What is an ATA Carnet?
The ATA Carnet is a temporary admission document which acts as a “passport for goods”.
Using an ATA Carnet cuts out red tape at border points avoiding cash deposits and other delays in the country of temporary importation. It can be used for multiple trips and is valid for up to one year.
The ATA Carnet provides a guarantee to the Customs of a foreign country that all duties, taxes etc. will be paid to them if the conditions are breached.
The issuing Chamber must receive security from the Carnet user. This security must be for an amount equal to the highest rate of duty or taxes applicable. It will disregard any preferential tariffs that may be in force at the time as Customs authorities may themselves ignore such preferential rates.
What can an ATA Carnet be used for?
You can use a Carnet for almost anything, computers, musical equipment, race horses, electrical equipment, machinery and so on. Your goods must be categorised under one of these three headings:
- a) Commercial samples
- b) Exhibition use / trade fair (or similar events)
- c) Professional equipment
A Carnet may not be used for:
- Goods to be hired out or sold for financial gain
- Perishable or consumable items (as these would not be re-imported)
- Goods which are for processing or repair
- Goods on which a CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) refund will be claimed
- Goods used as a means of transport (cars, motorcycles etc)
- Equipment to be used for construction, repair or maintenance (of buildings/earthmoving projects)
What countries can an ATA Carnet be used for?
A carnet can be used for any of the following countries:
| Albania (AL) | Algeria (AZ) | Andorra (AD) |
| Australia (AU) | Bahrain (BH)* | Belarus (BY) |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina (BA) | Canada (CA) * | |
| Canary Islands (IC) | Chile (CL) | China (CN) * |
| Cote D’Ivoire (CI) | European Union (EU)* | Gibraltar (GI) |
| Hong Kong (HK) | Iceland (IS) | India (IN)* |
| Indonesia (ID) | Iran (IR) | Israel (IL)* |
| Japan (JP) | Kazakhstan (KZ) | Korea, Republic of (KR) |
| Lebanon (LB) | Macao (MO) | Madagascar (MG) |
| Malaysia (MY) | Mauritius (MU) | Mexico (MX) * |
| Moldova (MD) | Mongolia (MN) * | Montenegro (ME) |
| Morocco (MA) * | New Zealand (NZ) | North Macedonia (MK) |
| Norway (NO) | Pakistan (PK) * | Peru* |
| Philippines | Qatar (QA) * | Russia Federation (RU)* |
| Saudi Arabia | Senegal (SN) | Serbia (CS) |
| Singapore (SG) | South Africa (ZA) | Sri Lanka (LK) |
| Switzerland (CH) * | Taiwan (TW) * | Thailand (TH) |
| Tunisia (TN) * | Türkiye (TR) * | UAE (AE) * |
| Ukraine (UA) | USA (US) * | Vietnam (VN)* |
*Additional Country Notes
| – | Bahrain (BH) – Category B only |
| – | Canada (CA) – Category A only, letter of responsibility required on your company’s headed paper for category C. |
| – | Canary Islands (IC) – Compulsory in Canaries, Ceuta and Melilla. |
| – | China (CN) – All carnets used in China must be registered with the Chinese customs database. Carnets for hand carried goods must be registered with CCPIT. Carnets for freighted goods will need to be pre-declared by the Chinese customs broker before goods arrive – http://atachina.org/english/index.do |
| – | European Union (EU) – All vehicles travelling via Dover or Folkestone must use an Inland Border Facility (usually Sevington – use IBF app to pre-notify HMRC). GMR is mandatory for all vehicles using freight channel or shipping goods under transport contract. |
| – | India (IN) – Category B for ITPO approved Trade Fairs/Exhibitions. (Invite needed.) Category C for maximum 2 months only. Exhibitions 6 months max. |
| – | Indonesia (ID) – Category B & C only |
| – | Kazakhstan (KZ) – Category B & C only at present |
| – | Lebanon (LB) – Category B & C only |
| – | Mexico (MX) – Translation of goods into Spanish required. Notify Mexican customs before departure through CANACO website. |
| – | Mongolia (MN) – Category B & C only |
| – | Morocco (MA) – Category B only, letter of responsibility required on your company’s headed paper for other categories. |
| – | Pakistan (PK) – Category B & C only |
| – | Peru – Category (b) and (c) only at present |
| – | Qatar (QA) – Category B only. |
| – | Russian Federation (RU) – Carnets are not currently being issued to Russia due to the ongoing situation. |
| – | Saudi Arabia – Sports Equipment is not accepted on ATA Carnets. All Carnets must be pre-cleared by ZATCA |
| – | South Africa (ZA) – Carnets are valid in the entire SACU territory |
| – | Switzerland (CH) – 3 pairs of transit vouchers per trip required. |
| – | Taiwan (TW) – EC/CPD/China-Taiwan Carnet needed. |
| – | Tunisia (TN) – Category B & C only. |
| – | Türkiye (TR) – Turkish agent must appear in box B. Only named representatives / agents listed in box B will be allowed to sign the importation and re-exportation declarations in boxes F. General list should be carried on a USB stick in Excel format. |
| – | UAE (AE) – Category B only. |
| – | USA (US) – Category A & C only. Shipments via ocean vessel are required to have an Importer Security Filing (ISF) filed by an ISF importer. While two of the required data elements are from the ocean carrier, 10 others are required from the ISF importer. ATA Carnets are exempt from the ISF bond requirement. |
| – | Vietnam (VN) – Category B only (Partial consignments are allowed provided all the goods are re-exported in one consignment) |
How does it work?
The Carnet is a simple international Customs document with vouchers for presentation to each country you visit. The yellow ‘exp’ is for exportation out of the UK, white ‘imp’ for importation into your destination country, white ‘re-exp’ to come out of your destination country and yellow ‘re-imp’ for importation back into the UK. You may also have blue ‘tra’ vouchers, which are required for transit or exhibition purposes. Customs will keep these vouchers and stamp the relevant counterfoil, and when you have completed your trip you will return all the stamped counterfoils to us plus any remaining vouchers you have not used.
Downloadable Forms & Templates
Select Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce,Heathrow from the chamber list
Talk to us
For more information, call us directly on 0208 564 6300, email carnet@tvchamber.co.uk or fill in the form below.