Carnet de Passages

A Carnet de Passages en Douane is a document that facilitates the temporary importation of vehicles, or other property of significant value, across international borders without incurring customs duties. It is effectively a promise that the owner will take the vehicle or property back out of the nation on departure, or risk hefty penalties.

While a carnet de passages is most commonly used for a vehicle, professional musicians or photographers may need one when travelling with a lot of equipment, as may a business person bringing goods for use at a trade show.

Carnet de Passages Halal Travel Guide

A carnet listing comprehensive details on a vehicle and its value can be obtained from local automobile associations in your country. Often a bank deposit is also needed. As this document is intended for temporary importation, it is typically limited to one year or less.

The carnet is stamped by the destination country's customs on both entry and exit, as proof that the items were re-exported.

If you plan to bring anything expensive or unusual, check with the destination country's embassy beforehand about what documentation may be required.

Obtaining a carnet before departure

International driving agencies (such as ADAC in Germany) often offer Carnet de Passages services.

Estimated costs are at least €300 in Europe or NZ$600 in New Zealand (motoring clubs may charge more for non-members) plus a bond or indemnity which is returned after importing the vehicle back into the nation of registration.

The indemnity amount is nominally the total amount of duty that would be payable if the property is not removed within the agreed time, including luxury taxes and value added taxes, plus a penalty. Thit is calculated as a fixed amount plus a percentage of the item's value (for instance, NZ $13000 + 15% in duties + 10% GST/VAT for a New Zealand vehicle in Australia). Tax rates vary between destinations (up to 400% of the vehicle's value in some volatile countries) and penalty sums also differ widely. A minimum guarantee fee of €3000 is not uncommon for vehicles from Europe.

Alliance Internationale de Tourisme (AIT) and sicpage/file/CPD%20brochure%20English.pdf Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), two international non-governmental organizations, nominally administer the use of the carnet globally in accordance with United Nations conventions. More than 230 touring clubs, automobile associations, motor sports federations and national tourist offices in 124 countries are AIT or FIA members.

net/ CAA in Canada and mobiles-travel/international-travel/customspassports/ AAA in the United States
_freizeit/ratgeber_reisen/fahrzeug_reisen/carnet_de_passage/default.aspx?tabid=tab1 ADAC in Germany
ng/reiseinfos/themen/zolldokumente.php TCS in Switzerland
net-requirements-pricing AA in South Africa
RAC in most Australian states
y-fees/export-import-car/exporting-a-car-temporarily/ AA in New Zealand

Countries that require carnets

Carnet de passages - Carnet required and Carnet recommended destinations for temporary importation of vehicles.

Not all countries require carnets, but the following are most likely to do so:

Africa

Burundi
Cameroon
Central African Republic
Chad
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Libya
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Sudan
Uganda

Asia / Middle East

Bangladesh
India
Iran
Japan
Jordan
Kuwait
Nepal
Oman
Pakistan
Qatar
Singapore (except for Peninsular Malaysia-registered vehicles)
Sri Lanka
Syria
United Arab Emirates

Oceania

Australia (temporary import without a carnet is feasible, but requires es/importing-your-vehicle-without-a-carnet/ a deposit and a Vehicle Import Approval)
Indonesia
New Zealand

South America

Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Paraguay
Peru
Venezuela

Carnet de Passages

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