In line with its plan to modernize customs management in a sustained manner and reaffirming its commitment to the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), Guatemala presented the new Air Clearance 2026 model on Thursday (March 5, 2026). This digitized system seeks to facilitate, expedite, and make customs processes more transparent, benefiting importers, exporters, and all actors in the country’s logistics chain.
Comprehensive modernization of the customs system
During the presentation, the Superintendent Werner Ovalle He explained that the model seeks to adapt Guatemalan customs management to international standards, promoting efficiency and security in foreign trade: «With this new model, every item will have digital traceability throughout its entire process. Paperwork is eliminated, processing times are streamlined, and security is guaranteed through interoperability between the SAT (Tax Administration Service), Temporary Customs Warehouses, and logistics operators.“, he claimed.
The project incorporates recommendations from the World Customs Organization (WCO) and addresses requests from the private sector, consolidating an agile, secure and transparent system.
360° Model: Complete coverage of the logistics chain
According to the official launch of the Air Dispatch Model 2026, the system covers the four main customs components: cargo management and permitted operations, export process, courier process, and import process.
The model offers interoperability with temporary customs warehouses and trade operators, comprehensive cargo traceability, elimination of paper use, risk management-based monitoring, and robust and agile support for all actors in the logistics chain.
Digital features and benefits
The system incorporates seven new digital functionalities that modernize customs operations, including a Centralized Management Platform that eliminates the use of paper, electronic notices and notifications without physical presence, an electronic file to digitize procedures, electronic control in the entry and exit of cargo, a virtual agency with 24/7 access for requests and inquiries, real-time traceability of all processes, and interoperability between SAT (Superintendency of Tax Administration), DAT (Temporary Customs Warehouse) and AGEXPORT (Guatemalan Exporters Association) for efficient coordination with all logistics actors.
Ovalle highlighted that with this modernization, users will be able to carry out most of the procedures from the SATGT application, avoiding travel and speeding up processes that previously could take up to three days. reducing them now to approximately five minutes.
Import and export process
Customs digitization allows the imports They feature real-time traceability, reduced processing times, and the elimination of discretion, while the exports They benefit from automated processes, electronic shipment authorization, cargo dispatch control, and requests through the Virtual Agency. The implementation schedule began in May of 2025 at the DHL facility and was completed in January 2026 with the integration into DAT COMBEX-IM, consolidating the unification of cargo under the same air waybill and consignee.
Courier process and risk-based management
The Courier process digitizes documents and records, enabling self-management and real-time interoperability with the DAT, it incorporates risk-based care with automatic authorizations, and guarantees full cargo traceabilityreducing times by eliminating manual sorting.
The model will allow Guatemala to streamline and secure its foreign trade, strengthen its regional competitiveness, optimize revenue collection and risk management, and consolidate the SAT (Tax Administration Superintendency) as a leader in customs modernization, according to Werner Ovalle. This launch provides a better understanding of technological advancements and how they contribute to optimizing customs operations in Guatemala, a Central American country.
