ATA Carnet

Customs

International customs document allowing temporary importation of goods into multiple countries without payment of import duties.

Sources

1. World Customs Organization — The ATA System (ATA and Istanbul Conventions) wcoomd.org accessed 22 September 2026

The World Customs Organization describes the ATA system as “a system allowing the free movement of goods across frontiers and their temporary admission into a Customs territory with relief from duties and taxes”, governed by the ATA Convention and the Istanbul Convention on Temporary Admission of 26 June 1990. The carnet itself “serves as a goods declaration at export, transit and import” — one document doing the work of several national declarations, which is the whole of its value to an exhibitor moving samples through more than one country.

What this source does not cover: the one-year validity figure and the Indian issuing chambers named in the answer above are not stated on the WCO page cited. They are this lexicon’s working information, not sourced facts, and should be checked with the issuing chamber before use.

Common questions

What is an ATA Carnet and when do I use it?

ATA Carnet is an international customs document allowing temporary importation of goods (samples, exhibition goods, professional equipment) into multiple countries without payment of import duties. Valid for 1 year. Issued by chambers of commerce in India (FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM). Use ATA Carnet for: goods displayed at EU trade fairs (Hannover Messe, Ambiente, Interpack), samples for potential EU buyers, professional equipment for site visits.

Related terms

• Advance Authorisation
• Anti-Dumping Duty
• Authorised Economic Operator
• Bill of Entry
• Binding Tariff Information
• Common External Tariff

From the AJG lexicon archive (July 2026).