ATA Carnets

If you travel with commercial samples, professional equipment, scientific equipment, goods for use or display at exhibitions and fairs, or sports equipment for re-import into New Zealand, you should consider using a Carnet. You can save yourself a lot of money and hassle by taking a Carnet with you.

A Carnet is essentially a passport for your goods, enabling you to make all those tiresome customs arrangements before you go and at a pre-determined cost, which includes an administration fee and a security deposit. The security bond will differ depending on the country and goods for which the Carnet is required, and is based on the total value of the goods.  

A Carnet binds you to return your goods to New Zealand.  If you don't return the goods, duty and/or sales tax will be deducted from the bond paid to the country in which the goods were disposed of.

The alternative is to negotiate with customs authorities for each nation you visit, presenting a security bond at each border – the size of which may be unknown and unpredictably large.

The Carnet, valid for 12 months, may be used on a regular basis in many different countries for a wide range of goods

Please note that some countries do not accept Carnets, and other countries accept Carnets only for certain categories of goods.

Further information on Carnets in general, downloadable application forms, and security deposit rates may be viewed on the Wellington Chamber of Commerce website.