Thanks for the responses.

The shipping agent is still requesting an ATA carnet, (NOT carnet de passage, which is what Mac19406 has got) although we might not have to get it translated, which will save a bit of money.

Does anyone in the HU community who speaks fluent Russian want to clarify a few things with the Russian customs agent via email for me? I think the language barrier might be a problem. I'll be happy to buy you a beer or two when I get over there in return.

I've still got time to sort this one out. It won't be the end of the trip if I have to get the carnet, but I'd rather not have the hassle, risk and expense.

I'm planning to arrive in Vladivostok on about May 28th 2007.

Let me know via email or private message:

bartman10 ({@}) gmail (dott) com

Thanks

there are a few guys on herewith english wives/girlfriends who might be able to help. if you haven't had any help in the next couple of weeks let me know by PM. I'll try my girlfriend but not sure if her english will be up to an exact translation!!

one thing you could try is to cut and paste the document into babel fish, that should give you a good approximation.

carnet...smarnet
 

OK, so what country needs a carnet if we go west from Vladivostok to eastren Europe through Turkey.
This is the better question.
Right?
Let's make a list of carnet countries.
Could someone with one publish the list on the back of the carnet.
Please.
Arriving in Vlad June 3, headed west with a KTM 640 Adventure. So far without a carnet.
Carnetless.
Yikes....
Bill.

Carnet's
 

Such a list should be made per country of origin of the vehicle.

With my Belgian registered vehicle, I don't need a Carnet in Europe, Turkey, Russia ... I'll need one for Iran, I don't know about Kazastan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, ... But I don't care since I need it for Iran anyway.

Also, it is not because a country is mentionned on the back of a Carnet that it requires a carnet. It should accept the carnet as a valid document that allows for temporary import though. I've used my carnet also in countries that where not mentionned on the back.

Bill.
RogerM has kindly scan/reproduced the list of countries on the HUBB thread "Countries that require Carnet de Passages en Douane"

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...passages-25671

I don't know if countries have a differing policy depending on where the vehicle (and traveller?) originates from.

unfortunately, as discussed in the forum elsewhere, that list is not accurate. a number of the countries listed do not require carnet. if in doubt speak to your issuing authority or email the embassy of the individual country. print off the reply and keep it in your docs.
the reassuring thing about that list though is that no former soviet states are on it!! certainly from UK you don't need carnet for any of eastern europe, except, as previously discussed, you have a big stack of expensive electronic gear.

I wish people would read the footnotes in that post and not just say its inaccurate. The African footnote says that not all countries require it but the carnet is used to ease the transit process.

Just a thought.

I have been trying to get an ICMV for a French registered bike.

The French auto club say that there is not one for France and that I should use the Carnet as that contains the vehicles details translated into other languages.
This is true and so can ease your passage.

My concern is that it is a valuable document that you don't want to be giving to any Tom, Dick or policeman.

Make copies and use them where appropriate would seem to be the answer.
Do not use the real thing unless its nesessary.

John

I did read the footnotes and it is inaccurate! it makes no difference in many of those african countries wether you have a carnet or not. if I hadn't read the footnotes I would have also pointed out that you don't need a carnet for the european countries mentioned, but the footnotes explain why they are mentioned!!!

really the list doesn't help very much. what people want to know is if they need a carnet or not. if you don't need one, why go to the expense of getting one, even if it does save 10 minutes at the border. I see no value in getting a carnet (£1000 for my vehicle last time I checked) unless it is an absolute requirement. personally, I think the list missleads more than it helps. Also, if you have acarnet and the worst comes to the worst and you have to dump your vehicle your in for a difficult and expensive time, whether the country concerned needed one or not. If you don't need it, save yourself a lot of hassle and expense and don't have one.
Anyone that wants to have a look at the various threads about this list follow the link above, I don't want to hijak someone elses thread anymore! then you can form your own opinion.
I'm not having a go roger so don't take it personally!
just IMHO of course so don't hang me for it!!

Thanks guys! Just one point I'd like to make...

I think everyone needs to be more specific about carnets when they post questions and answers about them.

As I have recently discovered these are two separate documents, and some countries may require one type of carnet and not the other.

Could you please specify if you are talking about an ATA carnet or a carnet de passage?

I think it would be very upsetting if you got to a border and found you had spent $20,000 on the wrong type!

Thanks for all the offers of help, it's very much appreciated. :clap::clap:

Don't think that matters.

The carnet simply says that the vehicle will not be staying in the country. If it were to stay then there would be import duties/taxes.. no matter where it came from. The taxes and fees may change with vehicle origin .. but not the requirement?

Off cours it matters
 

Off Course it matters. Taking a Belgian vehicle into Syria requires a Carnet, taking a Lebanese vehicle into Syria doesn't. Depending on the country the vehicle comes from, the rules may be different. There are some differences with German vehicles compared to Belgian vehicles in Nigeria or Cameroon (don't remember which one) for instance.

Cheers,

Rob

Yes, there are two types of carnet.
However, here, we only refer to the CDP. The ATA carnet is not for personal transportation. It can be used for exhibitions or races and for many things other than vehicles. Russia has a system for temporary import of personal vehicles that does not require a carnet.
The reason you are presumably having trouble with the difference is that many places do not see very many personal vehicles coming through customs, especially ports that mostly handle freight. Most of the personal foreign vehicles going to Vladivostok (I assume that is where you are going, as you would save a lot of problems going to a 'western' country first if you are going from the other end) are by ferry from Japan. And those are only like 10 a year.
The big problem will be getting the carnet stampted OUT at a land border. As Russia does not require a CDP for land transportation, the border crossing people probably will not stamp you out.
If your shipper won't handle you without a carnet, find another one or ship to Japan first with a CDP then take the ferry to Vladivostok.

Thanks for the info. I might take your advice and try and find another customs agent, or go with plan #2 which involves Korea and the Dong Chun Ferry.

The customs agent in Vlad is insisting on an ATA carnet for the motorbikes and personal effects. It appears to be wrong and I can't understand it, but that's what they want. They haven't mentioned a carnet de passage, ONLY an ATA carnet.

So stamping a CDP out will never be a problem, since I won't have one of those. They don't want one of those. Forget the CDP.

We're talking ATA.

Therefore stamping the ATA carnet out could be a problem, if it transpires that they insist.

Anyway, it's probably only a minor glitch. As far as the trip is going every thing is going nicely. We've got most of our gear, a heap of sponsorship, set up our bikes and saved a pile of money. Off to the Doc next week for our vaccines. Just the visas and this carnet problem to resolve....

I'll keep you posted.

Well, the agent may want a Carnet for you, but no telling what customs itself will ask for. You may be able to pass customs with and ATA carnet, but once on the road, it does not give you permission to drive.
The following image is what I have gotten in the past after making customs declaration. This was from the Kazakh-Russian border, but I got the same thing in Vlad. Try forwarding it and telling them you want one of these issued. This is the magic paper that every police checkpoint will want to see. Police like official papers with stamps on them!
(I have blocked out personal information)
http://www2.gol.com/users/chrisl/jap...tempimport.jpg