An ATA carnet is a ‘passport for goods’ that allows the temporary movement of items across international borders.

ATA is a combination of French and English terms “admission temporaire/temporary admission”. Carnets are used by businesses and organisations that require the temporary admission of goods for international operations.

These permit tax-free and duty-free export and import of non-perishable goods for up to one year, with examples including:

• Businesses that have technicians travelling overseas with their equipment for professional work, including filmmakers, photographers, researchers, musicians and TV producers
• Individuals or businesses that participate in racing and sporting events or other competitions
• Goods for display at exhibitions, fairs or trade shows
• Commercial samples to demonstrate to potential clients or soliciting orders.

“The ATA Carnets help facilitate the temporary duty-free admission of goods by eliminating the difficulties encountered in making out a customs declaration on a national form at the time of importation into each country,” Victorian Chamber of Commerce Trade Officer Simaran Sandhu says.

“If the goods are accompanied by a carnet being covered by an international guarantee, no further action is needed in this respect either by the customs or by the importer at the time of importation.

“An ATA Carnet helps reduce the time necessary for the clearance of goods on both importation and re-exportation. One carnet can be used in multiple countries (that accept carnets) for the same set of goods.”

A new ATA carnet is issued for a maximum of 12 months and the goods are to return to the originating country prior to the carnet expiry.

The carnets can only be used in countries that participate in the carnet system (which currently includes up to 79 countries).

Applications for carnets can be submitted via the Victorian Chamber website. Standard turnaround is three business days, but a quicker turnaround is available for an additional cost.

The Victorian Chamber website's carnet section contains more information on participating countries, cost and insurance, and provides a portal to submit applications online.