About ATA Carnets

Carnets, also known as "Passports for Goods" or "Merchandise Passports" are the easiest way to speed through Customs and to save money.

What is an ATA Carnet?

The ATA Carnet is an international customs document that permits the duty-free and tax-free temporary export and import of goods for up to one year. The Initials "ATA" are an acronym of the French and English words "Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission".

ATA Carnets cover:

  • Commercial samples
  • Professional equipment
  • Goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, shows, exhibitions and the like.

That means almost everything from the ordinary to the extraordinary, the usual and unusual : computers, repair tools, photographic and film equipment, musical instruments, industrial machinery, vehicles, jewellery, clothing, medical appliances and aircraft, race horses, old masters, prehistoric relics, ballet costumes and rock group sound systems, etc.

If you can name it and it is not consumable or perishable, then it can probably be covered by an ATA Carnet.

How an ATA Carnet works?

The ATA Carnet is composed of a front and back covers and includes two sheets for presentation at each foreign country you are visiting and two sheets for presentation to customs when leaving and returning to your home country.

You give one sheet to the foreign customs officials when you enter their country and the other when you leave it. The same applies when exiting and entering your own country.

How can ATA Carnets help businessmen?

Armed with your ATA Carnet, you can:

  • make advance customs arrangements at a predetermined cost
  • visit several countries
  • use your ATA Carnet for several trips during its one-year validity
  • return to your home country with your goods without problems or delays

ATA Carnet sample

ATA Carnets