What is Carnet? | Traveling with Film Gear

Carnet 101

ATA Carnet

Temporary importation provisions are an important tool for companies who want to show their products in foreign markets or for professionals bringing tools of the trade into a foreign country for a limited period of time.

Last Published: 5/6/2016

What Is An ATA Carnet?

ATA Carnet (aka "Merchandise Passport") is an international customs document accepted by 80 countries and territories. ATA Carnet allows temporary entry of goods, duty-free and tax-free, whether shipped or hand-carried. ATA Carnet system was established by international ATA convention and is governed by World Customs Organization and International Chamber of Commerce and its World Chambers Federation to encourage world trade and reduce trade barriers created by different national customs regulations. The initials "ATA" are from the French and English words "Admission Temporaire/ Temporary Admission." U.S. Customs appointed US Council for International Business as National Guaranteeing Association (NGA).

Companies are required to present carnet documentation to U. S.Customs when leaving the country and upon entry into and exit from the foreign country. Upon return, the company must again show the carnet document to U. S. Customs for duty-free entry back into the United States. The ATA Carnet also serves as the registration of goods for the U.S. and eliminates the need for a U.S. Customs Certificate of Registration Form 4455. ATA Carnets cover most personal and professional goods, including commercial samples, professional equipment and goods intended for use at trade shows and exhibitions.

The ATA Carnets do not cover consumable or disposable items. They are also not recommended for situations where some of the products taken abroad may be sold in a foreign country. However, they are particularly useful when a product may “travel” to several countries prior to being returned to the United States.

What are the benefits of the ATA Carnet?

- Eliminate duties and value-added taxes (VAT);

- Simplify customs procedures allowing a temporary exporter to use a single document for all customs transactions, make arrangements in advance, and at a predetermined cost;

- Allow for an unlimited entries/departures for up to one year;

- Facilitate reentry into the U.S. by eliminating the need to register the goods with U.S. Customs at the time of departure;

- Eliminate need to file an Electronic Export Information form (former Shipper’s Export Declaration) except for those exports that require an export license;

- Eliminate the need for Temporary Importation Under Bond (TIB).

Note of caution: ATA Carnets DO NOT exempt the holders from obtaining necessary licenses or permits.)

What Countries Accept the Carnet?

The ATA Carnet can be used in over ninety countries and territories, but each country has its own rules and requirements. Be sure to review the specific information for all the countries that you may be visiting.

You may still use a Carnet as your U.S. registration of goods even when traveling to a country that does not accept Carnets.

Albania

Algeria

Andorra

Antarctica

Aruba

Australia

Austria

Bahrain

Bailiwick of Guernsey

Balaeric Isles

Belarus

Belgium

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Botswana

Bulgaria

Canada

Canary Islands

Ceuta

China

Chile

Corsica

Croatia

Curacao

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

European Union

Finland

France

French Guiana

French Polynesia

Germany

Gibraltar

Greece

Guernsey

Hong Kong

Hungary

Iceland

India

Indonesia

Iran

Ireland

Isle of Man

Israel

Italy

Ivory Coast

Japan

Jersey

Korea

Latvia

Lebanon

Lesotho

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macao, China

Macedonia

Madagascar

Malaysia

Malta

Martinique

Mauritius

Mayotte

Melilla

Mexico

Miquelon

Moldova

Monaco

Mongolia

Namibia

Netherlands

New Caledonia

New Zealand

Norway

Pakistan

Poland

Portugal

Puerto Rico

Reunion Island

Romania

Russia

St. Barthelemy

St. Martin

St. Pierre

Senegal

Serbia

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Africa

Spain

Sri Lanka

Swaziland

Sweden

Switzerland

Tahiti

Taiwan

Tasmania

Thailand

Tunisia

Turkey

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

Guadeloupe

Guam

Montenegro

Morocco

United States

Wallis-Futuna Islands

[Leberteich]

Brexit has been very educational to us in the UK. We learnt so many fascinating new things about documentation we didn't need before.

[jonathanblanckaert]

I go to Tunesia (from belgium) next week and would like to take my fx3 with some lenses and shotgunmicrophone to make a travelvideo. Do you think i need to fill in an ATA carnet? Would appreciate some advice, thanks!

[ZacharySound]

Can you please tell me if this applies to ONLY filming gear? What about professional audio equipment (for personal use) do you need an ATA Carnet?

[ronbackal]

I was just looking for information here!

[customsbrokershanghai]

Thank you so much for professional explaination.

[SyncAndPost]

this was very informative. Thanks! keep up the great content

[karankohli]

Applying for carnet is chargeable of its free of cost ?

[engp]

Very good post.
I work as a prof. Cameraman for Belgian TV.
We travel often with carnet.
But we don't use serial numbers, just use type of camera, for instance Panasonic AJ-270p That's enough.
Most countries except that.
In fact the country's that don't use carnet, Egypt for instance ask for serial numbers.
One more small tip, if you can travel under the radar don't use carnet.

[seandykink]

How do you determine the value of the gear for the Carnet list? I have some new gear and some used but even now it's not worth what I originally paid for it or what it's listed as new. What did you end up doing for this? And how do you provide proof (if needed) of the current value of each piece of gear? Thanks!!

[MishMixVarietyChannel]

If I'm bringing a small Mavic 2 Pro for a trip to do vlogging would I need one or would it be under the radar?

[Babbigoes]

it really helped me doing some academic stuffs, thanks

[nikolaspetrouu]

Hello i would like to travel to India with a drone and im not sure if i am aloud to bring it in the country so with this Carnet will i be ok to bring it in ?