National Customs Agency

On 23 June 2025 the enhanced New Computerised Transit System – NCTS Phase 6 (NCTS-P6) will be launched.

The project's goal is to align Entry Summary Declaration data within the combined transit declaration with Annex B of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447.

The Bulgarian Customs Administration has chosen the OPT-IN approach for the implementation of NCTS Phase 6 to facilitate economic operators. They will be able to continue submitting a combined transit declaration containing safety and security data in the Customs Transit Information System, fulfilling their obligations related to the entry of goods into the customs territory of the European Union.

The project aims to ensure structured lifecycle management of transit procedures and entry formalities into the Union's customs territory by:

• synchronising the presentation of goods for both entry and transit formalities;
• aligning customs decisions with control procedures;
• synchronising the reporting of control results for entry and transit formalities;
• coordinating the release or border crossing of goods;
• aligning the closure of entry formalities;
• providing convenience to the business sector by allowing submission of a combined transit declaration with safety and security data.

The system upgrade is part of the project “Development and Implementation of the Institutional Architecture of the Customs Agency in relation to the Customs Transit Information System,” under the MASP project: “Enhancement of the New Computerised Transit System (NCTS) Phase 6 (1.7 UCC Transit System including NCTS – Phase 6) on Cloud Architecture.”

Currently, Phase 5 of the transit system (NCTS-P5) is operating successfully, where both the standard transit declaration and the declaration combined with Exit Summary Declaration (EXS) data have already been aligned with Annex B of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447.

Additional Information

The Common Transit Procedure, according to the Convention of May 20, 1987, is used for the movement of goods between the EU Member States, EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland), Turkey (since December 1, 2012), the Republic of North Macedonia (since July 1, 2015), Serbia (since February 1, 2016), the United Kingdom (since January 1, 2021), Ukraine (since October 1, 2022), and Georgia (from February 1, 2025).

Bulgaria is expected to be among the first countries to implement the new version of the NCTS system.

Following the implementation of NCTS Phase 6, safety and security data can be submitted either as part of the transit declaration in MIST or via the Import Control System 2 (ICS2). As of April 1, 2025, ICS2 has been gradually rolled out across all modes of transport and for all economic operators importing into the EU. Currently, only road and rail carriers benefit from a transitional period, which ends on September 1, 2025.

Technical Information

A version of the Functional Specification for the trade sector is published on the Bulgarian Customs Agency’s e-Portal, under the menu:

Documents → Draft Documents → Customs Transit Information System at:
https://ep.customs.bg/eportal/public/index?pageId=8&isActive=id4

External testing with the trade sector is planned for the month of May and further information will be shared accordingly.

Any questions, notes, or comments regarding the published documents should be sent via email to:
servicedesk@customs.bg
Please include NCTS6 in the “Subject” field to ensure proper routing to a competent official.