Carnet

At Gallagher Transport, we make international shipping simple, especially when your goods are headed abroad temporarily. A carnet acts like a “passport” for your products, allowing them to move seamlessly across borders without paying duties or taxes. With over 30 years of expertise, we guide you through every step of the carnet process, ensuring your documentation is accurate, your shipments clear customs quickly, and your business operates with confidence. For companies engaged in global trade, our carnet services are the key to smoother, faster, and more cost-effective international transactions.

What is a Carnet and Why It Matters for Your Business

A carnet is like a passport for goods. It lets businesses bring items into other countries for a short time without paying extra fees.

There are different types of carnets. An ATA carnet is for things like business samples, work equipment, or items for trade shows. A Carnet de Passages is for vehicles, like cars and trucks, when you want to take them across borders.

These temporary export documents help make international trade easier. They cut down on paperwork and simplify the process, making it less of a hassle for businesses that trade around the world.

How a Carnet Simplifies International Trade

When businesses need to move goods across countries temporarily, they use a carnet. This temporary export permit helps because they don’t have to pay extra taxes or fees when bringing things in for a short time. This makes it quicker and easier to get through customs.

A carnet is a temporary export permit that many countries accept. It cuts down on the amount of paperwork and makes things less complicated. Businesses can use one carnet for multiple trips in one year. Since the carnet is pre-approved, goods go through customs faster at the border.

Using a carnet also saves money. Companies don’t need to give cash or bonds at each border, which helps them keep more money on hand. This is important for smooth international trade.

The Difference Between an ATA Carnet and a Carnet de Passages

An ATA Carnet and a Carnet de Passages are different documents used for international shipping.

An ATA Carnet is used when you want to temporarily send things like business goods, tools, or items for a show to other countries. It’s usually good for one year and works in many places.

A Carnet de Passages is used when you take a vehicle, like a car or motorcycle, to another country for a short time. It acts like a promise that you will take the vehicle back out of that country before a certain date.

The main difference is what they are used for. ATA Carnets are for various goods and tools. Carnets de Passages are only for vehicles.

Each has its own rules about how long they last, how you get them, and what you need to follow for customs.

Benefits of Using a Carnet

A carnet helps businesses when they need to send goods to other countries. It makes it easier by letting them avoid paying extra fees and taxes for items that are not staying permanently.

With a carnet, businesses can move their goods to different countries using just one temporary export permit. This saves time and money because they don’t have to deal with complicated shipping rules or long delays at customs.

A carnet is a useful tool for companies involved in international trade.

Save Time and Avoid Customs Delays

Using a carnet with Gallagher Transport can help businesses speed up customs checks and avoid delays at the border. A carnet is a pre-approved customs paper that cuts down on the need for a lot of forms at each border stop.

Customs workers can handle carnet papers quickly because all the info is the same and already checked. This makes it easier for shipments to pass through customs than using regular methods. The carnet looks the same everywhere, so customs agents in different places can understand it easily, which helps prevent mistakes or confusion.

Also, people with a carnet don’t have to pay temporary import fees or duties at each border, which makes the process even quicker. This is really helpful for businesses that have to get deliveries done on time or have shipments that need to move fast.

Eliminate Duties and Taxes on Temporary Imports

When you use a carnet with Gallagher Transport, you save money and avoid headaches. A carnet helps you bring things like trade show items or professional tools into different countries without paying taxes or duties.

• Save a lot of money because you don’t have to pay security deposits at each border
• Skip the confusing VAT reclaim process and extra paperwork
• Keep your money free instead of stuck in customs deposits

This smart option lets you focus on your work in other countries without worrying about extra costs.

Gallagher Transport makes sure your goods move easily and for free between countries, helping you save time and money.

Travel to Multiple Countries with One Document

When businesses send goods to other countries, they can use one carnet document to make the process easier. This document acts like a passport for products, letting them pass through customs in different countries without needing new paperwork each time.

The carnet is good for one year and works for many trips in and out of the countries that accept it. This saves companies time because they don’t have to fill out new forms at every border.

Customs officials know how to handle these temporary export documents, so there are fewer delays or mix-ups when moving goods between countries. For businesses selling in different places, this simple process helps keep shipping on time and makes it easier to manage product delivery around the world.

Cost Savings and Simplified Logistics

Using a carnet service with Gallagher Transport helps businesses save money when trading globally. By simplifying paperwork, companies avoid paying customs fees, import duties, and taxes usually charged at borders. This method cuts costs and makes expenses easier to predict.

• Save up to 40% on customs fees at different borders
• No need for deposits, freeing up business money
• Spend less time and resources on customs forms

Carnets make moving equipment, samples, and work materials between countries easier. Businesses can focus on their main tasks instead of worrying about complicated customs rules.

With clear documents, they stay compliant during their trips.

What Can Be Shipped with a Carnet

Carnets cannot be used for shipping items that people use up, throw away, or plan to sell or give away.

This includes things like food, fuel, live animals, and anything that can spoil.

Also, you can’t use a carnet for things that will be fixed, changed, or worked on while being shipped.

What is Not Covered by Carnets

Carnets are like special passports for goods to travel temporarily across borders without paying extra taxes. But not everything can use a carnet. Here’s what you need to know:

• Perishable or Consumable Goods: Things that can spoil or get used up, like food, drinks, and cigarettes, can’t travel with a carnet because they won’t come back the same way they left.
• Goods for Fixing or Changing: If something is going to be fixed, made into something else, or changed in another country, it can’t use a carnet. This is because it won’t return in its original form.
• Items for Selling or Staying: Things that are meant to be sold or stay in the new country can’t use a carnet. Carnets are only for stuff that will come back.

For these items, companies need to find other paperwork to follow the rules when shipping goods across countries.

Where Carnets Are Accepted

ATA Carnets are widely recognized in over 80 countries, including most major trading nations in Europe, North America, Asia, and Oceania. However, acceptance varies, and it’s important to confirm eligibility before shipping. While Carnets make temporary imports and exports faster and duty-free in participating countries, several regions such as parts of South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia are not part of the ATA Carnet system. Additionally, some countries have specific restrictions: Russia officially withdrew from the program in 2022, and China limits ATA Carnet use primarily to goods for approved trade fairs and exhibitions.

Destinations That Do Not Accept Carnets

Many countries still operate outside the ATA Carnet network, meaning shipments to these locations require standard customs documentation and may be subject to duties, taxes, or temporary import bonds. Common examples include most nations in South America (except Chile and a few others), large parts of Africa, and many Southeast Asian countries. Because these rules can change, it’s essential to verify the latest list of participating countries before planning your shipment. Gallagher Transport can help you quickly determine if your destination accepts Carnets and guide you through alternative solutions when it doesn’t.

Validity and Extensions

An ATA Carnet allows goods to cross international borders without paying duties or taxes, as long as they are re-exported within the allowed timeframe. In most cases, a Carnet is valid for 12 months from the date of issue.

If you need additional time, it is sometimes possible to extend the validity, often referred to as a “replacement” or “substitute” Carnet, but the request must be made before the original Carnet expires. Extensions are granted only under certain conditions, such as unexpected delays, rescheduled events, or extended business needs, and they typically require:

• A valid reason for the extension
• Supporting documentation
• Possible administrative fees

Approval is subject to both the issuing authority and the customs authority in the destination country. Extensions are generally short-term and cannot be used to convert a temporary import into a permanent one. Gallagher Transport can help you navigate the application process, ensure paperwork is submitted on time, and avoid costly penalties for overstaying your Carnet’s validity.

How Gallagher Transport Helps You Get a Carnet

At Gallagher Transport, we take the stress out of obtaining an ATA Carnet. Our experienced team understands the process inside and out, ensuring your application is accurate, complete, and fully compliant with international regulations. From preparing documentation to coordinating with customs officials, we guide you every step of the way. If your Carnet is ever lost, damaged, or needs adjustments, we act quickly to resolve the issue and keep your shipments moving without costly delays.

With Gallagher Transport, you get expert support, attention to detail, and peace of mind for every cross-border shipment.

Expert Guidance Through the Application Process

Shipping goods internationally requires precise paperwork, and Gallagher Transport makes the temporary export procedure stress-free. Our experts verify every detail: inventory lists, item values, and compliance with international customs rules before submission. This careful approach prevents costly delays and ensures your shipment crosses borders smoothly.

• Expert review of all shipment documents
• Guaranteed compliance with customs regulations
• Accurate item listings to avoid clearance issues

Accurate Documentation to Avoid Delays

A Carnet is only as effective as the paperwork behind it. Gallagher Transport double-checks every document: commercial invoices, packing lists, equipment details, and insurance certificates to ensure accuracy down to serial numbers and product descriptions. We stay current on country-specific requirements, reducing the risk of customs delays and keeping your shipments moving.

End-to-End Logistics and Customs Support

From the first form to the final delivery, Gallagher Transport provides complete logistics and customs assistance. We coordinate with customs officials worldwide, track your shipment in real time, and quickly resolve any issues that arise. Our hands-on approach ensures your goods reach their destination without unnecessary delays.

Assistance with Lost or Damaged Carnet Documents

If your Carnet documents are lost or damaged, Gallagher Transport acts fast. We contact customs and issuing authorities, provide digital backups, and prepare replacement paperwork to keep your cargo moving. When needed, we arrange temporary documentation so shipments aren’t held up, and we advise on best practices to protect important papers in the future.

The Gallagher Transport Advantage

Decades of Experience in International Shipping

With over 30 years in global logistics, Gallagher Transport has processed more than 50,000 carnets and shipped goods to all six continents. Our expertise ensures compliance with customs rules, prevents costly delays, and keeps your international shipments moving smoothly.

Direct Communication and Fast Turnaround

Work directly with our carnet specialists for fast, accurate service. Most applications are completed within 1–2 business days, with every document carefully checked for compliance. Real-time tracking and updates keep you informed every step of the way.

Trusted by Businesses Nationwide

Gallagher Transport supports companies of all sizes across the U.S., providing reliable carnet services that minimize shipping delays. With strong partnerships in 87 countries and a 99.8% accuracy rate, we ensure your goods move across borders efficiently and confidently.

Get Started with Your Carnet Today

Applying for a carnet with Gallagher Transport is simple and fast. Our experts guide you through every step from completing forms to securing approval so your goods can move across borders smoothly. Reach out through our website or call our dedicated carnet team for personalized support.

Step-by-Step Process to Apply

Gallagher Transport makes obtaining a carnet straightforward. This document allows your goods to travel internationally without paying duties or taxes. The process includes three easy steps:

1. Submit Your Documentation: Provide an item list, values, and destinations to ensure your goods are properly covered while abroad.
2. Get Expert Guidance: Our team helps you select the right carnet type, determine validity, and calculate any deposits required.
3. Final Review: Specialists verify that all documents comply with customs rules for every country on your itinerary.

Most applications are processed within 3–5 business days, and a rush service is available if you need your carnet sooner. Our careful review minimizes the risk of delays at customs.

Contact Our Carnet Specialists Now

Need help with your carnet application? Our experts at Gallagher Transport are here to help.

We can guide you on preparing documents, understanding fees, and meeting customs rules for different places.

We promise to get back to you within one business day. If your need is urgent, our priority line is ready to help during business hours.

If this is your first time, you can book a free meeting with us to talk about what you need and learn about how the carnet process works.