URL: https://carnet-ata-for-robotics.com/switzerland/zurich-airport Last reviewed: 2026-06-11 Summary: Getting an ATA Carnet stamped at Zurich Airport (ZRH): the landside customs office at Check-in 1, opening hours for export and import, the checked-baggage procedure, and air freight, with official links. # ATA Carnet at Zurich Airport Flying out of Zurich with a robot in your luggage? The customs stop comes **before check-in**, at the landside customs office in the Check-in 1 area. Plan 30–45 extra minutes. Here's exactly where to go, when it's open, and how the checked-bag procedure works. ## Where: the landside customs office at Check-in 1 Zurich Airport has two customs counters run by the customs office "Zoll Nordost – Zürich-Flughafen": - **Customs, Public Area (landside)** - in the **Check-in 1** area, reachable without a boarding pass. *This is your office for export stamps before departure.* - **Customs, Passenger Area (airside)** - in the Airside Center, after security. For arrivals with goods to declare (import stamp), use the **red channel in Terminal 2 arrivals**. **Zoll Nordost – Zürich-Flughafen (customs office ZRH, CH002771)** - Address: Customs counters: Check-in 1 (landside) and Airside Center, 8058 Zürich-Flughafen - Opening hours: - Note: Hours as published 11 June 2026. The airport lists import until 23:30; the customs directory remark says 24:00. Count on 23:30. - Phone: +41 58 480 64 01 - Email: zoll.zuerich_flughafen@bazg.admin.ch - Official links: - [Official office entry - BAZG customs directory](https://dst.bazg.admin.ch/?lang=1) - [Zurich Airport - customs (Public Area) page](https://www.flughafen-zuerich.ch/en/passengers/shopping-and-enjoy/services/all-services/zoll-checkin-1) - [Zurich Airport - customs (Passenger Area) page](https://www.flughafen-zuerich.ch/en/passengers/shopping-and-enjoy/services/all-services/zoll-airside-center) > **⚠️ New carnet? Weekend flight? Activate before you fly.** > > A brand-new carnet can only be activated ("first use") at ZRH during weekday office hours and Saturday morning. If your flight is on a Sunday or in the evening, have the carnet activated in advance. Any commercial customs office can do it days before the trip, and afterwards the much longer "opened carnet" hours (daily 06:00–22:00 for export) apply to you. ## The procedure when flying out 1. **Arrive early.** Customs first, then check-in. 2. **Hand luggage only:** take goods + carnet (or the carnet app QR code) to the landside customs office at Check-in 1. The officer checks the goods against the General List, stamps the yellow export counterfoil and keeps the voucher. 3. **Goods in checked baggage:** the procedure documented by Swiss chambers for ZRH: check in only your private bags first, have the bag containing carnet goods **tagged at check-in but keep it with you**, take it to customs for inspection and stamping, after which the bag is loaded onto the aircraft. 4. **Coming back:** after baggage reclaim, walk through the **red channel (Terminal 2)** and get the yellow re-import stamp. Don't skip this even when you're tired. It's your proof against later claims. ## Air freight If the robot flies as cargo, the same customs office handles the carnet on the freight side (commercial counter: Mon–Fri 07:30–12:00 and 12:45–17:30, Sat 07:30–12:00 for air-freight only; parcels address: OPC 1, Eingang A, 8058 Zürich-Flughafen). Your forwarder needs the carnet (or app access) and a power of attorney - see [freight forwarder or hand-carry](https://carnet-ata-for-robotics.com/ata-carnet-for-robotics). ## Good to know - The general customs info line is +41 58 467 15 15 (Mon–Fri 08:00–11:30, 13:30–17:00). Call ahead for anything unusual (very large crates, out-of-hours needs). - Vehicles arriving by road for clearance go to the Embrach office (Embraport), not the airport. - Flying onwards within the EU? Your EU import stamp happens at your first EU airport, not in Zurich. ## Sources Every factual claim on this page comes from the sources below, checked on the "last reviewed" date in the footer. Official resources are linked in whatever language they are published in. - [BAZG customs office directory - Zoll Nordost – Zürich-Flughafen (hours, contact, carnet services)](https://dst.bazg.admin.ch/?lang=1) (DE/FR/IT/EN) - [Zurich Airport - Customs (Public Area, Check-in 1)](https://www.flughafen-zuerich.ch/en/passengers/shopping-and-enjoy/services/all-services/zoll-checkin-1) (English) - [Zurich Airport - Customs (Passenger Area, Airside Center)](https://www.flughafen-zuerich.ch/en/passengers/shopping-and-enjoy/services/all-services/zoll-airside-center) (English) - [AIHK - leaflet "Fluggepäck mit Carnet ATA" (checked-baggage procedure at ZRH)](https://www.aihk.ch/fileadmin/dokumente/4_dienstleistungen/exportberatung/themen_export_von_A-Z/Fluggepaeck_mit_Carnet_ATA.pdf) (German, PDF) - [BAZG - air travel: red/green channels](https://www.bazg.admin.ch/en/air-travel-customs-border-crossing) (EN/DE/FR/IT) --- This is an independent guide for robotics companies, not an official government resource. Customs rules, fees, locations and opening hours change, so always confirm details with the linked official sources (customs administrations and chambers of commerce) before you travel.