Hand-Carried and Shipped Goods Are Both Eligible for a Carnet

Two of the most common questions asked of our Carnet Specialists are:

1) whether items on a carnet have to be shipped and 2) whether items on a carnet have to be hand-carried.

The answer is that both shipped and hand-carried goods or equipment are eligible to be listed on an ATA Carnet.

Whether you will ship the goods by ocean, air or surface and other parties will clear customs with them or hand-carry the goods and clear customs yourself, they can be listed on the carnet. The only consideration is who will present the carnet along with the goods at each customs entry and exit point. As long as your Authorized Representatives are listed accurately on the carnet, in the case of shipped goods, those persons can present the carnet along with the goods to customs. Otherwise, in the case of hand-carried goods, you will present the carnet along with the items to be cleared through customs when you enter and exit each country.