Carnet de Passages en Douane
Your vehicle may need this documentation if you plan to drive it in a foreign country. As a member of the Alliance Internationale de Tourism (AIT), CAA is authorized to issue this permit to Canadian residents for touring purposes.

The Carnet is a foreign country's guarantee that the vehicle has been granted temporary importation status, and that it will be removed from that country within the time limit imposed by the respective jurisdiction or be subject to all duties and taxes to permanently import the vehicle.

It's an alternative to leaving cash security deposits with foreign governments. It allows free movement and unencumbered access between foreign countries.

Restrictions

• valid for one year from date of issue
• valid only in certain countries - contact us for the most current list
• be at least 18 years of age
• have a permanent or legal address

Things you'll need to get a Carnet de Passages en Douane:

• a completed and signed CAA Carnet application form (no other form is acceptable)
• two photographs of the vehicle
• two signed photographs of the applicant
• a copy of both sides of the vehicle registration document
• the Carnet fee and cash deposit
• financial guarantee

Fees:
Visa or Mastercard accepted

• CAA members: $200 plus $10 GST
• Non-CAA members: $250 plus $12.50 GST
• Deposit: $150 (to be used for expenses such as couriers - unused balance is returned once the discharged Carnet is returned to CAA)

Financial Guarantee
This guarantee is required to meet any possible claims levied by a foreign government for custom duties and taxes when the vehicle is temporarily imported, under a Carnet, but not removed or exported. It is held in trust by CAA in a non-interest bearing account until the used Carnet is returned to CAA.

How to Submit a Financial Guarantee CAA requires financial guarantee by the holder of the Carnet in the form of:

1. an irrevocable letter of credit
2. a certified cheque, or
3. money order.

Amount of Guarantee
CAA calculates the amount using the value of the vehicle and the maximum amount of duties and taxes that could be claimed by the foreign countries. Permanent importation duty and tax rates may vary from 0% to over 600% depending the on country visited, the vehicle, and its equipment.

Process
When properly discharged, the Carnet will have an entry and exit stamp for every foreign country visited. Upon your return, the Certificate of Location (located on the back of the Carnet) must be endorsed by Canada Customs. This proves to CAA that the vehicle is back in Canada. When the properly discharged Carnet is received, CAA will release the financial guarantee and balance of the cash deposit.

Timeline
A Carnet can take up to a month to finalize, but CAA will guide you through the process.