ATA Carnet Guide

ATA Carnet countries

A list of countries and territories that are part of the ATA Carnet system can be found on the Country information page. The ATA Carnet is not used for movements between EU member states. For trade between Taiwan and the EU, the CPD/China–Taiwan Carnet is used.

Benefits of using ATA Carnet

The ATA Carnet saves time and money:

Exporters and importers save on customs duties and taxes and avoid the security deposits required by customs.
The customs procedure is simplified, as no other customs documents are needed.

By using an ATA Carnet, exporters and importers can:

• visit multiple countries with a single Carnet,
• make several trips within one year using the same Carnet, and
• return the goods smoothly to the country of origin.

Exhibition goods

Goods displayed or used at exhibitions, fairs, or similar events

The term event refers to:

• trade, industrial, agricultural, or handicraft exhibitions or fairs, or similar displays or showcases,
• exhibitions or meetings organized primarily for charitable purposes,
• exhibitions or meetings organized mainly to promote activities in education, art, professions, sports, science, teaching, or culture, or to foster friendship among nations, religious knowledge, or the practice of religion,
• meetings of representatives of international organizations or groups of international organizations, and
• official or commemorative representative gatherings.

Temporary admission may be granted for:

• goods intended to be exhibited or presented at such events, and
• goods intended for use in connection with the display of foreign products at such events, including:
• goods necessary for demonstrating foreign machines and equipment being exhibited,
• construction and decoration materials, including electrical supplies for temporary stands of foreign exhibitors,
• advertising and demonstration materials intended for the promotion of foreign goods being exhibited, and
• equipment, including interpretation and sound recording devices, as well as educational, scientific, and cultural films intended for use at international meetings, conferences, and congresses.

Professional goods

Conditions for granting temporary admission

• The equipment must belong to a natural person residing abroad or to a legal person established outside the country of importation.
• The equipment must be imported in the name of a natural or legal person residing or established abroad.
• The equipment must be identifiable upon re-export, although the most flexible possible identification methods should be applied to unused sound or image recording media.
• The equipment must be used exclusively by a person visiting the country of importation or under that person’s direct supervision.
• The equipment must not be subject to a lease or similar agreement with a person residing or established in the country of temporary importation, except in the case of joint radio or television productions.

Examples of professional equipment

• Television production equipment
• Film production equipment
• Other professional equipment required for the performance of a specific task
• Equipment used for assembling, testing, commissioning, monitoring, adjusting, maintaining, or repairing machines, apparatus, transport equipment, etc.
• Equipment needed by experts carrying out topographical surveys or geophysical prospecting
• Instruments and devices used by doctors, surgeons, veterinarians, midwives, and similar professionals
• Equipment used by archaeologists, paleontologists, geographers, zoologists, and other scientists
• Equipment used by artists, theatre groups, and orchestras, including all items used in public or private performances such as musical instruments, stage sets, and costumes
• Vehicles designed or specially adapted for the above purposes, such as mobile research units, mobile workshops, and mobile laboratories

The term professional equipment does not include equipment used for internal transport or for the industrial manufacture or packaging of goods; nor, except for hand tools, equipment used for the exploitation of natural resources or for the construction, repair, or maintenance of buildings, or for earthmoving or similar works.

Commercial samples

The term commercial samples refers to items that represent a specific type of goods already produced or serve as models of goods planned for production, provided that:

• they belong to a person residing abroad and are imported solely for the purpose of being displayed or demonstrated in the customs territory to obtain orders for goods to be supplied from abroad,
• they are not sold or used for their intended purpose beyond what is necessary for demonstration, and are not used for profit, hire, or any other form of payment while within the customs territory,
• they are intended to be re-exported, and
• their identity can be easily verified upon re-export.

The term commercial samples does not include identical goods brought in by the same person or sent to the same consignee in such quantities that, taken together, they can no longer be regarded as samples within the normal meaning of trade practice.

Samples not covered by the ATA Carnet

An ATA Carnet is not required, and no import duties are charged, for low-value samples or materials brought in for an exhibition or fair, provided that they meet the following conditions:

• The goods have been supplied free of charge from abroad and are distributed free of charge to visitors for their personal use or consumption.
• They are promotional samples of negligible value and not intended for commercial use.
• The samples are packaged in small quantities or consumed on-site.
• The quantity and value of the goods are reasonable in relation to the scale of the event.

Duty exemption also applies to:

• Goods that are consumed or destroyed during a demonstration (for example, products used to show how a machine operates).
• Construction and decoration materials such as paint, varnish, and fabrics used to decorate exhibition stands.
• Promotional materials such as printed matter, catalogues, posters, price lists, and photographs.

📄 Note: Brochures are not transported under an ATA Carnet and do not need to be listed in the Carnet’s general list.

Structure of the document

An ATA Carnet consists of green covers and yellow, white, and blue sheets, known as vouchers and counterfoils. Each colour serves a specific purpose in the customs process.

🟩 Green Cover Sheet

The green front cover includes:

• details of the holder and representative, and
• a list of ATA Carnet member countries.

The Chamber of Commerce fills out and stamps the green cover; the holder signs it, and Finnish Customs stamps it to activate (“open”) the Carnet.

📋 Goods List (Green List)

The goods list contains all the items covered by the Carnet.
It may not be altered after issuance. The same list appears on the reverse of each voucher.

Partial shipments are allowed, provided they are specified when applying.

📑 Vouchers and Counterfoils

Each Carnet contains removable vouchers, which customs authorities keep, and corresponding counterfoils, which remain in the Carnet as proof of customs clearance.

Who fills in what:

• Chamber of Commerce: sections A, B, C, G
• Holder or user: sections D, E, F (before customs inspection)
• Customs: section H

🟡⚪🔵 Voucher Colours and Use

Transit vouchers are also used to move goods from the border to, for example, a trade fair customs office.

📚 Sheet Order

1. Green cover
2. Counterfoil pages (yellow, white, blue)
3. Vouchers in travel order:
   • Exportation 1
   • Importation 1
   • Re-exportation 1
   • Re-importation 1
   • Optional partial shipments (1a, 1b…)
   • Transit vouchers (1, 2, 3…)

🧾 Summary

The back cover lists the guaranteeing organizations (Central Chamber of Commerce of Finland and the International Chamber of Commerce, ICC).

Customs remove vouchers during clearance.

Counterfoils remain inside the Carnet as proof.

Issuing the Carnet and Application

ATA Carnets are issued by Chambers of Commerce in countries that have joined the ATA Convention.
Together, they form a global guarantee chain ensuring that customs duties are covered if needed.

In Finland, the Central Chamber of Commerce guarantees all ATA Carnets issued by Finnish Chambers and handles any customs claims.

The ATA Carnet system is internationally administered by the World Chambers Federation (WCF) of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

An ATA Carnet can be issued to a company or association that:

• has a Business ID,
• is established in Finland, and
• has a satisfactory credit record.

Carnets cannot be issued to anyone previously found to have misused an ATA Carnet.

Applying for an ATA Carnet

Applications are made online at www.atacarnet.fi.
Only Finnish-registered companies or associations can apply.

Application Steps

1. Register and complete the electronic application form.
2. Provide the necessary details, including the goods list, intended use, and travel route.
3. The Chamber of Commerce reviews and approves the application.
4. Pay the issuance fee and security deposit.

Standard processing time: five working days.
For urgent cases, a Fast-Track ATA Carnet can be issued for an additional fee.

Information Required

• Holder’s details (company name, address, Business ID)
• Representative’s details, if someone else uses the Carnet
• Intended use of the goods (e.g. exhibition, professional use, commercial samples)
• Countries of travel and route
• Goods list, including description, quantity, value, and origin of each item

The application is usually completed in English, though some countries may require a French version of the goods list. The Chamber of Commerce advises the client in case of country-specific language requirements. See the Country information here.

Authorized Representative and Power of Attorney

An ATA Carnet may be used by the holder or by an authorized representative acting on their behalf.

Who can be a representative?

A representative may be a company employee, driver, or freight forwarder responsible for transporting and presenting the goods to customs.
If there are multiple representatives, each must hold a separate Power of Attorney.

What must the Power of Attorney include?

• Name and address of the authorizing company
• Name and address of the authorized representative
• The scope of authorization – permission to use the ATA Carnet on the holder’s behalf
• Date and signatures

The authorization may be drafted on the company’s own form or using a Chamber of Commerce template.
It can be written in Finnish, Swedish, English, German, French, or other required language.

Country-specific requirements

Some countries may require an officially certified Power of Attorney.
For example, in Türkiye, the representative’s details must be listed in Box B of the Carnet, and the Power of Attorney must be signed and legalized by the Turkish Consulate before travel.