Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Information
The initials ATA are an acronym of the French and English words Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission. TECRO is the acronym for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) and AIT is for the American Institute in Taiwan. They represent the contracting parties to this agreement between the US and Chinese Taipei. TECRI/AIT Carnet can only be used between US and Chinese Taipei.
An ATA Carnet is an international customs document that allows goods to be temporarily imported into multiple countries without paying duties or taxes.
For country-specific rules, licensing requirements, and a glossary of Carnet terms, see the ATA Carnet homepage and the ATA Carnet resources page.
For information about the international ATA Carnet system, visit the website of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), www.iccwbo.org.
Obtaining and Using a US Carnet
Most countries allow temporary importation of goods for less than 12 months. There are three main options:
- Duty Refund: Pay duties and taxes upon entry and claim a refund upon re-export. Rates vary by country (e.g., Europe 20-30%, Australia 10%, China 40%). Refunds may take 2-6 months and are issued in local currency.
- Country-Specific Temporary Importation Procedures: Many countries offer temporary importation permits for goods that will be re-exported. These are similar to a US Temporary Importation Under Bond for bringing goods into the country. For example, Canada has a Temporary Admission Permit, and the EU uses the Temporary Admission (TA) procedure. Fees, paperwork, and rules vary by country, and a separate permit is generally required for each trip to each country.
- ATA Carnet: Accepted in over 81 countries, Carnets allow unlimited entries and exits, eliminate VAT/duties/security deposits, and simplify customs procedures. They provide a single, pre-arranged document for all customs transactions, easing reentry into the US without registering goods at departure.
Security deposits are required by the ATA Carnet conventions and help maintain the financial stability of the system. Each country has one Guaranteeing Association appointed by their government that ensures duties and taxes are paid to customs authorities for valid claims. In the US, USCIB guarantees payment for all US-issued Carnets to foreign authorities and for foreign Carnets to US Customs.
The more specific the better, as customs has the right to stop goods from entering its border for lack of adequate description. Include serial numbers or model numbers whenever possible. An imprecise or incomplete description may cause a customs inspector to question the importation (or re-exportation) and possibly seize the goods.
Not necessarily, split shipments are possible. Depending on the amount of time between the two shipments, a second Carnet may be advised. Contact your Carnet Service Provider for details.
The signer should be someone who possesses the authority to obligate the company to pay duties and taxes should they become due.
Yes. For detailed country regulations, please contact an ATA Carnet Service provider. All country-specific rules will be thoroughly explained to you during a Carnet application process.
Example rules include:
- EU countries: The 27 EU members form a customs union, noted on the green Carnet cover. No customs documentation is needed when traveling between EU states. For example, goods traveling by vehicle from the UK through France and Spain, departing from Lisbon, only require two customs clearances: one on entry (e.g., Heathrow, UK) and one on exit (e.g., Lisbon, Portugal). Validate the importation counterfoil upon arrival and the re-exportation voucher on departure.
- India & China: Goods are accepted under Carnet only for exhibitions or fairs, typically for up to six months. India allows 2 months for professional equipment.
- Malaysia: Goods are restricted for entry up to three months.
An ATA Carnet does not change export license requirements. If your goods require you to have an export license, you will still need one, regardless of whether they are moved on a carnet. Please see US Government Compliance for ATA Carnet for more details.
In most instances, it is not possible to obtain a US Carnet without legal residence and Taxpayer ID. To discuss your specific circumstances, contact Glendy Sung at 212-703-5073 or gsung@uscib.org.
- Always present your Carnet and goods to US Customs before checking in your baggage, even if your flight connects to another US city. Customs requires stamping at the location where you last have control of the goods before they reach their final foreign destination. This follows CBP Directive 3280-013B.
- Example: A US company is going to show some samples listed on an ATA Carnet to a potential customer in the UK. The Carnet holder has a flight from Dallas to New York, connecting to a New York-Heathrow flight. The holder would present his goods and Carnet at US Customs at Dallas for export validation before checking in his luggage with the air carrier through to London.
Claims Support: Avoiding a Claim on Your Carnet
Please note that the Carnet is the property of USCIB. The Carnet should be returned after its final use or immediately upon expiration, whichever comes first. Before returning, make and keep a clear copy of the entire Carnet booklet (including used and unused counterfoils and vouchers). Send the original via receipted mail to the service provider that issued it.
Yes, all Carnets must be returned even if they were never used. Carnets that are not returned will be considered “open” and thus, the associated security deposit will remain in effect until the time during which a customs claim may be submitted to USCIB has ended.
If you need to make additional trips with your Carnet, you may apply for additional sets of counterfoils and vouchers by simply contacting the Service Provider (the company) that issued the Carnet for assistance in obtaining additional sets. The cost is $25 per set (minimum charge is $80) plus shipping and handling. This fee includes up to four sets of yellow, white or blue counterfoils and their corresponding vouchers.
Call the Service Provider that issued your Carnet. If you wish, a duplicate will be issued. Additional fees will apply.
To fully close out a Carnet, both the original and the duplicate must be returned to USCIB. Even though you sent back the duplicate, the original Carnet is still considered “open” until it is also received.
As long as a Carnet remains open, our system will continue to send reminder letters. If the original Carnet is not returned, it will remain open until it becomes time-barred. In that case, the Carnet will be automatically closed, and the security deposit will be released 13 months after the Carnet’s expiration date, provided no claim has been filed.
Carnets are intended for goods NOT for sale. If you sell goods under a Carnet, you must pay duties and taxes plus a penalty of 10% of that amount. A USCIB Claims Handling Fee may also apply.
Procedures vary by country. Some, like the UK and Australia, strictly regulate sales. Local customs will usually require the goods and Carnet to be presented before expiration so duties, taxes, and penalties can be assessed. Always obtain an itemized customs receipt listing the items sold, the amount paid, and the Carnet number. Send the original Carnet and a copy of the receipt to the Service Provider that issued it, and keep a clear copy for your records.
If goods must remain abroad past the Carnet’s expiration, you may be able to request a replacement Carnet. Not all Carnet countries accept Replacement Carnets. The replacement has a new number but the same General List as the original and is typically valid for one year. Present both the original and replacement to foreign customs: the original is “closed”, and the replacement is “opened,” allowing the goods to stay legally beyond the original expiration. Contact your Service Provider at least 30 days before Carnet expiration for guidance.
Using a Foreign Carnet in the US
It is the Carnet holder’s responsibility to have the Carnet validated both entering and leaving the US. You must arrange for US Customs to examine the goods and stamp the Carnet, even if office hours are outside your travel times. Contact information for all ports of entry is available here on the CBP Ports page.
- If the Carnet is not validated for re-export and you only obtain a foreign customs validation (Landing Certificate, Waybill, Bill of Lading, etc.), a $100 regularization fee may apply if a claim arises later.
- If the Carnet is not validated for re-export but it was stamped by a third country or re-imported back to its home country before the Carnet expiry date, then a $50 regularization fee applies for claims issued by US Customs.
According to US Customs regulations, foreign-issued Carnets may not be extended beyond expiration. Please note consumption entries are not allowed to discharge a Carnet entry. This may result in a second payment of duties on a claim made on the Carnet. However, to keep the merchandise in the US beyond the expiration of the Carnet there are two options:
- File a Temporary Importation under Bond (TIB) through a customs broker with US Customs before the expiration of the Carnet. This will allow the merchandise to remain in the country for additional years. The Carnet number must appear on the TIB paperwork, and the merchandise description, weight, and value must be the same as those on the Carnet General List. The Carnet’s re-exportation voucher should be presented and validated by US Customs referencing the TIB number and date. Copies of both bond and Carnet should be kept so that upon final re-exportation and re-importation into the country of issue, customs may clear the goods without unnecessary assessment of duties.
- Mitigation of duties may be afforded if the merchandise is re-exported after Carnet expiration:
- Re-exportation validated in the Carnet up to 90 days after Carnet expiration will result in the collection of 25% of the duty and 10% penalty within the case of a claim made on the Carnet, with a minimum of $50; or
- Re-exportation validated in the Carnet between 90 and 180 days after Carnet expiration will result in the collection of 50% of the duty and 10% penalty, with a minimum of $100.
Goods re-exported 181 days after Carnet expiration are subject to the collection of the full amount of duty and 10% penalty.
Foreign Carnets may be used for entry into Puerto Rico, but not for Guam or the US Virgin Islands (St. John, St. Croix, or St. Thomas).
I would like to sell my goods imported into the US on a foreign-issued Carnet. How should I proceed?
If the Carnet is still valid:
- Contact the US Customs Entry Team (either directly or through your customs broker) to request an anticipatory breach.
- Provide the following:
- A letter on the Carnet Holder’s letterhead listing the goods that will not be re-exported and requesting assessment of liquidated damages.
- Copies of the Carnet front cover, General List, and the validated Importation Counterfoil by US Customs.
- Once a case number is issued and payment is made, the receipt serves as discharge for the listed items.
If the Carnet has expired but is not time-barred (meaning 13 months have not passed since the expiration):
- Contact the US Claims Team at USCIB at foreignCarnets@uscib.org.
- Provide a complete copy of the Carnet to confirm whether a duties claim exists or to initiate one.
If the Carnet is expired and time-barred (meaning 13 months have passed since the carnet expiration:
- Contact the US Customs Entry Team (directly or via your broker) to arrange payment of applicable duties, taxes, and penalties.
Note: JFK Airport no longer accepts anticipatory breaches before expiration; requests there must be made to USCIB after the Carnet expires.
If your vehicle will be used as a sample (show/exhibit) or professional equipment (driven in a race/rally), you may import it into the US temporarily under Carnet. If it will be driven on the roads, the vehicle will need to conform to DOT (Department of Transportation) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) emissions standards prior to importation, unless it is a non-conforming vehicle: please see a licensed customs broker/forwarder for details. Please also note that US Customs ports have their own policies regarding the acceptance of vehicles under Carnet.
- Always present your Carnet and goods to US Customs before checking in your baggage, even if your flight connects to another US city. Customs requires stamping at the location where you last have control of the goods before they reach their final foreign destination. This follows CBP Directive 3280-013B.
- Example: A Canadian company participates in a trade show in Las Vegas with goods under an ATA Carnet. When departing Las Vegas, the Carnet goods will connect through Los Angeles en route to the final destination of Vancouver. In this case, the Carnet holder should present his Carnet and goods at US Customs in Las Vegas for re-export validation before checking in the luggage with the airlines through to Canada.
Although the US is not a party to the Exhibitions and Fairs Convention, goods may be temporarily imported under a Carnet as:
- Commercial Samples: items to be exhibited.
- Professional Equipment: items used to set up or operate booths, tables, or displays.
eATA Carnets
QR codes are generated in the ATA Carnet App or ATA Carnet Desktop after you create a travel. They are not printed in the Carnet, but they can be printed separately as a backup if needed.
eATA Carnets follow the same rules as paper Carnets. All goods that can be moved on a paper Carnet can be moved on a digital Carnet.
All ATA Carnet countries will transition to eATA Carnets by the end of 2027. Visit the USCIB Country page to see which countries are already digital.
Create separate travels for each partial shipment, identifying the different items included. Each shipment receives its own QR code.
Notify your Service Provider (SP) that you have completed using the Carnet (via email or via issuing platform, if it allows). If you also have a paper Carnet, return it to your SP for final review.
Hand-carried shipments do not require a freight forwarder.
Freight forwards are typically used to arrange transportation for cargo shipments but are also not required. However, cargo shipments generally require a customs broker to clear the goods through customs.
All 81 member countries are expected to transition to eATA Carnets by December 31, 2027. 30 Countries (EU, Norway, Switzerland and UK) went live on June 1, 2026.
It will work the same as hand carry. Holders or their authorized representatives will need to present QR codes or Transaction Codes (either on a mobile device or a printed copy) to customs authorities at border crossings.
US customs plans to transition to eATA Carnets before the end of 2026. When CBP completes its transition, US holders traveling to digital countries will use both a paper and digital Carnet.
The customs process remains largely the same regardless of mode of transportation. Instead of presenting paper vouchers and counterfoils, you present the appropriate QR code for each transaction. Cargo users may also use printed QR codes or pre-declarations where available.
Starting October, 2026 at the earliest, US holders will be asked to carry digital Carnets for travel to digital countries. This will apply only for Carnets issued after June 1, 2026 (when the global transition to eATA Carnets began).
If the issued date of the Carnet is before June 1, 2026, continue to use the paper Carnet.
If the issued date is after June 1, 2026, contact your Service Provider to obtain the ID/Pin for your Carnet already in use. The Holder or their authorized representatives will use that ID/Pin to download the eATA Carnet and prepare travels, which can be presented to customs when leaving the digital country.
When the goods have returned to the US and the Carnet is ready to be closed, return your paper Carnet via mail and notify your service provider to return the digital carnet.
Yes, additional sets can be added, the same as today. But it is better to buy additional sets up front if you think you may be travelling to more countries.
Yes. Because the TECRO/AIT Carnet comes from a bilateral agreement with Tawain, the transition to digital is happening on a separate timeline.
USCIB will share updates on the status of digital TECRO/AIT Carnets as they are available.
It depends on your workflow process. In some cases, it may be better to share the entire Carnet if the client/colleague is managing the entire travel. If not, then sharing QR code for each transaction may be the better option.
We strongly recommend having a backup. QR codes can be printed or saved outside the app (such as screenshots or PDFs) before traveling. Customs can also locate a transaction using the eATA Carnet ID and transaction code if needed.
For urgent assistance if the eATA mobile app and desktop are down while clearing customs, try to contact ICC’s 24/7 help desk. ICC support can be reached through the following official channels:
Support Portal
https://support.atacarnet.iccwbo.org
Email
atacarnet-support@iccwbo.org
Telephone
+41 58 440 1510
The telephone channel is intended primarily for urgent or operationally critical issues, particularly those with legal or system wide impact.
Yes. Digital Carnets are a global ICC/WCO initiative being implemented by ATA Carnet countries in phases. During the transition, some countries will continue using paper Carnets while others will operate digitally. By 2028, all countries will use the digital Carnet.
Your first point of contact should be your ATA Carnet issuer. For technical issues with the app or desktop, ICC also provides 24/7 support through the Help section on the app and desktop.
The ATA Carnet system currently operates as a standalone system and is not integrated with CBP’s ACE system. Customs brokers and freight forwarders will use the eATA Carnet system to manage transactions.
If a transaction is processed and the holder later realizes that some of the information was incorrect (for example, the declared items or means of transport), the customs officer can use a cancellation code to void the transaction. Once the transaction has been voided, the holder can correct the travel details in the app/desktop and present the updated transaction code/QR code for processing.
The cancelled transaction does not count as a separate border crossing and does not reduce the number of available transactions on the eATA carnet.
Similarly, if a customs officer accidentally processes the wrong transaction, they can use a cancellation code to void it and then process the correct transaction. Again, this is treated as one border crossing, not two.
Important: This process only applies to correcting Travels. Once an eATA Carnet has been issued, the holder information and General List of goods cannot be modified.
USCIB will post about this on our ATA Carnet Countries page when this information becomes available from the ICC. Currently, no countries accept pre-arrival notices as this is a new feature.
During the transition, US Carnet holders traveling to digital countries will use both a paper and digital Carnet until the US becomes digital. Within digital countries, customs will use the digital Carnet only. If traveling to a paper country, the paper Carnet is still used at foreign customs. Digital Countries will also continue to show flexibility and process paper carnets if digital carnets cannot be issued for technical reasons.
US CBP will continue to validate paper Carnet until the US transitions to digital Carnets, tentatively before the end of 2026. At that time, CBP will process the digital Carnet only.
Only one person needs to manage the eATA Carnet, provided that person is responsible for preparing the travels and making the appropriate QR codes available. Individual QR codes can be shared electronically or printed for other team members or representatives carrying portions of the shipment. If different groups are traveling separately, separate travels should be created for each shipment.
It depends on the type of correction, but generally the answer is no, just like the paper Carnet. However, travels and QR codes that have been created in the app can be edited or recreated before they are committed to Customs. Once a transaction has been committed, a cancellation code may be used if Customs determines the transaction should be cancelled and reprocessed.
The overall customs process remains largely the same. Instead of presenting paper vouchers and counterfoils, appropriate QR code will be presented for each transaction, whether the goods are hand carried or shipped. For cargo shipments, QR codes can be shared electronically or printed for authorized representatives. Future pre-declaration features are also expected to make cargo processing more efficient.
Paper Carnets that were issued before a destination country’s transition to digital carnets will continue to be valid through their original validity period.
You may edit the Travels (individual customs transactions) if they have not been used. However, you cannot make edits to the eATA Carnet general list or holder information after the Carnet was already issued to you, whether or not it has been activated.
The role of preparers and customers brokers will not change. What will change is the means in which carnets are shared back and forth between stakeholders; rather than mailing Carnets, they will be sent electronically.
We strongly recommend having a backup. QR codes can be printed or saved outside the app (such as screenshots or PDFs) before traveling. Customs can also locate a transaction using the eATA Carnet ID and transaction code if needed.
For urgent assistance if the eATA mobile app and desktop are down while clearing customs, contact ICC’s 24/7 help desk. ICC support can be reached through the following official channels:
Support Portal
https://support.atacarnet.iccwbo.org
Email
atacarnet-support@iccwbo.org
Telephone
+41 58 440 1510
The telephone channel is intended primarily for urgent or operationally critical issues, particularly those with legal or system wide impact.
All stakeholders, including shipping companies, are welcome to join USCIB’s eATA Carnet trainings or view our training resources.
Please feel free to share this page and this registration link https://uscib.org/digital-eata-training-schedule/ with all applicable partners.
USCIB and your Carnet issuing service provider will publish and maintain an up-to-date list of participating digital countries as additional customs administrations transition to eATA Carnet. Because countries are joining on different timelines, travelers should always verify requirements before departure.
We cannot say for certain how Mexican authorities will update their policies upon implementing eATA Carnets. However, the eATA Carnet system is designed to provide the same information currently submitted through Mexico’s 7-day pre-registration process, so we are hopeful this requirement will no longer be necessary once eATA is adopted. We continue to communicate this point to our counterparts in Mexico.
EU countries have promised to show flexibility during the transition period by continuing to accept paper carnets if the holder’s country has technical difficulties, which is the current case in the US. USCIB will ask the Austrian NGA to remind their Customs of this.
Yes. We recommend taking screenshots of the transaction QR codes/IDs on your mobile phone or printing them from your desktop portal if you are concerned about internet connections while clearing customs.
Yes, eATA Carnets will work the same.
Additional countries can still be added after a Carnet has been issued, just as they can today, provided there are sufficient unused sets available. If additional travel is anticipated, it’s generally recommended to purchase extra sets when the Carnet is issued.
The process should be similar to today’s paper Carnet process. The ATA Carnet is only presented when entering, exiting, or transiting countries that participate in the ATA Carnet system. If you travel from a Carnet country to a non-Carnet country, the Carnet is used when leaving the Carnet country, but it is not used while the goods are in the non-Carnet country. When you later re-enter a Carnet country (or return to the U.S.), you would resume using the ATA Carnet for that entry. Any import requirements imposed by the non-Carnet country would still need to be met separately, just as they are today.
An authorized representative, such as a freight forwarder, customs broker, or other designated party, can present a digital carnet for customs validation by providing just the code for that specific transaction. The holder may either share the full Carnet with the ID/PIN so the representative can create their own codes or share just the travel codes that they themselves have already created. The representative then presents the appropriate codes to customs for export, import, re-export, re-import, or transit, depending on the movement of the goods.
The application and issuance process will remain the same. Carnets will still be issued by an authorized service provider, not directly by the holder. Once the eATA Carnet has been issued, the holder can use their own device to access the Carnet and create additional trips/travels without going back to the service provider.
A simple way to share an individual transaction QR code is to click the ‘share’ icon on the code you’d like to share. The recipient would receive an email from the system containing the QR code and any other information they may need for customs validation. Taking a screenshot of the QR code and texting it is another valid option. The preferred method will vary by organization based on their standard workflows.
Also, remember that you can share the entire carnet instead of an individual QR code, as well. To do this, provide the Carnet ID/Pin to the recipient so they can download the entire carnet into their mobile app or desktop site.
Once an eATA carnet transaction code has been prepared, no edits would change the code. This means you can give a courier a printed copy of the QR code and still make edits at the office until it is presented and validated by customs. That would only be applicable to edits made to transaction information, such as the country you are visiting and the goods you are carrying for that specific trip. (No changes can be made to the actual Carnet details after it has been issued.)
Each Carnet has its own unique ID and PIN. For each new Carnet you purchase from your service provider, you’ll receive its corresponding ID and PIN.
The Carnet Pin/ID will be provided to the applicant by the service provider. It will likely be sent via email or listed in the Carnet application platform. Contact the person who applied for the carnet to receive the Pin/ID from them.
Please note that PINS/IDs will not be available until October 2026 at the earliest.
y 2028, customs authorities worldwide will not expect to see paper carnets. The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is working closely with all ATA Carnet countries to ensure they can digitize by 2028. More guidance will come if any countries expect to miss this deadline.
The price of the Carnet remains the same and includes both the paper and digital versions.
The Activation QR code is equivalent to the Green Cover of the paper Carnet, which is validated by US Customs when goods first leave the US.
No. The eATA Carnet and its associated smartphone and desktop applications are created by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which manages the global ATA Carnet System. They are the exclusive platforms approved for the use of eATA Carnets. All issuing providers offer the same paper and digital documents.
