The new Swiss customs system, explained simply.
PASSAR is progressively changing customs workflows. Check your business preparation, authorisations and document availability.
What is PASSAR
The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) is introducing PASSAR, the new IT system progressively replacing the previous customs programmes.
PASSAR and e-dec coexist during the transition. Check dates and operational steps against the current FOCBS documentation.
Current status
PASSAR Import, operational preparation
e-dec and PASSAR may coexist during the transition. Check the document flows and access configured for your business.
Business partner onboarding
Before production use, register the business in the ePortal, verify the GP-ID and assign roles and permissions to users. A user account alone is not sufficient.
Documents and access
Check with your contacts which documents and services are available for your account and which users are authorised.
What changes in practice
From PCD to GP-ID and roles
The GP-ID identifies the business partner but is not sufficient on its own. Invoice recipients need «Document collection in goods traffic» and «Financial information»; import declarants need «Freight» and «Financial information». Each user must also receive the required permissions.
New debtor status (traffic light system)
PASSAR introduces a traffic light system visible in the «Finanzas» portal. Green: imports continue to be invoiced with payment terms. Red: overdue credits or insufficient guarantees exist, imports are only possible with immediate payment at customs.
Risk-based guarantees
Companies based in Switzerland or Liechtenstein are not, in principle, required to provide guarantees, unless they present a high risk. For companies based abroad, guarantees are required due to the limited possibilities for debt recovery, or imports must be paid directly at customs.
Documents and archiving
EVVdatacenter retrieves and archives supported documents according to the account configuration and available permissions. Check the flows during the transition.
Access and responsibility
The company remains responsible for onboarding, user permissions and document retention. The portal helps centralise and search the documents that are available.
Check before use
Confirm that the business, GP-ID, roles and permissions are configured and that users can access the requested services.
Timeline
Please note: the FOCBS does not archive on your behalf
The FOCBS does not retain customs documents on behalf of companies. The responsibility for archiving lies entirely with the importer. Access to Chartera Output does not replace the legal obligation to preserve records for ten years. In the event of a tax audit, the absence of documentation may have direct consequences.
During the transition, check for each flow whether documents come from e-dec or PASSAR and whether they are available in your account. The company must verify retrieval and retention.
What to do: two scenarios
Are you already an EZdatacenter client
EZdatacenter can support you in checking onboarding. Complete business registration, GP-ID, roles and permissions; contact us at easy@ezdatacenter.com with operational questions.
Not yet a client
We will assist you fully with registration on the ePortal. Once completed, you will receive an onboarding code by post. Via Microsoft Teams, we will guide you through the registration process. This does not bind you to EZdatacenter nor does it entail any obligation to take out a subscription.
What EZdatacenter does during the transition
Assisted registration on ePortal and GP-ID
Support with registration, GP-ID verification and assignment of the required roles and permissions.
Automatic retrieval from both systems
Automatic retrieval of supported documents from e-dec and PASSAR according to the account and configured access.
Compliant archiving for 10 years
Digital preservation with a signature compliant with Swiss law, on proprietary servers in Switzerland. One portal for available documents.
Historical document recovery
Review and organisation of the historical documents available for your archive.
Glossary
Source: FOCBS/BAZG – bazg.admin.ch · public source update: 7 September 2026. Original publication: February 2026.