ATA Carnet: The 'Passport for Goods' Simplifying Temporary Cross-Border Movement
The cross-border movement of goods is not always related to trade. In various international activities, such as exhibitions, performances, conferences, and sporting events, a number of goods only enter a country for temporary use before returning to their country of origin. To facilitate this need, there is a scheme called ATA Carnet, known as an international ‘passport for goods’.
Head of the Customs and Excise Public Relations and Counselling Sub-directorate, Budi Prasetiyo, stated that ATA Carnet is a facility that provides convenience for business actors and organisers of international events in bringing goods to various countries without having to go through complex temporary import procedures.
‘ATA Carnet can be understood as a passport for goods used temporarily in another country. With this document, the process of bringing goods in and out becomes simpler, thus supporting the smooth running of various international economic activities,’ said Budi.
ATA Carnet is an international customs document valid in member countries of the relevant convention. This document allows goods to enter a country without being subject to import duties and taxes as long as the goods will be re-exported within a specified period.
According to Budi, one of the main advantages of ATA Carnet is the use of a single document that serves multiple functions simultaneously, namely as a temporary import permit, an international customs document, and a guarantee document. With this mechanism, users do not need to manage various separate documents in each destination country.
This facility is generally utilised to support exhibitions, trade fairs, international meetings, art performances, professional activities, and the organisation of global-scale sporting events. Various items such as film production equipment, musical instruments, technological devices, and exhibition materials can utilise this scheme as long as they meet the applicable requirements.
Budi explained that goods using ATA Carnet must be temporary, not consumable during use, easily identifiable, and not undergo any change in form while in the destination country. These provisions are necessary to ensure the goods can be re-exported according to the original purpose of their entry.
Along with the increase in international activities, the utilisation of ATA Carnet in Indonesia is also showing an increasingly positive trend. The rise in the organisation of international exhibitions, conferences, and sporting events drives the need for a fast and efficient customs mechanism.
One prominent example of ATA Carnet utilisation was during the Mandalika MotoGP event. Through this facility, various technical equipment and supporting race gear could enter and exit Indonesia in a relatively short time, thereby supporting the smooth running of the event.
Despite providing convenience, Customs and Excise continues to supervise the use of this facility. Budi affirmed that supervision is carried out through document research, physical inspection of goods, and monitoring of re-export obligations to ensure the facility is used in accordance with the provisions.
‘We continue to maintain a balance between providing facilities and carrying out supervision. The goal is for the convenience provided to support international economic activities without reducing compliance with customs regulations,’ he said.
In its implementation in Indonesia, the issuance and guarantee of ATA Carnet is carried out by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin). This institution plays a role in ensuring that carnet holders fulfil all obligations attached to the use of the document.
Looking ahead, the ATA Carnet system is also being directed towards digitalisation through the development of an e-ATA Carnet. This initiative is expected to accelerate administrative processes, reduce the use of physical documents, and strengthen the integration of Indonesian customs services with the international trading system.
Budi assessed that the existence of ATA Carnet demonstrates the modern role of Customs and Excise, which is not only tasked with supervising the flow of goods but also facilitating the smooth running of global economic activities. Through increasingly efficient services supported by strong supervision, ATA Carnet is expected to continue to be a solution for the temporary cross-border mobility of goods while supporting the improvement of Indonesia’s competitiveness on the international stage.