ATA Carnet

Carnets save time, money and red tape whenever your goods cross a border. Without ATA Carnet, temporarily taking goods abroad typically means navigating each country’s customs procedures, completing separate paperwork and paying a deposit at every border, which is refunded only after the goods leave. ATA Carnet replaces this with a single document. 

The validity date is stipulated in your Carnet. An ATA Carnet is valid for multiple trips and destinations for up to one year. Issuing/guaranteeing association may shorten the validity date when appropriate.

Using an ATA Carnet is straightforward.

1. Apply. Contact the ATA Carnet issuing association in your country (see our directory). Submit application andlist the goods you plan to take abroad, with accurate description, value and quantity.. 

2. Provide a security. Lodge a financial guarantee with your issuing organisation. This single security replaces the deposits you would otherwise pay at each border and is released upon return, provided that all temporary admission conditions have been met. 

3. Present your ATA Carnet at every border. Show your ATA Carnet and your goods to customs each time you leave your country, enter a foreign country, leave it again and return home. Customs records each crossing on the carnet. With the digital eATA, this is done on the ATA Carnet App, with declarations submitted via QR code at the border. In case of partial shipments, ensure that the declared items match those shipped. 

4. Bring your goods back. Make sure all goods declared are re-exported and re-imported before the time limit granted by Customs authorities. Goods must leave each country in the same condition in which they entered and cannot be sold or given away without Customs’ permission to terminate the temporary admission procedure. 

5. Return the ATA Carnet. Once your journey is complete, return the carnet to your issuing organisation to close it and release your security.