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UK ATA Carnet FAQ

Short answers for carnet users in the UK, with links to the detailed pages. New to carnets? Start with What is an ATA Carnet? Something already went wrong? Fix a problem has the recovery playbooks.

How much does an ATA Carnet cost in the UK?

At LCCI: £270 (members) or £444 (non-members) including VAT for a standard carnet, plus the security. Express service is £540/£714. The other 20 issuing chambers set their own fees, so ask the chamber you plan to use.

Do I really need a carnet just to take equipment to the EU?

Since 1 January 2021 Great Britain is outside the EU customs union, so temporarily moving equipment GB to EU is an export and an import. You need some customs treatment, and an ATA Carnet is the standard way to get temporary-admission relief without paying duties and VAT at each border. Alternatives like temporary-admission declarations exist but involve per-country paperwork.

Does one carnet stamp cover all EU countries?

Yes. The EU is one customs territory for carnet purposes: you select "European Union" as the destination, and the import stamp at your first EU entry covers all 27 member states. You re-export once, when leaving the EU.

What about Northern Ireland?

Different rules. gov.uk says explicitly that moving goods temporarily between Northern Ireland and Great Britain follows different rules (the Windsor Framework). Talk to your chamber before assuming a carnet is the right tool for an NI leg.

How fast can I get a carnet?

LCCI issues standard carnets within 24 hours of submission and express carnets within 2 hours, with processing 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Add postage or collection time. Other chambers have their own turnaround.

What security do I have to provide?

Security equal to the highest rate of duty and taxes applicable to your goods in any destination or transit country, plus a possible 10% penalty. For the EU the rate-chart figure is 40% of the goods value. You can provide it as a refundable cash deposit or banker’s draft, a bank guarantee, or LCCI’s non-refundable Carnet Security Scheme (quote only, rates aren’t published). Security can be bought for 2, 6 or 12 months.

How long is a carnet valid, and can I extend it?

Twelve months from issue, multiple trips, never extendable. For longer stays a replacement carnet arranged before expiry works in most countries, but India, Japan, Morocco and Taiwan don’t allow replacement carnets, and the USA accepts neither replacements nor transits.

Do I need serial numbers on the goods list?

For all electrical items, yes: robots, laptops, sensors, controllers. If an item has no serial number or it’s illegible, write NSN at the end of the description. Prototypes can be marked as prototypes.

Anything special for drones?

List make, model and serial number, and note that drones can be subject to customs restrictions in some countries. UK guidance says to check with the receiving customs whether additional permits or licences are needed before applying for the carnet.

Can I put lithium batteries on the carnet?

We found no UK-specific carnet guidance on batteries, so confirm with your chamber how to list them. Either way, transporting lithium batteries is a separate dangerous-goods question (IATA rules by air, ADR by road), independent of the carnet.

Can I sell goods abroad while they’re on the carnet?

Only as an exception, and only with the host country’s customs approval first: customs may allow the sale, after which you regularise the carnet with duty-paid documentation. Selling without approval means duty, taxes, administrative charges and a penalty.

Does a carnet replace an export licence?

No. For dual-use or controlled goods you still need the relevant export and import licences; UK strategic export controls (Export Control Joint Unit) apply independently of the carnet.

Is the UK carnet digital now?

From 1 June 2026, carnets for the UK, EU, Norway and Switzerland are digital: you get a PIN and QR code, load the carnet in the ATA Carnet App, create a "travel" per movement and sync after each scan. Whether every UK border point can scan them yet is unconfirmed, so ask your chamber whether your route handles digital carnets before relying on it.

Who do I contact when something goes wrong?

Your issuing chamber first, and HMRC’s National Carnet Unit (atacarnetunit@hmrc.gov.uk) for the customs side: missed stamps, Certificates of Location, substitute carnets. The step-by-step playbooks are on our UK problems page.

Where the long answers live

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.