Carnet de Passage

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.

Usage

The "Carnet" allows travellers to temporarily import their vehicles 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 not be re-exported from that country. Persons who temporarily import their vehicles 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 vehicle – make, model, colour, engine capacity, seating capacity, registration number, owner and value.

In order to obtain a "Carnet", the owner of a vehicle is required to provide a security based on the age and market value of the vehicle. Generally three types of security are acceptable from motoring organisations:

* Cash bond;
* Banker's letter of indemnity;
* Insurance policy.

Motorists can obtain a "Carnet de Passages en Douane" from their national automobile association or touring club.

The following bodies are authorised to issue a Carnet:

* North America - [http://www.caa.ca/english/travel/documentation/passages-cdn.html CAA]
* United Kingdom - RAC
* India - [http://www.aasindia.org/ Automobile Association of Southern India]
* Norway - [http://www.naf.no/ Norwegian Automobile Federation]
* Poland - [http://www.pzmot.pl/ PZMot]

Countries where a CPD is accepted

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.

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.

Asia and Middle East

Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

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.

Oceania

Australia, New Zealand, and Vanuatu.

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.

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. Fact|date=May 2008

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. Fact|date=May 2008

Americas

None

Asia and Middle East

Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates

Europe

None

Oceania

Australia (not required, but recommended), Vanuatu.

External links

* [http://www.aitgva.ch/AIT_Site/Public/InterDocs/CPD.htm Alliance Internationale De Tourisme]
* [http://www.adac.de/images/L%C3%A4nder%C3%BCbersicht%20deutsch_tcm8-80801.pdf Overview of countries requiring a carnet]