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Export is a massive focus for us here at the Chamber, and we can connect you to a range of solutions that smooth the passage of your offering into territories outside the UK. Everything from export documentation to research and overseas visits, consular services, translation, and interpreting.

But export isn’t always about shipping abroad in volume. If you take goods overseas – temporarily, including things like exhibition kit, professional equipment, or commercial samples, they’re classed as exports or imports too - and you could find yourself paying customs duties or taxes on them.

This is why our latest addition to our export services portfolio is ATA Carnet – a convenient and effective way of protecting your temporary exports or imports from customs costs at each border they cross.

What is ATA Carnet – and how does it work?

ATA stands for ‘Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission’, and ‘carnet’ simply means a booklet.

So, the ATA Carnet is a booklet that contains pre-prepared customs declaration forms, and a set of vouchers that cover every instance of your bringing specific goods into, or taking goods out of, a country temporarily.

Essentially, it’s a passport for your goods – a single document for use at all borders.

The ATA Carnet is a truly international scheme, and is accepted (with some variations in which items are covered) in scores of countries across the world, as shown on the Government’s website.

Who can benefit from an ATA Carnet?

Use of an ATA Carnet is open to anyone transporting the kind of goods mentioned  above.

You could be a salesperson, for example, with a device in tow that will be used for demos on a trade show stand, or to customers. You might be an artist transporting samples of your work, or an athlete taking sports equipment to their next tournament.

You might even be part of a TV crew, or a technician, moving the sophisticated and expensive tools of your trade over an international border.

In all these instances - and any others where the export or import of goods is temporary only, and they will be returned to their country of export - the ATA Carnet will save you money (no customs duties payable) as well as time and convenience (no need to complete each country’s own customs declarations at each border). 

Applying for an ATA Carnet

An ATA Carnet is valid for one year and allows for movement of the goods shown on the Carnet as many times as required, to any of the destinations applied for.

It’s a very flexible document in these respects, and we’ve also made it easy for you to apply for, through the eCert online application portal, and with expert support from our team to help you through the application process.

Don’t put up with unnecessary customs duties or time-consuming administration when you’re transporting goods over borders temporarily – apply for your ATA Carnet today!

For more information contact our Global Team on 01582 522448 and at export@chamber-business.com, or visit www.chamber-business.com/exporting/atacarnet