ATA Carnet: 5 steps to obtaining this international customs document

As the International Chamber of Commerce points out, the ATA Carnet offers numerous advantages in terms of export taxation. However, it is not always easy to obtain this international customs document. Here are 5 key steps to help you obtain your ATA Carnet as quickly as possible.

#1 Know your product

The ATA Carnet offers numerous advantages for those wishing to temporarily export certain goods, but you still need to know which ones!

There is no comprehensive list of ways to benefit from these simplified international customs procedures and reduce export costs (particularly through taxes and customs duties).

However, the following types of goods can be mentioned:

• goods for display at trade fairs, exhibitions, conventions and other events;
• goods imported for humanitarian purposes;
• goods imported for cross-border trade;
• sales samples (to encourage orders);
• professional equipment under the Istanbul Convention;
• equipment for educational or scientific purposes;
• vehicles as a means of transport;
• animals…

#2 Specifying your business operations

Goods covered by the ATA Carnet are covered for various commercial transactions such as:

• temporary importation;
• temporary export;
• international transit (involving the crossing of several borders).

However, the ATA Carnet does not cover the importation of goods for commercial purposes. In this case, you will need to pay the relevant customs duties.

It is therefore important to understand the nature of your international trade operations and their route if you wish to confirm your eligibility and make the most of your ATA Carnet.

To this end, you can consult the list of countries that accept the ATA Carnet. 

They have all signed up:

• or the 1961 Brussels ATA Convention;
• or the Istanbul Convention in 1990;
• or both.

#3 Contact the right person

Before contacting the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) relevant to your enquiry via the SME Portal, it is advisable to familiarise yourself with the current legislation governing the ATA Carnet.

Further details on this can be found in section 4.12 of Regulation 10.60, published by the Federal Customs Administration (FCA).

Although issued by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI), the ATA Carnet can be obtained through associations approved by the customs authorities and affiliated to the World Chambers Federation (WCF).

Services such as ATASwiss are provided by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCI) and can handle your administrative procedures simply by submitting a single form available online. 

There are also other advantages to this method of transmission, such as:

• the availability of the streaming service;
• access to all data relating to the logbook;
• immediate validation of all the information entered.

To find out whether you are eligible for this service, ATASwiss has provided a list of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry with which the service has a partnership.

#4 Apply online

Although you can submit your application after receiving a paper form by post, all you need is a computer with an internet connection and a supported web browser (Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari or Internet Explorer) to access the online form, saving you valuable time.

Once you have opened an account online by entering your details, you will be asked to provide further information about the goods in question:

• their list;
• their number;
• their weight;
• their origin;
• their wording;
• their reference number;
• their market value;
• their trade name.

In addition, the conditions for using the ATA Carnet must be specified: for this reason, it is essential to know your export route in advance.

Good to know: The ticket holder may make multiple return journeys through the same areas.

It should be noted that certain products will be subject to sanitary and phytosanitary checks. Other goods will be subject to inspection to ensure compliance with the Washington Convention.

#5 Receiving your ATA Carnet

Once the application has been approved, the sole holder of the ATA Carnet may collect it:

• either by post;
• or at the relevant CCI office.

Although there must be only one holder (whether a natural or legal person), an authorised agent or a carrier may act on their behalf provided they hold a certificate.

The customs document consists, in particular, of three different coloured pages:

• The blank forms for temporary admission and re-importation;
• Yellow forms for temporary export and re-import operations;
• Blue forms for international transit operations.

The ATA Carnet remains valid for twelve months from the date of issue and must be returned to the issuing Chamber of Commerce and Industry once the journey has been completed.

Obtaining an ATA Carnet can greatly simplify your procedures and reduce your costs when trading internationally. As part of our ongoing efforts to streamline your international processes, our mobile app will also help you simplify and optimise your foreign exchange operations.