What is A Carnet De Passage & How Can I To Get One?

Ever wondered what a Carnet De Passage is? Well fear not, because in this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Carnets, how to get one and what you’ll need it for. Let’s dive in.

What is A Carnet De Passage?

How Does a Carnet Work?

Basically, if you do not leave the country and get an exit stamp, the security deposit (paid upfront), will be released to the relevant authorities to cover the importation fees on your vehicle.

These deposits can be fairly hefty because of this, with some companies asking for 450% the market value of the bike.

Here’s a quick overview of how a CDP works and what it’s for:

1. Purpose:
   A carnet acts as a guarantee to the customs authorities of the country you’re entering. It ensures that you won’t sell the vehicle while you’re in the country and that you will export it when your visit is over.
2. Structure:
   • It’s a physical document, often in the form of a booklet, containing multiple vouchers and counterfoils.
   • Each time you cross a border, customs officers stamp and sign the carnet to document your entry and exit.
3. Guarantee System:
   • To obtain a carnet, you must provide a financial guarantee or security deposit. This serves as collateral for the import duties and taxes that would be due if you failed to export your vehicle.
   • The amount required depends on the value of your vehicle and the country you’re visiting (some require a guarantee of up to 500% of the vehicle’s value).

How Much Does A Carnet De Passage Cost?

Additional fees may apply, such as charges for express postage, expedited processing, or extending the carnet’s validity.

For long-term overland trips, it’s recommended to opt for the 25-page carnet, as each country you visit will require a separate page for customs stamps. For example, a 5-page carnet would only suffice for five countries.

The price doesn’t sound too bad eh?

Wait until you hear about the deposits…

The Real Cost (The Deposit)

While the upfront carnet fee might seem reasonable, the biggest expense is the part-refundable deposit, which serves as a financial guarantee to cover potential import duties.

This deposit can be extraordinarily high. For example, Touring Club Suisse requires a deposit of up to 450% of the vehicle’s market value (if going to Pakistan). They additionally determine the market value based on the cost of the bike in Switzerland, which can drastically inflate the deposit amount if your bike is from a cheaper country such as India or Thailand.

Example Costs:

• A Honda CT125 purchased in Thailand for $2,200 would require a deposit of approximately $11,000.
• For higher-end bikes, deposits can be far juicer (imagine a BMW GS!)

Do I Actually Need A Carnet?

Depending on the countries you are travelling through, you may not need a Carnet De Passage. For instance, in Europe, no CDP is needed for travel in any country except Turkiye. If you need an up-to-date list of all of the countries that require a Carnet De Passage for travel, check this list here.

The cost of a Carnet is pretty astronomical so you could plan an overland route that avoids all countries which use Carnet De Passages. It all comes down to where you want to visit, and what your budget is.

Where Can I Purchase A Carnet De Passage?

There are varying companies you can use to purchase a Carnet De Passage, it depends on which country you are from. It is advised to get a CDP from the country your bike is registered in. However, if there are no associations which offer this service, you are able to use foreign countries to do so.

For instance, Thailand does not have any associations or services that can provide Carnet De Passage documents. So how do you get a Carnet De Passage for Thailand? In this case, you can use an overseas company such as Touring Club Suisse, CARS, or Czech Autoturist.

What Documents Do I Need?

How Do I Get My Deposit Back?

When you’ve completed your journey in Carnet country, or reached the end of your carnet’s validity period, you can apply to have your deposit refunded. This process involves proving that your vehicle has either exited all countries listed on your carnet OR been properly exported from its last country of use.

1. Return the Carnet to the Issuer
   • Submit the physical carnet booklet to the issuing organization.
   • Ensure all the required exit stamps from customs offices are present for every country visited.
2. Provide Proof of Vehicle Export:
   • Customs stamps showing the vehicle’s exit from the country are crucial.
   • If the carnet lacks stamps for any country, you may need additional documentation (e.g., shipping documents or customs clearance forms) to prove the vehicle was exported.
3. Complete Additional Paperwork:
   • Some organizations require a formal application for the refund.
   • Include all supporting documents, such as proof of vehicle ownership and a copy of your carnet.
4. Wait for Verification:
   • The issuing authority will verify your carnet and confirm compliance with all customs regulations before processing your refund.

The deposit can take some time to be released. In some cases up to 16 weeks will be needed to receive funds back. With CARS, you will get your deposit back in 8 weeks. With TCS you will get it back within days. It varies from company to company, so make sure you know this information before pulling the trigger if you’ll need your deposit back quickly.

What If My Bike Gets Stolen?

If your motorcycle is stolen while travelling with a Carnet de Passages en Douane (CDP), getting your deposit back can be challenging, but not impossible. The process requires thorough documentation and adherence to specific steps:

1. File a Police Report

• Immediately report the theft to the local police in the country where the incident occurred.
• Obtain a copy of the official police report, as this will serve as essential evidence for customs authorities and your carnet issuer.

2. Notify the Carnet Issuer

• Inform your carnet-issuing authority (e.g., Touring Club Suisse, CARS, AAA) about the theft as soon as possible.
• Provide them with:
  • A copy of the police report.
  • A detailed account of the incident, including the date, time, and location of the theft.
  • Any other supporting documents (e.g., photographs of the bike, customs entry stamps).

3. Work with Local Customs Authorities

• Contact the customs office of the country where the bike was stolen.
• Request documentation confirming the vehicle’s status (e.g., that it is no longer in your possession due to theft).
• This documentation is critical to avoid customs assuming you sold the bike and charging import duties.

4. Submit Proof of Export (if possible)

• If your bike was stolen in a border region or close to the exit point, check with local customs to see if there’s any record of its movement.
• If evidence of export exists (e.g., a stamp or electronic record showing your intent to leave the country), include this in your claim.

5. Submit a Claim for Deposit Refund

• Provide all the collected documentation to your carnet issuer to support your case:
  • Police report.
  • Customs confirmation of the theft.
  • Correspondence with customs or other relevant authorities.

wehatethecold

I’m Harry – and I was tired of the same old “10 best places I’ve never been but I’m writing about for some reason” blog posts. So… I’m a young traveller on a mission to travel the world and share my true, unfiltered experience, including all the gristly details. From packing my life into one bag for a year, to traveling Vietnam by motorbike, to sorting out Visas for specific countries – I’ve done it all, am doing it all and only give my advice on things I have done – not regurgitated cr*p from another source *cough* most publications *cough*. So bear with us! This project will take some time to grow, and will take a fair bit of money. But I’m determined to make it the single best source of information about traveling on the internet.