An ATA Carnet is an international Customs document that operates like a passport for your goods. It allows the temporary importation of goods into countries that are part of the ATA Carnet system and avoids you having to pay unnecessary taxes or duties.
ATA Carnets cover all goods that are leaving the UK and returning within a 12 month period. They do not cover disposable goods that will be used while out of the country or items that will not be returning to the UK.
If your goods are going outside of the UK and into one of the 40+ countries that accepts ATA Carnets and you are going for one of the following reasons:
If this applies to you, you should be using an ATA Carnet. The ATA Carnet simplifies the customs procedure into a single document and makes the importation process much quicker and easier to handle.
As of 1st January 2021, we are now able to issue carnets for the temporary movement of goods to the European Union. Previously, goods have been able to move around Europe without an ATA Carnet thanks to the benefit of Free Movements of Goods that being an EU member granted the UK, but as of 1st January, some form of temporary movement process will now need to be followed.
An ATA Carnet has typically been the quickest and simplest form of this. If you are going out to European exhibitions, taking items to business meetings as commercial samples or if items are going out as professional equipment, for example, lighting and rigging for a band going on tour, you will likely need a carnet.
The cost of an ATA Carnet will differ slightly depending on the service you select upon application. These may include:
Go to our online application serviceCarnet Application and Usage Guide