ATA Carnet Shipments

Efficient ATA Carnet Shipments for International Trade

Do you want to ship your goods abroad from India temporarily? Many businesses, professionals, and even individuals need to temporarily ship their goods out of India. If you are one among them, book the ATA Carnet shipment services in India. ATA Carnet is the customs document issued by 81 countries, including India. This customs document allows you to transport your belongings to a member country without the need to raise a bond, payment of duty taxes, or fulfill other customs formalities. ATA carnet facilitates the temporary import of goods to a new country and then re-exports them to the origin country.

If you are planning to export goods from India abroad and return them soon, then you should also book an ATA carnet. In India, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has been appointed as the sole NGIA (National Guaranteeing and Issuing Association) that issues the ATA Carnet. And the associates of Abroad Movers assist you in getting the process done without any hassle. Your freight forwarder takes care of the entire process. From applying for your ATA carnet card to handling the complexities of the ATA carnet shipment and rules, our associates assist you in preparing your ATA carnet merchandise properly.

What is an ATA Carnet and Who Can Use It?

ATA is the acronym of the French and English term—Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission. These are the customs documents that allow your goods to be shipped across international borders of all the member countries of the carnet systems and their territories without paying duties and import taxes. In common language, carnets are the passport for your shipment or the merchandise passport.

What Goods Can be Carried and Who All Can Use the ATA Carnet?

The main types of goods that are temporarily imported under the cover of the ATA carnet are as follows:

Jewellery, antiques, machinery tools, electronic equipment, canned food, office equipment, computers, toys, footwear, scientific equipment, dental surgical equipment, precious gemstones, photographic and film equipment, furniture, crockery, paintings, other artworks, motor vehicles, accessories, musical instruments, leather and sports goods, and clothing.

ATA carnet is available for all types of businesses, exhibitors for trade fairs, and other professionals like film crews, engineers, sports teams, photographers, etc. So, from businesses to individuals, everyone can use an ATA Carnet to ship their goods abroad.

Common Items that are Excluded from the ATA Carnet System

Well, all these goods can be imported to the member country of the Carnet system. However, the rules and regulations vary from country to country. You will have to consult your freight forwarder to know what type of goods you can move to your intended destination country.

Here is the list of the goods that are not covered under ATA Carnet shipments:

Perishable foods and other consumable items. Along with this, items like paints, cleaning materials, and oils are excluded from the ATA Carnet because these are either given away, disposed of, or utilized abroad, and they would not be re-exported. Hence, these items are not allowed in an ATA Carnet shipment.

Advantages of ATA Carnet Shipment

ATA Carnet is beneficial for businesses, exhibitors at trade fairs, or professionals like film crews, engineers, architects, etc, who are required to transport their goods across international borders. If you also need to transport your goods to a few different countries within a short period of time, then the ATA carnet is advantageous for you.

Here are the top advantages of the ATA Carnet:

  • Cost-effective: The major advantage of the ATA carnet is that it is cost-effective for all individuals or business entities that need to transport their goods across international borders. You don’t have to pay duty taxes while crossing the borders. So, this helps you save money while temporarily exporting your goods abroad.
  • Easy customs procedure: The process of exporting and re-importing your goods becomes easier with an ATA carnet. This allows businesses and individuals to ship their belongings without paying customs duties, taxes, and fulfilling other formalities in each country where the goods will be temporarily imported.
  • Time-saving: Another advantage of the ATA carnet is that it saves time for businesses and exhibitors who want to import goods to multiple countries in a short period, because they don’t have to go through the customs clearance process again and again.
  • One-year validity: Since the ATA carnet is valid for 12 months, this provides flexibility to traders and businesses, and even individuals, to transport their goods across international borders multiple times.
  • Reduce risk: As you have already got the customs document for your shipment, you can transport it anywhere in the world without getting stopped by the customs officials. This ensures the safe transportation of your belongings with no risk.

What Documents Are Required to Obtain an ATA Carnet

To obtain an ATA carnet for your shipment, you will have to submit a few important documents, which are as follows:

  • Application form: Fill out an application form for the ATA carnet to submit the complete details of your shipment and the countries it will be shipped to during the period. The application form can be obtained from the NGIA. Or, if you have booked international packers and movers in India, they will help you get the form easily.
  • Invoice: You will submit the invoice for the goods covered under the ATA Carnet. The invoice must include the complete details of the goods and their value.
  • Custom bond: A Custom bond is an important document that you must submit to obtain an ATA carnet for your shipment. This is a legal contract that guarantees the importer will pay all the duties and import taxes if the goods are not re-exported from the country.
  • Proof of ownership: Consignees must show the proof of ownership of the goods covered under the ATA Carnet. For this, they must submit documents like a purchase receipt, a bill, etc.
  • Identification: Lastly, you will have to submit the details of the company, person, or freight forwarder who will be transporting goods across international borders.

How to Apply for an ATA Carnet Shipment

You will have to submit all the important documents to apply for the ATA Carnet. Apart from this, you will pay a process fee for all ATA Shipping Carnets. Let’s see the complete process of how you can apply for an ATA Carnet for shipping:

  • You must show the purpose of why there is a need to export your goods temporarily.
  • EIN or taxpayer ID
  • Mention the list of countries and territories the goods will be shipped
  • Mention all the parties involved in the ATA Carnet shipping
  • Payment method
  • Desired date for the delivery of the ATA Carnet document

Format of Carnet

ATA Carnet is the fast and easy way to transport goods abroad. It saves time and money for the consignee when shipping goods to multiple countries. Each step of the ATA Carnet is color-coded. And when it comes to a specific usage of a carnet, it is important to understand these color-coded sections. These colors denote the different parts of the process. Here is what the different colors mean in the format of a carnet:

  • Green Cover Page: This is the most important color page of the ATA Carnet, which includes the general information about the shipment. You will find all the details, such as issuing organization, carnet number, and the countries where the goods will be exported.
  • Yellow Pages: This page is used when the goods have left the origin country. The customs officials stamp the voucher to verify that the shipment has departed.
  • White Pages: This indicates that the goods have been imported to the temporary destination country.
  • Blue Pages: This page is used when the goods have left the temporary destination country.

Frequently Asked Questions