TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Handling split consignments
- Terminating temporary admission under the ATA Carnet
- Transfer to a replacement carnet
- Extending final date for re-exportation and/or re-importation
In some cases, users must arrange travel plans and complete declarations to manage specific situations—such as handling split consignments, terminating a temporary admission under the ATA Carnet, transferring temporary admission benefits from an original carnet to a replacement, or extending the final deadline for duty-free re-exportation or re-importation. The following sections will discuss these scenarios and guide you on how to prepare for travel using either the ATA Carnet App or ATA Carnet Desktop.
Handling split consignments
Not all Customs administrations accept split consignments. Check with the relevant Customs administration before planning a split consignment.
If you intend to ship goods in separate parts (split consignments), you must create a dedicated Travel declaration in the ATA Carnet App or ATA Carnet Desktop for each portion of the consignment.
How to prepare a split consignment travel
The system allows the holder or representative to declare only the goods physically present for a specific trip. However, due to a current system limitation, special care is required when identifying items.
Prepare a Travel
In the ATA Carnet App or ATA Carnet Desktop, create a new travel declaration under the Travels tab.Enter the declared items (important)
When completing the Declared items section:- Do NOT use the “+ / –” selection functionality.
- The quantity selector always starts counting from item 1 and does not correctly support split consignments.
- You must manually enter the correct item numbers (e.g. 4–5) in the item number field.
Save and Transact
Save the travel declaration. The system generates the relevant transaction QR codes.
When the holder or representative presents the relevant QR code to Customs, the officer will see the goods declared for that specific partial shipment.
First journey: validation and partial export
Validation applies to the ATA Carnet and its complete General List. It is not limited to the goods selected for the first export movement.
If only part of the goods will be exported, the holder or authorised representative should select only the goods physically travelling in that movement when preparing the travel.
Customs can then complete Validation for the entire General List. The Export or Export without Exit transaction is processed for the goods selected in that particular travel.
Review the goods selection carefully before Customs commits the first transaction. Once any transaction associated with the prepared travel has been committed, the travel becomes read-only and can no longer be edited. In the EU two-step export procedure, this also applies once the Export without Exit transaction has been committed.
The current system does not allow an Export without Exit transaction to be cancelled or the associated prepared travel to be amended. If the declared goods change after this transaction has been committed, contact the relevant Customs administration for instructions on how to proceed.
Important: Validation covers the complete General List. The Export or Export without Exit transaction may cover only the goods included in that particular movement. Select the goods that will actually be exported before Customs commits the transaction, because the prepared travel cannot be edited afterwards.
Key points on transactions and planning
Automatic codes
Each prepared Travel generates a corresponding set of transaction codes (e.g. Exportation/Importation or Re-exportation/Re-importation). Transit codes may also be added if required.Voucher consumption
Each Travel consumes one carnet set (one voucher pair).Best practice
Plan shipments carefully and ensure sufficient available sets. If goods declared in a return transaction (e.g. Re-importation) do not exactly match the previous transaction (e.g. Re-exportation), an additional Travel may be required to correct the discrepancy, consuming another set.Important system limitation
Due to current system behaviour, item selection for split consignments must always be done manually by entering item numbers. The “+ / –” selection must not be used, as it may lead to incorrect declarations.
Terminating temporary admission under the ATA Carnet
Termination of temporary admission under an ATA Carnet occurs when Customs processes a re-exportation transaction, effectively closing the temporary admission granted under the initial importation declaration. This applies to all scenarios where goods leave the customs territory or change status (e.g., diverted to home use, placed under a Customs warehouse procedure).
From the ATA Carnet App or Desktop perspective, the holder or authorized representative prepares and submits the necessary declaration to generate the a set of Re-exportation and Re-importation transaction codes, which Customs uses to commit the termination.
Steps to Terminate Temporary Admission
- Access Carnet & Prepare Travel
Log into the ATA Carnet App/Desktop, select the carnet, and use Prepare a Travel to create the declaration. - Set Departure Country
Make sure the “From” field matches the customs territory where termination happens. The “To” field usually doesn’t matter unless export customs require a definite export; in that case, choose the country of export. - Select Items
In “Items not being re-exported,” select goods subject to termination. - Generate QR Code
Save the travel, then navigate to Travels, tap the QR icon, and swipe to the Re-exportation transaction code. Accept the disclaimer. - Present to Customs
Show the QR code (or Carnet ID + transaction code) to the Customs officer. - Customs Processing
The officer scans or inputs the code and commits the transaction in ATA Carnet Customs.
Once committed, confirmation appears in the Notifications tab.
Lastly, since goods declared for temporary export will not be returned to the export country, holders may use a re-importation transaction code to declare to Customs of the export country that the temporary export is being regularised into a definite export. If there are any export formalities to complete required by Customs, these are managed outside of the ATA Carnet System.
The app facilitates declaration; Customs performs the actual termination.
Transfer to a replacement carnet
Transferring temporary admission to a replacement carnet is essentially a termination followed by a new admission. Therefore, the process relies on the same principles described in the Termination section.
Key Steps
- Download Replacement Carnet
Use the eATA ID and PIN from the Issuing Association to add the replacement carnet to your digital wallet. - Prepare Travels
- Original Carnet: Create a travel for termination (Re-exportation/Re-importation codes).
- Replacement Carnet: Create a travel for new admission (Validation, Exportation, Importation codes).
- Execute Transactions
Customs commits these in sequence:- Home Customs:
- Original carnet → Re-importation
- Replacement carnet → Validation + Exportation
- Foreign Customs:
- Original carnet → Re-exportation
- Replacement carnet → Importation
- Home Customs:
The ATA Carnet System links both carnets automatically. Confirmation appears in Notifications.
Extending final date for re-exportation and/or re-importation
Extension of the allowed stay is also a termination followed by a new admission. Customs closes the previous period and opens a new one with an updated final date.
Process
For extending the Re-exportation date, key steps include:
- Close Previous Period
Prepare and present a Re-exportation transaction (see Termination steps). - Open New Period
Prepare and present an Importation transaction for the same goods. Customs sets the new final date during this step.
For extending the Re-importation date, the same logic applies:
- Terminate with Re-importation
- Open new period with Exportation
An extra travel set will be needed for each extension.
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