ATA Carnet

The ATA Carnet is an international, unified customs document. Under a series of customs conventions, it simplifies customs procedures for the temporary duty free admission of three main categories of goods traded internationally:

• commercial samples;
• goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, shows, exhibitions or similar events; and
• professional equipment.

Essentially the ATA Carnet is a merchandise passport that facilitates travel with goods, into foreign countries, making travelling abroad easy and hassle-free. The ATA Carnet can be used for unlimited entries and exits from foreign countries and Canada for up to one year.

Eligibility Criteria

The ATA Carnet service is available to travelling business/sales executives, overseas exhibitors and travelling professionals such as film crews, architects, artists, engineers, entertainers, photographers, sports teams, etc.

Many exhibitors in trade fairs use carnets to cover products being demonstrated. Surgeons, architects, artists, engineers can cover valuable instruments, plans and drawings.

Typical Articles Covered by a Carnet
Virtually all goods can be included on a carnet. The three main categories are:

• commercial samples;
• professional equipment; and
• goods for tradeshows and exhibitions.

Typical articles covered include: antiques, machinery, machine-tools, catering equipment, footwear, toys, computers, office equipment, transformers, electric generators, electrical/electronic and scientific equipment, surgical and dental equipment, jewellery and articles of precious metal/stones, “hi-fi”, audio-visual, photographic and filming equipment, lasers, musical instruments and records, display material, aircrafts, films, motor vehicles and accessories, racing engine machinery, heating and lighting equipment, agricultural machinery, furniture, crockery, paintings and other works of art, umbrellas, race-horses, suitcases, perfume, theatrical effects and sets, concert and musical instruments, leather and sport goods, clothing, yachts and boats, display stands.

Certain goods cannot be covered by carnets such as disposable items or consumable goods, including food items.

Summary

An ATA Carnet saves time, effort and money: it facilitates international business by eliminating extensive customs procedures, the payment of duties and/or value-added taxes, and the purchase of temporary import bonds. The carnet is recognized in over 58 countries and territories worldwide. The carnet eliminates red tape, usually synonymous with travelling abroad.

With a carnet travellers can:

• use a single document for all customs transactions;
• make advance customs arrangements to several countries at a predetermined cost;
• make an unlimited number of trips within the ATA Carnet’s one-year window of validity;
• re-enter Canada without problems or delays.

A single carnet enables you to visit an unlimited number of ATA countries during its one-year period of validity. You do not need to have your goods with you; they can be sent ahead if you prefer. Your goods can also enter and leave countries at different points.

The ATA Carnet is a simple international customs document with two vouchers for presentation for each foreign country you wish to visit, and two vouchers for presentation to customs when leaving and returning to Canada. You give one voucher to the foreign customs officials when you enter their country and the other when you leave it – the same applies when exiting and entering Canada.

Cost

There is a basic processing fee that is determined by the value of the shipment, number of countries to be visited and total trips taken. It ranges from $110 to $500.

In addition to the processing fee, each applicant must provide the Canadian Chamber of Commerce with security, equivalent to 40% of the value of the goods being exported, but this may vary depending on the nature of the goods and/or the countries being visited.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
See National Contact.

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National Contact(s):
Carnet and Document Certification Services
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Suite 420
360 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario  K1R 7X7
Telephone: 613-238-4000
Fax: 613-238-7643
Toll-free (information): 1-800-661-2930
E-mail: carnetottawa@chamber.ca
Web site: http://www.chamber.ca/article.asp?id=259