# Pro photographer loses £5k gear at Belgian border

> Photographer Jacob Zatorsky had £5,000 of gear seized by Belgian customs for missing ATA carnet
- Title: Pro photographer loses £5k gear at Belgian border | Shortify
- Summary: Photographer Jacob Zatorsky had £5,000 of gear seized by Belgian customs for missing ATA carnet Professional photographers need ATA carnets to import…
- Keywords: jacob zatorsky, ata carnet, belgian customs, professional photography, camera gear, customs document, border crossing, equipment seizure, carnet participation, Pro, photographer, loses
- Source: Digital Camera World — https://digitalcameraworld.com/photography/commercial-photography/pro-photographer-gets-gbp5-000-of-his-gear-seized-by-customs-for-not-having-this-important-document-what-exactly-is-an-ata-carnet-and-why-did-he-need-one
- Published: 2026-09-25T12:22:33+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: jacob zatorsky, ata carnet, belgian customs, uk, professional photography, camera gear, customs document, border crossing, equipment seizure, carnet participation
## 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
## Key takeaway

Professional photographers need ATA carnets to import equipment across borders without customs delays