A Carnet allows you to ship something to another country temporarily without paying duty or tax to customs and have it return to the origin country so that it is handled properly by customs on both ends. You can think of it as a passport for the item you are shipping. Just as you should always have your passport with you when you travel internationally, the Carnet must stay with the item being shipped at all times and go through all the processing you do when you leave and enter a country. The process for shipping something under a Carnet is very specific and particular. It is extremely important that the receiver knows the importance of their steps in the process to avoid delays and ensure proper handling of the shipment and Carnet.
In addition to the process below, an orange pre-alert sticker (supplied by DHL) must also be on the outside of the package. If you are a Preferred Shipping customer, let us know that you are working on a Carnet shipment, and we will work with the local DHL station to get some stickers to you so you can put them on the packaging as you prepare the shipment. If the shipment is multiple pieces, each piece needs the orange sticker on the outside of the boxes.
It is suggested that you make this waybill in MyDHL+ and not in PSCSHIP since MyDHL+ has some sections that help notify DHL of the carnet attached to the shipment. When you prepare the waybill and get to the “Electronic Export Filing” section, select “No” and in the drop-down menu select “FTR – I will use a Foreign Trade Regulations exemption.” In the drop-down menu that appears below that, select “30.37(q).” That code is for temporary exports.
When making the waybill, the description of contents should simply read “ATA CARNET.” A copy of the physical ATA Carnet paperwork needs to be firmly attached to the outside of the shipment in a heavy-duty, resealable pouch and clearly marked “CARNET.” If the shipment has multiple pieces, the original ATA Carnet should be attached to piece number one.
Since the Carnet functions as the customs Invoice, do not include a separate Commercial Invoice. It can cause confusion and errors with customs clearance.
When you schedule the pickup, add a note that the shipment is moving on a Carnet. And when the driver picks it up, make sure they know it is moving on a Carnet. If you are a Preferred Shipping customer, let us know when you have scheduled the pickup before the driver gets there so that we can aid in the alerting of DHL for them to follow their internal processes.
When the receiver is ready to return the shipment, they need to follow all of these same instructions with the original ATA Carnet, wording, orange stickers and waybill. If they are not using DHL Express as the carrier to make the return, they are responsible to ensure that carrier is aware of the nature of the Carnet so they follow the rules that carrier has and the shipment can be cleared properly through customs on both ends.
If you are the receiver of the temporary import, it is very important to make sure the sender works closely with DHL Express on their end when the shipment is picked up to ensure it is properly handled for leaving the country. Otherwise, the Carnet may not apply and you may have to pay duties and taxes as if it were a regular shipment.
Please contact our office at 800-827-7987 or customerservice@preferredship.com if you need assistance and are a customer of Preferred Shipping.
