From Digital Camera World · · 1m 40s
Pro photographer loses £5k gear at Belgian border
Photographer Jacob Zatorsky had £5,000 of gear seized by Belgian customs for missing ATA carnet
In brief
Photographer Jacob Zatorsky had £5,000 of gear seized by Belgian customs for missing ATA carnet Professional photographers need ATA carnets to import equipment across borders without customs delays Originally reported by Digital Camera World.
Gear seized at border
British photographer Jacob Zatorsky had £5,000 of equipment seized by Belgian customs officials the day before a client shoot.
“Upon arrival in Brussels on a Eurostar train, an overzealous customs official singled me out”
What is an ATA carnet
ATA stands for Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission, a document allowing professional gear to be imported into participating countries without customs delays.
“ATA standing for the combined French and English words Admission Temporaire Temporary Admission”
Why did he need one
Zatorsky needed an ATA carnet to legally bring his expensive gear from the UK to Belgium for a client shoot.
“Zatorsky needed an ATA carnet to bring his expensive gear into Belgium from the UK”
How it works
You apply for an ATA carnet through your home country's chamber of commerce before traveling, registering all equipment you plan to take.
“You apply for an ATA carnet through an authorized chamber of commerce in your home country before your trip”
Cost and complexity
The London Chamber of Commerce charges over £600 for the cheapest ATA carnets, which can be expensive for amateur photographers.
“The London Chamber of Commerce charges over £600 to issue one of the cheapest forms of ATA carnets”
When do you need it
You need an ATA carnet if you're temporarily taking expensive equipment across borders and plan to export it back to your home country.
“Essentially, if you're temporarily taking expensive equipment out of a carnet-participating country into another, the kit is eligible for ATA treatment”
Real-world example
A professional photographer taking £15,000 of kit from the UK to the US for a shoot and returning it would need an ATA carnet.
“A professional photographer taking £15,000 of kit from the UK to the US to shoot an assignment and then bringing exactly that kit back to the UK is a textbook ATA situation”
Amateur vs professional
Amateur photographers with small setups might not need an ATA carnet, but professional gear requires one regardless of use.
“A prosumer taking a single camera body, three lenses, a drone, and a tripod might be alright without an ATA carnet”
Zatorsky's story
Zatorsky admitted he was at fault for not having the carnet but got his gear back when leaving Belgium without issues.
“Zatorsky admitted being at fault for not having the carnet”
Key takeaway
Professional photographers should get an ATA carnet before traveling to avoid equipment seizures at borders.
“If you use your camera gear professionally, or even have a serious-looking setup as an amateur, I recommend familiarizing yourself further with carnets”
In short
Professional photographers need ATA carnets to import equipment across borders without customs delays
