ATA Carnet UK 2026 – Trade Fairs, Exhibitions and Professional Equipment

What is an ATA Carnet? The "passport for goods"

ATA Carnet is an international customs document that enables the temporary export of goods to third countries without paying duty, VAT or lodging a customs guarantee in each country of transit and destination. The name "ATA" derives from the French Admission Temporaire / Temporary Admission.

The ATA Carnet is often called a "passport for goods" because it works in much the same way as a personal passport: one document accepted by customs authorities in more than 77 countries worldwide, replacing hundreds of local customs declarations and financial guarantees.

The ATA system was introduced by the ATA Convention of 1961 (for commercial samples) and the Istanbul Convention of 1990 (extended to professional equipment, trade fairs and exhibitions). In practice, a carnet is a booklet with coloured counterfoils — each counterfoil covers one customs transaction (exit from the issuing country, entry into the destination country, re-export, re-import).

What does an ATA Carnet look like?

Physically it is an A4 booklet with a (green) cover, containing:

• Front cover (green) — details of the issuing chamber, the carnet holder, the validity period and the goods list (General List).
• Yellow sheets — exit/re-import from/to the issuing country (UK or Poland).
• White sheets — import/re-export into/from the destination country (e.g. Germany, USA, China).
• Blue sheets — transit through intermediate countries.

At every border crossing a customs officer stamps the relevant counterfoil. Missing stamp = problem (see the "Penalties" section).

ATA Carnet uses — when it is worth using one

The ATA Carnet covers three main categories of temporarily exported goods:

1. Trade fair and exhibition exhibits

The most common use. Companies attending trade fairs in the UK (e.g. The London Boat Show, 100% Design, IFSEC) or travelling from the UK to third countries use a carnet for:

• Demonstration products at the stand (prototypes, premium samples).
• Stand construction, exhibition furniture, banners, LED screens.
• Audio-visual equipment for presentations.
• Works of art at museum and gallery exhibitions.

2. Professional equipment

Everything a specialist takes abroad to carry out work and brings back with them:

• Film and television crews — cameras, lenses, lighting, drones, sound recorders (value often £50,000–£500,000).
• Musicians, orchestras, bands — musical instruments (Stradivarius violin, concert guitars, drum kits, DJ equipment).
• Concert touring crews — rigging, PA systems, mixing desks, LED screens.
• Photographers and journalists — camera bodies, lenses, lights, editing computers.
• Engineers and service technicians — measuring machines, specialist tools, diagnostic equipment.
• Athletes and teams — racing equipment (F1 cars, motorcycles, racing cycles), sports weapons, boats.

3. Commercial samples

Goods shown to potential clients for demonstration or testing — without any intention to sell during the visit. They must return to the country of origin.

Which countries accept ATA Carnets? (77 countries)

The ATA system covers more than 77 countries and customs territories, including all the major markets:

Issuing authority: Poland (KIG) vs UK (London Chamber of Commerce)

Who issues the carnet? The national chamber of commerce of the country from which the goods are exported. You cannot obtain a carnet in the country where the goods are being imported.

Practical note: If a Polish company sends equipment to a trade fair in London, the ATA Carnet is issued by KIG in Warsaw. If a British company sends goods to a trade fair in Munich, the issuer is LCCI in London. Each carnet is tied to the issuing country — it cannot be "transferred".

How much does an ATA Carnet cost in the UK? 2026 fees

The cost of an ATA Carnet consists of three elements:

Example: A company sends audio-visual equipment worth £50,000 to a trade fair in Frankfurt (Germany). LCCI will charge approximately £300 to issue the carnet. Security deposit: £15,000–£20,000 (replaceable with carnet insurance at approximately 1–1.5% of value, i.e. £500–£750). Total: approximately £800–£1,200 for all carnet costs plus clearances.

To compare these costs with standard clearance fees, see our article Cheap UK Customs Clearance — How to Choose Without the Risk.

Validity period — 12 months

An ATA Carnet is valid for a maximum of 12 months from the date of issue. Within that period the goods may cross borders multiple times — for example, a single itinerary of "UK → Germany → USA → Japan → UK" can all be covered by one carnet, provided each stage is properly stamped.

Some countries (e.g. China, Brazil, India) accept carnets with a shorter validity period in their territory (e.g. 6 months). Check the list of exceptions before travel.

Important: the carnet's end date is the re-import date back to the issuing country. The goods must physically return before that date, otherwise the carnet "expires" and the penalty enforcement procedure begins (see below).

Step-by-step procedure — issue, exit, entry, re-entry

Here is the complete path from ordering a carnet to closing the procedure:

Step 1. Issue the carnet (7–10 days before export)

1. Prepare the General List — a detailed list of all goods: description, quantity, weight, unit value, total value, serial numbers (required for electronic equipment).
2. Complete the online application with LCCI (UK) or KIG (Poland).
3. Lodge the security deposit (bank transfer) or purchase carnet insurance.
4. Pay the issue fee.
5. Collect the physical carnet (by courier or in person) — typically within 3–5 working days.

Step 2. Exit customs in the UK

At the UK border (port, airport, Eurotunnel terminal) present the carnet to the HMRC officer. The officer stamps the yellow counterfoil (exit) and detaches it. Without this stamp the carnet is invalid.

Step 3. Entry into the destination country

On arrival (e.g. in France, Germany, USA) present the carnet to the local customs officer. Stamp on the white counterfoil (entry). Only then are the goods officially "temporarily admitted" to that country.

Step 4. Re-export from the destination country

When the trade fair, concert or production is over and you are leaving the country, the customs officer stamps the second white counterfoil (re-export). This is proof that the goods were not sold or left behind.

Step 5. Re-entry into the UK

On returning to the UK, HMRC stamps the second yellow counterfoil (re-import). The carnet is now closed — you can reclaim the security deposit.

Step 6. Close the carnet at LCCI

Return the carnet (physically!) to LCCI. The chamber checks all stamps. If complete — the deposit is released. If stamps are missing — the duty enforcement procedure begins.

When NOT to use an ATA Carnet

The ATA Carnet is designed exclusively for temporary export with an obligation to return. In these situations a carnet is not appropriate:

• Goods intended for sale — standard export + import with duty and VAT. Using a carnet for a sale is a customs offence.
• Consumable goods — food for trade fair tastings, promotional materials distributed to visitors, leaflets. For these, use an export declaration or the de minimis preference.
• Postal and courier shipments — the ATA Carnet requires the physical presence of a person at clearance, so it does not work for DHL/UPS/DPD.
• Export to countries outside the ATA system — e.g. some African countries, most former Soviet states other than Ukraine. Use local Temporary Admission (TA) instead.
• Medicines, firearms, radioactive materials, CITES-listed fauna/flora — these require additional permits even with an ATA Carnet.

Penalties for failure to re-import

If a carnet is not properly closed — e.g. the re-export stamp from the destination country or the re-entry stamp for the UK is missing — the chamber of commerce (LCCI / KIG) initiates enforcement proceedings:

1. First notification — the chamber requests an explanation within 3–6 months.
2. Claim from the destination country — the local customs authority issues a bill for full duty + VAT + interest + administrative penalties (totalling 120–200% of the goods' value).
3. Security deposit seized — LCCI recovers the amount from the security deposit or carnet insurance policy.
4. Future carnets blocked — the company is placed on a debtors' list and cannot obtain another carnet until the debt is settled.

Typical causes of problems:

• Forgotten stamps at the border (customs officer in the green channel).
• Goods lost, stolen or damaged abroad (you must report this to the local customs authority and obtain a protocol).
• Sale on the spot ("no point bringing it back").
• Serial number swap (a different item came back than went out) — customs officers compare serial numbers.

ATA Carnet vs Temporary Admission (TA) — comparison

An alternative to the ATA Carnet is Temporary Admission (TA) — a procedure that can be initiated directly at the customs office of the destination country. How to choose?

When an ATA Carnet is cost-effective: multiple trips during the year, several countries, high-value goods, recurring professional equipment (film crew across several productions).

When TA may be better: a one-off export to a single EU country, a very short stay (e.g. 2–3 days at a trade fair), low-value goods (£1,000–£3,000), where the ATA Carnet fee consumes most of the budget.

Case studies — how clients use the ATA Carnet

Case 1. Film crew on location in China

A Warsaw production company works on a Chinese-Polish co-production documentary. They send 12 equipment cases (RED cameras, Zeiss lenses, DJI Inspire drones, Sound Devices recorders) worth a total of PLN 280,000 for a three-week shoot in Shanghai. Choice: ATA Carnet issued by KIG (Poland), issue fee approximately PLN 2,800, carnet insurance at 1.2% (PLN 3,360) replaces the 30% cash deposit (PLN 84,000). Equipment returns complete, serial numbers match, carnet closed within 14 days of return.

Case 2. Polish rock band on a UK + Scandinavia tour

A touring band travels from Warsaw for 8 concerts: London → Manchester → Dublin → Stockholm → Oslo → Helsinki → Copenhagen → Berlin. Stage equipment (guitars, amplifiers, mixing desk, rigging) worth £180,000. Choice: ATA Carnet the only feasible option — separate TA in 7 countries would be logistically impossible. Carnet cost approximately £550 + insurance £2,700 + 8 × clearance £85 = £3,930 total. Alternatively: penalty for non-re-import = £180,000 × 120% = £216,000.

Case 3. Medical equipment exhibitor in London

A Polish orthopaedic equipment manufacturer exhibits prototypes at Medica (Düsseldorf) and Arab Health (Dubai). An ATA Carnet for 12 months covers both trade fairs plus additional presentations to distributors in the USA. Saving compared to three separate Temporary Admissions: approximately £600.

Case 4. Cyclist with a racing bike

A triathlete competing in Ironman Hawaii (USA) and Kona. Bike (value £12,000), triathlon shoes, wetsuit. An ATA Carnet from KIG is the safe solution — without one, a US customs officer could charge VAT (10% California sales tax) and hold the bike pending clarification.

How to order an ATA Carnet — working with Easy Clearance

Easy Clearance assists clients at every stage of the ATA Carnet process:

• Advice — whether an ATA Carnet is the best solution for your scenario (or whether a standard export, TA or our ATA Carnet service is more appropriate).
• Preparing the General List — correct goods classification, serial numbers, verification of compliance with the list of accepted goods in the destination country.
• Liaison with KIG / LCCI — carnet issue, fee transfer, document collection.
• Exit/entry handling — customs agents at UK and Polish borders, stamp assistance, contacts with local brokers in destination countries.
• Closing the carnet — stamp verification, deposit recovery, resolving issues with missing entries.

FAQ — ATA Carnet UK

How much does an ATA Carnet cost in the UK?

The LCCI issue fee is from £235 to £360 depending on the value of the goods and number of counterfoils. In addition, a security deposit of 30–40% of goods value is required — this can be replaced by carnet insurance at approximately 1–1.5% of value. A single trip costs approximately £400–£1,500 depending on scale.

How long does it take to issue an ATA Carnet?

Typically 3–5 working days from submission of a complete application to LCCI or KIG. In urgent cases (for an additional £50–£100) a carnet can be issued within 24–48 hours. We recommend starting at least 7–10 days before export, as any errors in the General List require correction.

Does the ATA Carnet work after Brexit between the UK and the EU?

Yes — the UK remained a member of the ATA system after Brexit. A carnet issued in the UK is valid in all 27 EU member states, and vice versa. Since Brexit the ATA Carnet has become more popular, because without one every journey with professional equipment between the UK and EU requires full customs clearance.

Can I use an ATA Carnet for selling goods at a trade fair?

Absolutely not. The ATA Carnet requires that all goods return to the issuing country in the same condition. Selling under a carnet is a customs offence and carries penalties: full duty + VAT + interest + administrative fines (totalling 120–200% of the value). If you plan to sell — use a standard export declaration.

What if the equipment is stolen or damaged abroad?

Report it immediately to the local customs authority and police. Obtain a protocol (police report + customs declaration of loss). With that document the issuing chamber (LCCI/KIG) can close the carnet without enforcing duty in the destination country. The cost of the goods is covered by your own insurance (cargo/equipment insurance) — the ATA Carnet is not goods insurance.

Does the ATA Carnet cover courier shipments?

No. The carnet requires the physical presence of a person (the holder or an authorised representative) at every border crossing. For DHL/UPS/FedEx, use a standard export declaration or Temporary Admission arranged by the courier.

Can I add goods to a carnet after it has been issued?

No, the General List is finalised at issue. If you need to add new goods, you must apply for a new carnet (or a replacement carnet if the original is lost). That is why careful planning of the list before applying is essential.

Official sources

• London Chamber of Commerce — ATA Carnets — LCCI, 2026
• Polish Chamber of Commerce — ATA Carnets — KIG, 2026
• ICC World Chambers Federation — ATA Carnet — ICC, 2026
• GOV.UK: Apply for an ATA Carnet — HMRC, 2026
• ATA Carnet Country Guides — WCF, 2026