How To Get A Carnet De Passage For A Thai Motorbike

Want to know how you even begin getting a Carnet De Passage on your Thai motorcycle? Look no further. After having just gone through the process myself, I decided to write an article for other ADV travellers, hoping it will help people in the same position I was. In this article, you’ll learn where to get a CDP, how much it costs, and what you need it for.

Where Do I Get A Carnet De Passage?

For Thai bikes, you have 3 options:

The most affordable of the three, with the best refund terms, is CARS (United Kingdom). The deposit asked is the lowest out of all companies, and the refund conditions are better than the more expensive Czech Autoturist (can take up to 16 weeks for refund).

CARS take up to 8 weeks to refund your deposit. If you need your deposit back quickly, go with Touring Suisse Club, many report receiving their deposit in just days.

How Much Does A Carnet De Passage Cost?

The price varies from company to company, but the range can be between $200-$500. This depends on the number of pages you want with the Carnet, and the time that it is valid for. You can choose between 5, 10, and 25 pages, and a validity of 3, 6, 9, or 12 months.

Some companies may have additional extra fees such as express postage & service time, and extra costs to extend the validity of the Carnet.

If you are travelling long-term, and doing an overland trip it’s recommended to get the 25-page document. Each country you travel to will require a separate page to stamp, so if you only have 5 pages, that’s only 5 countries!

Now this seems quite cheap, but what you’ll be shelling out for with the Carnet is the part-refundable deposit.

The pricing on this can be utterly insane. For instance, Touring Club Suisse (if you’re going to Pakistan) wants a 450% upfront deposit on the market value of your bike, and they measure this value based on cost of the bike in Switzerland.

This means you could be paying up to $13-15k USD minimum on a pretty cheap bike.

For instance, my Honda CT125 (purchased in Thailand for $2200) they were asking a minimum $11,000 for a deposit.

This is why I would personally recommend not using Touring Suisse Club if you can find a different company. They are the most expensive, however, refunds on the deposit are exceptionally quick.

What Do I Need To Get A Carnet De Passage?

To obtain a Carnet De Passage, you will need:

  • Original green book with you as the listed owner
  • Valid driving license
  • Valid residence in the country of the bike (just use the address your bike was registered to)

Which Countries Do I Need A Carnet For?

This list can vary a lot check the most up-to-date list here.

Here’s an updated list of countries where a carnet is typically required or strongly recommended for motorcycle travel (2025):

  • Algeria
  • Botswana
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini (Swaziland)
  • Kenya
  • Lesotho
  • Libya
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Rwanda
  • South Africa
  • Sudan
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • India
  • Iran
  • Japan
  • Malaysia (for vehicles transiting via Singapore)
  • Pakistan
  • Singapore
  • Sri Lanka
  • Bahrain
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Syria
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE)
  • Yemen
  • Australia
  • New Zealand

Regions/Countries Where a Carnet is Optional or Not Required

Some countries don’t require a carnet but having one can simplify the process or help avoid additional fees:

  • South America: Most countries use a Temporary Import Permit (TIP) instead.
  • Central America & North America: Not required, but Mexico may require TIP.
  • Europe: Carnet is not required in most European countries, including Turkey.
  • Russia and Central Asia: Carnet is generally not required but can sometimes ease entry.

Important notes:

  1. Updates and Exceptions: Always verify requirements with the destination country’s embassy or consulate before travel, as rules can change.
  2. Border Issues: Even if a carnet is not required by law, some customs officials may still ask for one, depending on the country or border crossing.
  3. Countries with TIP Systems: Temporary Import Permits (TIPs) are an alternative to carnets in many places.

How Do I Get A Refund on My Carnet?

To get a refund on your Carnet De Passage deposit, you need to:

  • Return the original document with all stamps 3 months before the expiry date
  • Show that you have left Carnet country (tourist visa/import permit for next country)
  • Obtain letter from FIA for proof (Optional, only needed with Czech Autoturist Carnet)

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