What is an ATA Carnet?

An ATA Carnet is the simplest duty-free and tax-free method of exporting goods on a temporary basis

Carnets act like 'passports for goods' replacing the need for usual customs documentation.

They allow fast, trouble free importation into countries belonging to the Carnet scheme (see below for a full list of participating countries) without the need to pay duty and/or local tax at the time of import. They can be used for multiple trips, are valid for one year and cover over 80 countries.

Without an ATA Carnet it would be necessary to go through each country's Customs procedures for the temporary admission of goods. 

Carnets can be used for three main categories of goods:

• Commercial samples,
• Professional equipment (tools of the trade)
• Goods for fairs and exhibitions

ATA Carnets guarantee overseas customs authorities that all duties and taxes will be paid to them if the conditions under which they allow the goods into the country are breached.

Chamber International is responsible, through an international chain of guaranteeing associations, for paying any charges that become due on goods covered by Carnets we have issued.  Security is therefore required to accompany your application and is fully refundable as long as the conditions of use have not been breached.  The amount of security we require is equal to the highest rate of duty and taxes applicable to the goods in the country(ies) to which the goods are being despatched.

The amount to the nearest pound can be deposited with Chamber International in one of the following ways: 

(1) Bank Draft/Cash as a deposit of security

(2) Immediate Cover for Security fee using the non-refundable “in-house” Carnet Indemnity Scheme

(3) or a Guarantee from a Bank or insurance company (see the ATA Carnet Application Form & Undertaking for detailed requirements)

Applying for an ATA Carnet

Telephone Chamber International on +44 0845 034 7200 or complete an ATA Carnet Enquiry Form for a quote.

If you need a Carnet urgently ask about our priority completion service.

You can create your own ATA Carnet using our online export documentation platform eCert. Follow online tutorials and field help features throughout the site to guide you as a new user.

Alternatively, if you would like us to take the hassle away from you, we offer a completion service.

Contact the Chamber International Carnet team on +44 0845 034 7200 to get started.

A Carnet may not be used for:

• Goods to be sold or hired out abroad for financial gain

• Perishable or consumable items (as they would not normally be re-exported)  

• Goods which are temporarily exported for processing or repair 

• Goods on which a Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) refund will be claimed  

• Goods used as a means of transport  

• The exportation of unaccompanied goods, or by post  

• Foreign goods temporarily imported into the EC under a Customs Temporary Importation Concession  

• Equipment to be used for the construction, repair or maintenance of buildings or for earthmoving and like projects.

Click here to download the ATA Carnet Application form. 

Click here to download the instructions for using an ATA Carnet.

ATA Carnets prior to Brexit

For alternative methods of temporary export you may use the Duplicate List Procedure or contact the Department for Business and Trade (DBT)

HM Revenue & Customs has introduced various inland sites to take the pressure away from the ports. These sites can process ATA Carnets, CITES, TIR and CTC documentation.

Click here for the up to date list of sites.

HGV traffic will have to use the following service.

Completion of the ATA Carnet Forms

The number of vouchers in a Carnet depends on the route the goods are travelling and the number of countries being visited.  All the forms are in pairs (apart from the green front cover Page 1), each having a specific function (Exp = exportation out of UK. Imp = importation into destination country, Re-exp = re-exportation from the country where the original import was made, Re-imp = re-importation into the UK.  Blue Tra vouchers may also be required for transit or exhibition purposes).  Certain countries do not accept Carnets for all categories.

Geographical Coverage

ATA Carnets are currently operating in the following countries:

Europe

European Union:

Other European countries:

Albania	Moldova	Switzerland (including Liechtenstein)
Andorra	Montenegro	Turkey
Belarus	Norway	United Kingdom
Bosnia & Herzegovina	Republic of Lithuania
Gibraltar	Republic of Macedonia
Iceland	Serbia

Africa and Middle East

Americas

Canada	Mexico	USA (including District of Columbia and Puerto Rico)
Chile	Peru

Asia and Pacific

Australia (including Tasmania)	Japan	New Zealand
China	Kazakhstan	Pakistan
Chinese Taipei	Republic of Korea	Philippines
Hong Kong, China	Macao	Singapore
India	Malaysia	Sri Lanka
Indonesia	Mongolia	Thailand

See Security Rate Chart for country limitations

Letter of Authority

A Carnet may be issued in the name of an individual or a company who must be permanently resident in the United Kingdom.  However, it may be used by any person providing the user carries a letter from the named holder authorising such use. Download the template here.

You may also authorise Agent to present the Carnet to the customs on your behalf, again provided that the Agent holds a Letter of Authority. Box B (Name of accredited person(s) who will use the Carnet) on the Green Front cover and the coloured vouchers would require the following statement: "Any duly authorised representative".

Find out more: frequently asked questions and Carnet completion instructions.

Click here to view the HMRC Public Notice or download our information leaflet

For further details, telephone one of our specialists on +44 0845 034 7200 or via email.

Your Carnet will be returned to you after issue with guidance notes on how to use the document.