending a copy of page 2 (volet 2) by email to the Electronic Service Centre: passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi  
  • If Customs is not in contact or does not arrive to inspect the goods within 30 minutes of the email being sent, the holder of the authorisation is allowed to remove the seals and unload the goods.
  • After unloading the goods, the authorised consignee takes the TIR Carnet and the unloading report on paper to a customs office with customer service. The customs office then returns the stamped TIR Carnet with the necessary entries to the person who presented it.

The unloading report must indicate any excess goods, missing goods and replacement goods as well as any other breaches of regulations.

The fallback procedure functions as follows when the TIR transit declaration has been submitted via the electronic transit system at the customs office of departure, but Customs’ system or the authorised consignee’s system is not working

  • Fill in the condition of the seals and the identification number of the warehouse (Business ID + R number) in the accompanying document that accompanied the TIR transport.
  • Instead of a reception message, the holder of the authorisation sends the accompanying document and any list of items by email to Customs’ Electronic Service Centre: passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi.
  • If Customs is not in contact or does not arrive to inspect the goods within 30 minutes, the holder of the authorisation is allowed to remove the seals and unload the goods.
  • After unloading the goods, the authorised consignee sends the unloading report, the accompanying document and any attachments all in paper format to the following address: Tornion tulli, Passitusseuranta, PL 47, 95401 Tornio or by email to the address passitusseuranta(at)tulli.fi.

The unloading report must especially indicate any excess goods, missing goods and replacement goods as well as any other breaches of regulations.

The holder of the authorisation must ensure that the TIR Carnet, the accompanying document and the unloading report are presented without delay at any customs office that is open. The customs office then returns the stamped TIR Carnet with necessary entries to the person who presented it.

The use of special loading lists

Customs can, on request, accept a transit declaration with a supplemented loading list which differs from the format set out in Part II, Chapter III, Annex 72–04 of the Implementing Regulation of the Union Customs Code. Such a list can be used only where the company uses an electronic data-processing system to keep its records and the list is completed in such a way that they can be used without difficulty by Customs and where it includes the information required in Part II, Chapter IV of the Annex.