If you travel internationally for business with samples, exhibits, or demo equipment, the ATA Carnet program can help you clear customs quickly and avoid paying duties and taxes. 

Whether you’re heading to a sales meeting, a product demonstration, an international trade show, or a business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking mission to boost your exports, an ATA carnet acts like a passport for your goods—allowing temporary, duty‑free entry into participating countries. 

Business travel can be complicated, especially when you’re carrying product samples or bulky equipment across borders. You declare your purpose at customs, but officers may still treat your samples as imported goods and apply duties on the spot—even if you intend to bring everything home. That’s where an ATA carnet makes the difference. One document can help you move through customs efficiently and avoid unexpected fees and paperwork. 

An ATA carnet is often described as a passport for goods. Developed in 1961 by the World Customs Organization (WCO), the ATA carnet program allows business travellers to temporarily import commercial goods into participating countries without paying duties or taxes. 

Carnets are issued by national associations such as the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and are accepted in more than 75 countries worldwide. One carnet covers most commercial goods and be used for multiple trips over a one‑year period. 

You may need an ATA carnet if you’re travelling internationally with goods that will be returned to Canada, including: 

• Product samples for sales meetings 
• Trade show displays and exhibition materials 
• Professional equipment used for demonstrations or servicing 

Without a carnet, you may need to complete multiple temporary customs forms when exiting Canada, entering your destination country and returning home. If you’re visiting several countries, this process repeats at every border—and forms may not always be available in English or French. 

An ATA carnet replaces this paperwork with a single, standardized document that customs officials recognize internationally, helping reduce delays and administrative burden. 

Even when goods are clearly intended for temporary use, customs officials may assume they’ll be sold in market and apply duties and taxes on entry. 

An ATA carnet identifies your goods as temporary imports, confirming that they’ll be exported again within the carnet’s validity period. As a result, you can usually clear customs without paying duties or taxes upfront. It’s generally valid for up to one year from the date of issue. This means your goods must be re-exported within that one-year period to avoid duties and taxes. In some cases, you can request an extension or a replacement carnet, but the standard maximum validity is 12 months.  

It covers most commercial goods used for business travel, including samples, tools and equipment. 

It doesn’t cover: 

• Goods that will be consumed, for example promotional giveaways, food and beverage samples, fuel, or medical supplies intended for use at an event 
• Goods that will be sold, like merchandise at a trade show, artwork to be auctioned, or electronics destined for retail customers 

Goods that will be altered, repaired, or disposed of abroad (e.g., machinery sent for overseas repair, prototypes left for testing, or equipment being scrapped, or recycled in a foreign country) 

A simple rule applies: What goes out must come back in the same condition. 

ATA carnets are accepted in more than 75 countries and territories worldwide, including the United States, the European Union, United Kingdom and Japan. To verify the current list of participating countries and territories, you should review CCC’s carnet countries listing. Acceptance can vary by country and by type of goods, so it’s important to confirm requirements in advance of travel. 

In Canada, ATA carnets are administered by the CCC. Canadian businesses can apply online, with standard processing completed within five business days. Expedited services may also be available. Fees are typically based on the value of the goods being temporarily exported. 

ATA carnets are designed for temporary exports. If you’re shipping goods permanently, you may still need additional documentation. 

A certificate of origin confirms where goods were produced and may be required for: 

• Permanent exports 
• Banking transactions such as letters of credit 
• Shipments to countries without a free trade agreement with Canada 

If your shipment falls under a free trade agreement, certification requirements may differ, depending on the destination market and rules of origin.