The carnet document shall contain a green envelope containing the names of the carnet holder and the national guarantee association, the date of issue of the carnet, the carnet number, the countries in which the carnet may be used and a full description of the goods covered. The yellow sheets in the packaging are used for export from the issuing country and for re-importation into the issuing country. The blank sheets are used for temporary import and export from abroad. Blue leaves are used when passing through countries. Each sheet contains two parts – a counter-sheet that remains in the booklet and describes the actions taken by CBP agents each time they enter or leave a country, and a removable voucher that contains a list of goods covered by the carnet and serves as the required CBP document. Note: Only on notebooks issued in the United States, there are no yellow export or re-import vouchers). Carnets are NOT recommended for goods intended for sale. If part of the goods are sold, the carnets are liable to a penalty of 10% of the amount of duties and taxes in addition to the payment of duties and taxes on the goods sold. USCIB claims processing fees may also apply. The ATA Carnet simplifies U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) formalities associated with the temporary importation of goods into the United States and other countries. Without a carnet, the customs procedures laid down in each country for the temporary admission of goods should be followed.

The carnet allows the business traveller to use a single document for the clearance of certain categories of goods by customs in several different countries. It can be used for an unlimited number of exits and entries in the United States and participating countries during the one-year validity period. Carnets are accepted as an entry document and meet the importer`s obligation to provide security in more than 100 countries and territories around the world. The countries and territories listed are Parties participating in the ATA/Istanbul Convention establishing the ATA Carnet system. Countries are regularly included in the ATA Carnet system. Visit the website of the country you are travelling to to see if notebooks are accepted. The United States acceded to the ATA Convention on December 3, 1968, and the United States Council for International Affairs (USCIB) www.uscib.org has been the national guarantee association for ata carnets since 1969. Companies are required to provide ATA Carnet documents to U.S.

Customs when they leave the country and when they enter and leave abroad. Upon return, the company must resubmit the carnet document to U.S. Customs for duty-free entry into the United States. The carnet also serves as a registration of goods for the United States, eliminating the need for a U.S. Customs Registration Certificate Form 4455. ATA Carnets cover most personal and professional property, including commercial samples, professional equipment and goods intended for use at trade shows and exhibitions. Notebooks do not include consumables or disposable items and are not recommended in situations where certain products shipped abroad may be sold abroad. However, notebooks are especially useful when a product can “travel” to multiple countries before being returned to the United States. They are valid for up to one year, with a possible extension of another year. Exporters can obtain ATA and Carnet bonding services through an online application process. The ATA Carnet is accepted by many countries and territories around the world.

For a complete list of countries and territories covered by carnets, please contact the U.S. Council for International Business (USCIB): For more information on carnets, please call the boomerang Carnet helpline® at (800) ATA-2900/ (800) 282-2900, see LinkedIn ATA Carnet User & Discussion Group, or email us® at Info@ATACarnet.com Shared Shipments Are Allowed, however, items cannot be added to the general list once the booklet has been issued. From a technical point of view, a carnet cannot be extended beyond the period of validity. However, in some cases, foreign customs may authorize the issuance of a replacement carnet to extend the duration of entry of goods into the country of the carnet. In all cases, the replacement carnet must be requested before the expiry of the original carnet. A carnet is valid for up to 1 year from the date of issue, with the exception of exhibitions and fairs, which are valid for 6 months from the date of issue.* Known exceptions to these validity periods are: USCIB or its two designated service providers offer warranty protection for lost carnet forms, stolen or destroyed for a fee. USCIB will immediately issue a replacement to customers with this warranty. The full warranty terms of the carnet are available when you submit an application electronically or contact an ATA carnet consultant for more information. USCIB is located at 1212 Avenue of the Americans, New York, New York 10036-1689, Phone: (212) 354-4480, Fax: (212) 944-0012, Website: www.uscib.org, and has named two notebook issuer service providers, Roanoke Trade 1 (800) 762-6653 and Corporation for International Business, DBA Boomerang Carnets, 1 (800) 282-2900. Contact a service provider for more information about issuing ATA Carnets. Further questions may be directed to USCIB or U.S.

Customs and Border Protection, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20229. Attn: Office of Field Operations, Cargo security and conveyances (202) 344-3969. For goods sold outside the ATA Carnet, a company should contact a local customs office to determine the most appropriate procedure. Some countries, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, strictly control the sale of goods with carnets. In general, local customs will require that goods and ATA Carnets be brought to the local office before the Carnet expires. This is done so that the booklet can be properly relieved and customs duties, taxes and penalties can be paid. Foreign importers who choose to temporarily import goods into the United States must complete U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBPF) Form 3461, “Immediate Entry/Delivery,” or 7501, “Summary of Entry,” to cancel their shipment.

This usually requires you to leave the passenger terminal and go to the cargo entry branch or ask a customs broker to do your homework. The importer must also obtain security from an authorized guarantor. For goods declared under an ATA carnet, no form other than a carnet shall be presented. Examples of goods that may appear on an ATA Carnet: It is the responsibility of the carnet holder to present the carnet to any customs authority on entry into or exit from a country so that the necessary verification and certification of the relevant supporting documents and counter-sheets can be carried out. Otherwise, a claim can be made. A complaint is a notification to a customs authority of the importing country that a violation of the carnet system has occurred and that payment of duties, taxes and penalties is required. It may take two business days for a carnet application to be processed if the application and filing are received by 4:00 p.m. ET. A carnet may be issued and given to an applicant within 1 day if the application is complete and approved before 4 p.m. Centre time. Same-day service is available at an extra cost.

To obtain a carnet, 4 simple steps are required: An ATA carnet is valid for one year from the date of issue. Goods in a carnet may be exported and imported into one of the participating countries and territories as often as necessary during the one-year life of the carnet. The carnet holder may request an extension called a “replacement carnet” and extend the 12-month limit of the original carnet. Replacement carnets are not accepted in all countries and must be requested before the expiry date of the original carnet, and approval is at the discretion of the foreign customs administration. The ATA Carnet system is the most user-friendly temporary import system accepted by about 80 countries. New countries are added, so check with the book issuing agencies to make sure your destination country accepts CARnets ATAs. For countries that do not accept carnets, companies can abandon TIB or apply for duty drawback as an alternative to duty-free importation (check with a customs broker or carrier for your best options). ATA Carnets can be obtained from the USCIB or two other officially designated Carnet service providers: Boomerang Carnets and Roanoke Trade Services. In addition, exporters may contact other parties, such as brokers and freight forwarders, who may assist in the preparation of the ATA Carnet; However, the carnets shall be issued by the designated service providers. The carnet can be used several times and in several countries during the validity period.

When the goods are returned to the United States under a U.S.-issued carnet, the carnet serves as a customs control registration form (CF4455) and must be presented upon re-importation. This serves to protect the holder of the carnet in the event of a possible customs claim from foreign customs. Whether the re-imported goods are subject to customs duties depends on the exemption provided for in the harmonised nomenclature www.usitc.gov/tata/hts/index.htm and not on their status as goods in a carnet.