Carnet de Passage
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The Carnet de Passages en Douane (CPD) is a customs document that identifies a driver's motor vehicle. It is required in order to take a vehicle into a significant but diminishing number of countries around the world.
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[edit] Usage
The Carnet allows travellers to temporarily import their vehicles, or other items of value such as broadcasting equipment, without having to leave a cash deposit at the border. It is, in essence, an international guarantee for payment of customs duties and taxes to a government should the vehicle or item not be re-exported from that country. Persons who temporarily import their vehicles or items into countries where the Carnet is required must agree to obey the laws and regulations of that country and particularly the conditions of temporary importation.
The Carnet contains relevant information about the items or vehicle – make, model, colour, engine capacity, seating capacity, registration number, owner and value.
In order to obtain a Carnet, the owner of the items is required to provide a security based on the age and market value of the items. Generally three types of security are acceptable from motoring organisations:
- Cash bond;
- Banker's letter of indemnity;
- Insurance policy.
Motorists can typically obtain a Carnet de Passages en Douane from their national automobile association or touring club, some of which are listed below:
- North America - AAA/Canadian Automobile Association
- United Kingdom - RAC plc
- Sweden - Motormännens Riksförbund
[edit] Countries where a CPD is accepted
[edit] Africa
In certain African countries, the CPD is not officially required, but is often used to facilitate temporary importation of a vehicle. Countries where the CPD may be used include: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Côte d'Ivoire, Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
2010 Senegal Does not use the Carnet de Passage anymore.
[edit] Americas
Argentina, Brazil (not required for vehicles entering by land routes, but required for vehicles arriving by boat), Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dutch Antilles, Ecuador, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
[edit] Asia and Middle East
Bahrain, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
[edit] Europe
Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Italy, Monaco, Netherlands, and Turkey. In these European countries, the CPD is required only for certain categories of vehicles. The CPD is not required in these countries for private cars.
[edit] Oceania
Australia, New Zealand, and Vanuatu.
[edit] Countries where a CPD is required
This list has countries that are known to require a CPD but there may be more that are not yet verified.
[edit] Africa
Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Libya, Senegal (for vehicles older than 5 years), Southern African Customs Union (BW/NA/LS/SZ/ZA), Sudan, Uganda.
Other countries have a mechanism for temporarily importing a vehicle. This document is often referred as Passavant, Laissez-Passer or Salvo Conducto. A small fee is often charged to obtain it, and it allows the vehicle to be imported and driven for up to 1 month. It replaces the Carnet in that country, and should be returned to the customs office upon leaving the country.
From 2006 Senegal is easing the requirement for a Carnet de Passage. It is only required at the North Border, and drivers usually get through without a Carnet by paying a variable amount between 80-100 Euros.[citation needed]
Also from 2006, Egypt now has its own Carnet, available for those without a valid Carnet de Passage at the borders. It still requires a cash deposit (up to 2000 Euros) which is returned upon exit.[citation needed]
[edit] Americas
A carnet is not required anywhere in North, Central, or South America. Some out of date web sites still falsely note that Equador requires one. The law was changed on September 21st, 2004 with Executive Decree 2082 which modified the national customs law.
[edit] Asia and Middle East
Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates
[edit] Europe
None
[edit] Oceania
Australia (required since 2009), Vanuatu.
