Trade Documentation

ATA Carnet

The ATA Carnet is an international customs document that permits duty-free and tax-free temporary import of goods for up to one year. It contains pre-prepared unified customs declaration forms to be used at each customs border offices and serves as a guarantee to customs duties and taxes.

With an ATA Carnet, exhibitors, salespeople, artists, athletes, TV crews, technicians, event participants and business travellers may travel through customs without paying import duties or taxes at each customs border office.

LCCI has an experienced team of experts on hand to support you through the process of applying for and purchasing an ATA Carnet.

What is an ATA Carnet

The ATA Carnet is an international Customs document which allows the temporary importation of commercial samples, professional equipment or goods going to either a trade fair or exhibition to countries which are part of the ATA Carnet system. Without one you would need to complete each country’s customs procedures for the temporary admission of goods e.g. lodging a temporary import bond.

The ATA Carnet acts as a passport for goods. It simplifies the custom formalities by allowing a single document to be used for clearing goods through customs in the countries that are part of the ATA Carnet system. An ATA Carnet is valid for 1 year and allows for movement of the goods shown on the Carnet as many times as required during the 12 months to any of the destinations applied for.

Passport for goods

The EC/CPD/China - Taiwan Carnet

The EC/CPD/China - Taiwan Carnet covers goods temporarily imported/exported between the UK and Taiwan. Other than a different colour code and A4 format to distinguish it from the ATA Carnet, the conditions for its use, the goods for which it can be used, and customs procedures are identical.

UK National ATA Carnet Organisation (UKNATACO)

UKNATACO is ultimately responsible for all ATA Carnets issued from the UK as well as guaranteeing in-bound Carnets – those that are issued overseas and which relate to goods coming into the UK under the scheme.

Applying for an ATA Carnet

Apply for an ATA Carnet through LCCI's ecarnet system

LCCI's ecarnet system will allow you to complete the application online and pay any applicable charges. The Carnet can either be posted to you or it can be collected from the issuing office.

To complete this process, you will be directed to a third party website called ecarnet.co.uk. Rest assured, this website is owned and managed by LCCI.

Log In or Create an Account

Click the link below based on your customer type. You will be directed to the ecarnet.co.uk to create an account.

Applying for a Taiwan Carnet

Download Template

Download the CPD/China -Taiwan template and complete relevant boxes

Email

Email the template so that we can verify whether the application has been completed correctly

Payment

LCCI send you a quote for the issuing fee and security as well as the relevant forms to be completed and signed.

Once the forms and payment have been received, we will release your CPD/China-Taiwan Carnet.

ATA Carnet Price Guide

LCCI members can benefit from discounted rates.

In all cases Carnet holders are required to provide a security which relates to the value of the goods being temporarily exported. Click the link below to obtain a CSS security quote.

For further information on security and the available options, please refer to our FAQs section below.

CSS security quote

Member/Non-Member	Price	VAT	Total
ATA Carnet	Member	£206.00	£41.20	£247.20
ATA Carnet	Non-member	£342.00	£68.40	£410.40
Taiwan Carnet	Member	£206.00	£41.20	£247.20
Taiwan Carnet	Non-member	£342.00	£68.40	£410.40
Express Service	Member	£412.00	£82.40	£494.40
Express Service	Non-member	£548.00	£109.60	£657.60

What our Members are Saying

LCCI has helped us understand the changes required for temporarily importing goods into the EU since Brexit and assist us with documentation for permanent exports.

Meghann Whattam

Carnet and Customs Coordinator, McLaren

1. How do I apply for an ATA Carnet?

To obtain a Carnet, you need to submit an online application through our ecarnet system. You will be able to declare all the goods you need the Carnet to cover and pay for any applicable fees.

Note Carnets are physical documents that will need to be printed by our officers. Once issued, the Carnet can either be posted to you or it can be collected from the issuing office.

If you apply for an ATA Carnet from the Hounslow Branch, this is collection only from the Hounslow Branch. If you apply for a Carnet through the City Branch, this can be posted out to you or collected from the City Branch.

2. What can an ATA Carnet be used for?

The ATA Carnet is a temporary admission document which acts as a passport for goods for three main categories of goods:

Commercial samples (goods to be shown or demonstrated to potential buyers i.e. jewellery, clothing etc)
Goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, shows, conferences, works of art to be exhibited at galleries and museums etc
Professional equipment (tools and equipment required to perform a paid commercial activity abroad, goods for testing and evaluation, theatrical effects, orchestras, racing vehicles*, broadcasting equipment, specially adapted vehicles** etc). Horses for racing purposes, commercial shows or breeding. Professional equipment must be used by, or under the personal supervision of the holder or his nominated representative

*Carnets can only be issued for racing vehicles that are transported to the EU or any other Carnet country under transport contract (i.e. by freight forwarder / haulier). Any such vehicles can only be used on a dedicated race-track or on the roads closed to public. If the vehicle is road worthy and is being driven to the country of destination by the owner– then the Carnet is not required (the same applies to personal vehicles being towed or transported by the owner (i.e. motorbike transported to EU in a van by the owner; car being towed behind a motorhome vehicle driven by the owner etc).

** Specially adapted vehicles can be driven on public roads and include any vehicle with permanently fitted equipment (i.e. broadcasting vans, exhibition trailers, water filter trucks etc).

3. How many times can an ATA Carnet be used?

An ATA Carnet can be used for multiple visits to any number of countries specified in the itinerary during the period of the validity of the document.

4. How do I use an ATA Carnet?

We have created a guide to assist ATA Carnet holders with using the document correctly. This will help with minimising the exposure to potential claims from the foreign Customs.

How to use ATA Carnet

5. What countries can I use an ATA Carnet for?

A. Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Australia (includes Tasmania), Azores (select European Union as destination)

B. Bahrain, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana

C. Canada, Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, China, Chile, Corsica (select "European Union" as destination)

EU European Union (when applying for a Carnet to any of the 27 Member States, select "European Union" as destination in the system). If the goods are being driven to EU and are going to any MS other than France, then the Holder should also apply for an additional visit + a couple of transits (in addition to their intended visit) in case both the French Customs and the Destination Customs decide to endorse the Carnet. Additional visits / transits are not required if flying.

F. Faroe Islands

FR French overseas departments and territories (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane and Reunion, New Caledonia and its dependents of Wallis and Futuna Islands, French Polynesia (includes Tahiti) as well as St Barthelemy, St Martin, Mayotte and Saint Pierre et Miquelon).

G. Gibraltar

H. Hong Kong

I. Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Ivory Coast

J. Japan

K. Kazakhstan, Korea (Republic of), Kuala Lumpur (select Malaysia as destination)

L. Lebanon, Lesotho, Liechtenstein

M. Macao, Macedonia, Madagascar, Madeira (select European Union as destination), Malaysia (includes Kuala Lumpur, Sabah and Sarawak), Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco (select "European Union" as destination), Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco

N. Namibia, New Zealand, Norway

P. Pakistan

Q. Qatar

R. Russian Federation

S. Sabah (select Malaysia as destination), Sarawak (select Malaysia as destination), Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, SACCU (select Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia or Swaziland as destination), Sri Lanka, Switzerland (includes Liechtenstein)

T. Taiwan (not covered by ATA Carnet; a separate Carnet is available from London Chamber), Tasmania (select Australia as destination), Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey

U. Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, USA (includes District of Columbia and Puerto Rico)

V. Vietnam

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