An ATA Carnet is a customs passport for your equipment. Before you book one for an African shoot, check the country first. Only 13 of the 57 territories we work in accept a carnet.
territories accept an ATA Carnet
use a national temporary import process
look like carnet countries but are not
These six appear on treaty lists, but a carnet will not be accepted. Do not book one.
Treaty member since 1968, but carnets are not accepted. Use temporary admission or temporary release.
Use a Temporary Admission Permit. Allow about four weeks.
Use temporary admission (admission temporaire) under the UEMOA code.
Joined the Istanbul Convention in 2024, but carnets are still not accepted.
Joined the ATA Convention in November 2025, but carnets are not yet in use.
Use an ATIP or a temporary deposit through ZIMRA.
Equipment hired from a local supplier is arranged separately. Tell us early and we will organise it.
A South African carnet covers South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia. Your equipment must leave through a designated commercial customs point, or the carnet is not discharged. Tell us your route early.
The national process for each region, in plain language.
Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi
Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Togo
Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone
Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Chad, CAR, Equatorial Guinea, DR Congo
Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Angola, Malawi
Egypt, Libya, Seychelles, Maldives
Eritrea, Sudan, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mauritania and Somalia. We confirm the position with the authorities for each shoot.
No temporary import exemption. Licence and CAAZ clearance needed.
Ministry of Defence permit required. Severe penalties.
Apply at least one month before arrival.
Permits are tightly limited by area and height.
A note on accuracy. Customs rules change. Use this page as a guide, not a guarantee. We confirm the current position with customs before you ship.
Thirteen of the territories we cover: Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia, plus Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini through a South African carnet, and Réunion through a French carnet.
No. Egypt is a treaty member but does not accept carnets in practice. Equipment goes in under temporary admission or temporary release through Egyptian Customs.
No. Use a Temporary Admission Permit from Nigeria Customs and allow about four weeks.
No. A carnet only covers equipment owned abroad. Local rental is arranged separately.
One year from the date of issue. It can’t be extended.
You use that country’s own temporary import process, normally with a cash deposit or bank guarantee. African Fixer can guide you through it.
Usually yes. Some countries, such as Zimbabwe and Egypt, have strict rules. Tell us early.
