ATA Carnet for Robotics

How to get an ATA Carnet in Switzerland

In Switzerland, ATA Carnets are issued by the regional chambers of commerce and industry, not by customs. All of them work through one central online portal, ataswiss.ch. Companies and private individuals can apply; chamber membership is not required (non-members pay more). Here is the whole process.

Step 1: Register once on ataswiss.ch

  1. Go to ataswiss.ch and select your chamber. Territorial competence follows your canton (see the table below).
  2. Submit the user-account application («Antrag für Carnet ATA»). You receive a PDF of the application and a usage contract by e-mail.
  3. Print, sign (legal entities: authorised signatures per your register entry; private individuals at some chambers enclose an ID copy) and send it by post to the chamber.
  4. The chamber verifies and activates your account and e-mails your username. From then on you create carnets entirely online.

Plan a few days for this one-time registration. Really, don't start it the week of your trip.

Step 2: Apply for the carnet

For each carnet you enter in the portal:

Step 3: Provide the security

The chamber guarantees foreign customs claims on your behalf, so it requires security before issuing. The model differs per chamber. Broadly it's either a refundable deposit (returned when the discharged carnet comes back) or a small non-refundable insurance premium:

Step 4: Receive the carnet

Typical processing: 1–5 working days, and every major chamber offers an express service (same-day to 4 hours, CHF 15–100 surcharge).

Step 5: After your trips, return it

After the final trip, at the latest on the expiry date, return the complete carnet (all stamped counterfoils plus unused vouchers) to your chamber, unprompted. The chamber verifies the stamps, discharges the carnet and releases your deposit. Chambers charge reminder fees for late returns and substantial handling fees if foreign customs file claims against an improperly discharged carnet.

Your chamber, fees and contact details

Standard pricing at almost all German-speaking chambers: CHF 95 (members) / CHF 130 (non-members) + 1‰ of the goods value, 12 inner sheets included. Geneva charges a percentage of the carnet value instead. Hours below are the carnet/export desks, as published on 11 June 2026.

RegionChamberContactDesk hours (Mon–Fri)
Zurich Zürcher Handelskammer Löwenstrasse 11, 8021 Zürich · +41 44 217 40 40 08:30–11:30, 13:30–16:30
Basel (BS/BL) Handelskammer beider Basel St. Jakobs-Strasse 25, 4010 Basel · +41 61 270 60 60 08:00–12:00, 13:00–16:30
Geneva CCIG Bd du Théâtre 4, 1204 Genève · +41 22 819 91 02 08:30–12:00, 13:00–17:00
Vaud CVCI Av. d'Ouchy 47, 1001 Lausanne · +41 21 613 35 35 08:00–12:00, 13:30–17:00
Bern Berner Handelskammer Kramgasse 2, 3001 Bern · +41 31 388 70 70 08:30–12:00, 13:30–16:30
Eastern CH (SG/AI/AR/GR) IHK St.Gallen-Appenzell Gallusstrasse 16, 9001 St.Gallen · +41 71 224 10 10 08:30–11:45, 13:30–16:00
Central CH (LU/ZG/UR/SZ/OW/NW) IHZ Kapellplatz 2, 6002 Luzern · +41 41 410 68 65 08:00–12:00, 13:30–17:00 (Fri to 16:30)
Aargau AIHK Entfelderstrasse 11, 5001 Aarau · +41 62 837 18 13 —
Winterthur HAW Turnerstrasse 1, 8401 Winterthur · +41 52 213 07 62 08:00–11:30 (mornings only)
Thurgau IHK Thurgau +41 71 622 19 19 08:00–12:00
Ticino Cc-Ti +41 91 911 51 29 · internazionale@cc-ti.ch —
Valais CCI Valais +41 27 327 35 35 pickup 08:00–12:00, 13:30–16:00
Solothurn SOHK +41 32 626 24 25 —
Neuchâtel CNCI — —

Fribourg, Jura and Liechtenstein chambers also issue via the portal. Pick them in the chamber chooser.

Timing cheat-sheet

First-ever carnet (incl. portal registration)allow 1–2 weeks
Subsequent carnets, normal processing1–5 working days (Geneva: 24 h)
Expresssame day to 4 hours, CHF 15–100 depending on chamber
Customs activation before first usecan be done in advance - see using your carnet

Sources

Every factual claim on this page comes from the sources below, checked on the "last reviewed" date in the footer. Official resources are linked in whatever language they are published in.