Many of us at least once in our lives have had the need to transport certain goods or items from one country to another for a short while. For example, you have created a new technological smartphone and would like to bring a party of such gadgets to an exhibition in another country and return home with them after some time. Generally, such goods are subject to customs duties. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the border crossing times will be quick.
The same goes for automobiles. Imagine you want to temporarily bring a new car to another country to participate in an exhibition, shoot in a movie or even participate in an international race. It is for such cases that most countries around the world have created a single document called the ATA Carnet. You can learn about what it is, how it works in practice, and what documents you need to get it from this article.
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ATA Carnet - What is it?
We suggest starting with the definition of the term ATA Carnet (Admission Temporaire / Temporary Admission). This is an international format customs certificate that allows a business or individual to export and import back through time various goods. The list of such goods includes machinery, appliances, cars and many more.
In simple words, this document confirms that you are exporting goods without aiming to sell and intend to do so temporarily. Here is a real life example of how the ATA Carnet works:
In general, among the goods that are eligible for ATA Carnet are: professional equipment; goods for fairs or exhibitions; goods for filming or filming; containers and others. One of the important conditions for ATA Carnet is the temporary importation of goods. That is, after a certain period of time, you must necessarily export the goods back to the country from which you imported them. This document is very popular among logistics companies all over the world.
What does the ATA Carnet consist of?
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Green Certificate
The front of the green cover provides information about the holder/owner of the goods and lists all the ATA Carnet countries whereas, the back green cover includes the general list of merchandise and equipment.
Yellow Certificate
The yellow certificate sets denote the registration of goods that will return to the country. A yellow certificate set includes an exportation counterfoil and a re-importation counterfoil.
White Certificate
The white certificate sets include counterfoils and vouchers and are used by foreign customs. The set includes a white importation counterfoil, a white importation voucher, a white re-exportation counterfoil, and a white re-exportation voucher.
Blue Certificate
The blue certificate sets which include counterfoils and vouchers are used by foreign customs to track the movement of transit goods that are within their borders but have not cleared customs. The set includes two blue transit counterfoils and two blue transit vouchers.
What countries have adopted the terms of the ATA Carnet?
We have already said that this is an international document, so it applies to many states. In general, such a customs document was adopted at the Istanbul Convention on June 26, 1990. You can learn more about this document by reading the official protocol of the Convention.
As of today, the use of this document is supported by about 80 countries. Among this list are Great Britain, Spain, Poland, Italy, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Czech Republic, USA and many others.
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How does ATA Carnet help with overseas transportation of cars?
As you may have already realized, this international customs document is intended for many goods, including vehicles. Here are the benefits you get when you use the ATA Carnet for the temporary export of vehicles:
Simplifies the border crossing procedure. When you bring goods into another country for further sale, you are required to make a customs declaration and undergo a thorough inspection at the border. If you use an ATA Carnet, you are exempt from this.
Saves you time and money. ATA Carnet frees the owners of the goods from having to pay customs duty for crossing the border. Moreover, the whole process is much faster.
Wide geography. As we said above, the Convention on Temporary Admission of Goods is signed by about 80 countries, so you can transport your goods almost all over the world.
Thus, ATA Carnet makes life much easier for car owners who wish to temporarily transport their vehicles to another country. You can export your car for a movie, race or exhibition.
List of documents required to obtain an ATA Carnet
In general, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is responsible for issuing the ATA Carnet. You should apply there with a whole list of documents. Here is what you need to take with you:
List of goods to be exported abroad.
A receipt of payment for this service.
A signed application.
Documents confirming your legal status.
Financial commitment.
Documents that prove the participation of your goods in an exhibition, shooting in a movie, etc.
Documents that prove the real value of the goods.
Obviously, the full list of goods depends on where you are importing goods, in what quantity, for how long, and more.
Where to get help?
As you may have already realized, ATA Carnet or International Temporary Admission of Goods Abroad Passport is an excellent solution for all entrepreneurs and individuals who wish to temporarily export equipment, cargo or vehicles. It greatly simplifies the whole process of crossing the border, exempts you from paying customs duties and simply saves your precious time.
However, it is not an easy task to obtain such a document on your own. The aksis migration agents are well aware of how to obtain an ATA Carnet in an expedited manner. Please contact us for a free consultation to find out all the specifics of obtaining an ATA Carnet in your case.
