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"Can an ATA Carnet be useful for temporary imports into a non-carnet country?"
An ATA Carnet serves two purposes when going to a carnet country:
- registration of the goods leaving the US and,
- temporary import documentation into the foreign country
When traveling to a non-carnet country the ATA Carnet can only be guaranteed to serve as the registration of goods leaving the U.S. However, we have seen proof of carnets being accepted in non-carnet countries such as, the Philippines, Malawi, Aruba, Viet Nam and Tanzania. We suspect this is because some developing, non-ATA Carnet countries accept the temporary importation when they see an official document, an ATA Carnet, with U.S. Customs & Border Protection Services stamps and notations. So acceptance of the carnet in a non-carnet country isn't guaranteed but is possible. And an ATA Carnet will always assist in bringing goods back into the U.S. after traveling abroad. Use it in place of registering your goods with U.S. Customs. Present your Carnet to U.S. Customs and have it validated prior to departure. This serves as verification that all your goods originated in the US without the need to fill out additional paperwork.
Entering a non-ATA Carnet country without official documentation, such as a Carnet, can create problems and delays that may have an adverse effect on your travel schedule and plans. However, when traveling to a non-carnet country with a carnet it is advisable to have a contingency plan in the event the carnet is not accepted as proof of temporary importation.
For more advice or with a question about a specific travel itinerary and the use of carnets please contact the CIB Carnet HelpLinesm at (800) ATA-2900.