THE CARNET PROCESS IN CUSTOMS
As is true with most things in the production world, the key to a pleasant customs experience is to do your due diligence in advance. There are a few very important things to know before you head to the airport when using a carnet.
· Make sure you know where you’re going before you depart for the airport. Some times the customs office is not located in the terminal where you will check-in and depart from. I’ve come across multiple instances where the customs office is airside, and you’re required to call the office when you arrive at the airport and request that an agent meet you landside for customs clearance.
· Be sure to check for any possible schedule conflicts between the customs office hours and your flight schedule. If you have a very early or late flight, the customs office at the airport might very well be closed. Much better to know this in advance so you can take the steps necessary to get your carnet stamped.
When you initially depart the US, a representative from the customs office will look over all your gear to confirm that what is listed on the carnet is in fact in the cases, and vice versa. Once they feel confident that what you’ve stated on the carnet is accurate, they’ll stamp the carnet “out” of the US.
From that point, the process of getting your carnet stamped when passing through customs along the way is fairly simple, as long as you have everything in good order. Upon arrival into a new country, you’ll need to go through the “something to declare” line each time you arrive in a new country. Once the local customs agents are confident that everything on your carnet is accurate, they’ll stamp your carnet “in” to the country, remove their portion of the documentation from your carnet (called vouchers), and you’re free to go.
You’re required to get your carnet stamped in and out of most countries, but it's important to note that when traveling in Europe, there is no need to stamp in and out of each country as long as you remain in the EU.
When its time to depart the country you’re in, you’ll again need to visit the customs office. The local agents will look over your gear and confirm that you’re leaving the country with everything you carried in. Again they’ll stamp you “out”, remove their vouchers, and you're free to head to the check-in counter and proceed as usual.
Similar to the US, the customs offices in airports around the world are not always easy to find. It’s very helpful to research the airport before arrival so you have an idea of where you’re going.
As long as you do your homework and show up organized & prepared you shouldn’t have any problems. That doesn’t mean, however, that it will be a quick process. One experience in Asia required me to go through security three separate times before it was all said and done. Inconveniently their customs office was airside, and I had to make multiple passes to get the carnet stamped. Always allow yourself at least an extra hour for customs clearance at the airport, in addition to the time needed for the check-in process with the airline.
One consideration to make your life easier, and in some instances, a requirement is hiring customs assistance. This is simply a person local to the region of which you’ll be arriving that has experience with the customs laws of that specific country and will speak on your behalf to the local agents when you're getting your carnet stamped. Beyond their customs knowledge, they help with the language barrier, which can be a lifesaver in some countries.
Whenever China is on my itinerary, for example, I always work with my cargo agent in advance to arrange this. But there are other countries where it’s practically required to ensure you’ll clear customs, even when traveling with a carnet.
As with many things, this all sounds easy in theory but can be tougher when putting it into practice. However, I can assure you that if your carnet is in order and you do your homework before getting to the airport, you’ll have a much better experience and rarely an issue when going through customs.
Best of luck and safe travels!