The ATA Carnet is an international customs document that permits the duty-free and tax-free temporary export and import of goods for up to one year. The Initials “ATA” are an acronym of the French and English words “Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission”. ATA Carnets cover:

• Commercial samples
• Professional equipment
• Goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, shows, exhibitions and the like.

That means almost everything from the ordinary to the extraordinary, the usual and unusual: computers, repair tools, photographic and film equipment, musical instruments, industrial machinery, vehicles, jewellery, clothing, medical appliances and aircraft, race horses, old masters, prehistoric relics, ballet costumes and rock group sound systems, among other. If you can name it and it is not consumable or perishable, then it can probably be covered by an ATA Carnet. The ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) World ATA Carnet Council (WATAC) is the body within ICC WCF that manages the International ATA Carnet Guarantee Chain, which comprises the organisations appointed by their customs to operate the ATA System around the world. The ATA Carnet is in force in 73 countries today.\n