The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) is switching off e-dec Import. With the new Passar 2.0 platform and the Business Partner ID (GP-ID), several things are changing for importers – and the need to act is concrete. This overview shows what has to be done, and by when.
The timeline
What is new?
Business Partner ID (GP-ID) replaces the ZAZ account
The GP-ID is your new identity in the Passar system. It is uniquely linked to your UID – there is only one GP-ID per UID. Important: there is no automatic migration. You have to register yourself in the federal ePortal and apply for a GP-ID.
Finanzas: the new finance portal
From the second half of 2026, the FOCBS will provide a digital finance portal. There you can see at a glance: open invoices, deposited securities and – new – your debtor status. That is the crucial point: your status decides whether you may clear goods on account at the border, or whether you have to pay immediately.
Debtor status (the traffic-light principle)
- Green = You may clear on account
- Red = Immediate payment required (e.g. for overdue receivables)
In contrast to the old ZAZ account, there is no longer a full block. Your status is continuously reassessed.
The transition phase: e-dec and Passar in parallel
Until April 2027, both systems will run side by side. Your customs agent (forwarder, courier) decides which system is used. This has consequences:
Clarify with your customs agent when they will switch over. This determines from when you have to obtain your documents via the ePortal instead of by e-mail or post.
Your action steps
Immediate (by 3rd Quarter 2026)
- Apply for the GP-ID: register in the federal ePortal. Check your contact details in the Customs Client Administration (ZKV) beforehand, as the FOCBS will write to you at these addresses.
- Review ZAZ securities: are there still deposits in place? If so, clarify with the FOCBS whether these are still required under Passar. In contrast to companies domiciled in Switzerland, foreign companies are subject to a mandatory security obligation.
Medium-term (by 1st Quarter 2027)
- Check your clearance software: contact your software provider and ask about support for Passar 2.0.
- Prepare your ERP systems: set up interfaces for retrieving documents via the ePortal and Chartera.
- Adjust your accounting: in future, all invoices and assessment decisions will be made available digitally via the ePortal. Adapt your internal processes accordingly.
- Train your team: customs and logistics staff should be familiar with the ePortal and the new debtor-status principle.
Strategic (ongoing)
- Review your customs and VAT processes: under Passar, the assessment is issued immediately. Corrections become more onerous. Now is the right moment to reduce sources of error (customs tariff numbers, origin declarations, address data).
- Monitor your debtor status: keep an eye on your status. This is how you avoid surprises at the border and payment defaults.
Conclusion
Passar 2.0 brings more transparency and control, but also more personal responsibility. The key is to register by 3rd Quarter 2026 and to use the transition phase to adapt your systems. Anyone who acts now will navigate the migration up to April 2027 considerably more calmly.