Move 2 India - Carnet and Triptique

Carnet and Triptique

Can vehicles and other items not covered under the Personal Effects be brought into India temporarily and free of duty by Tourists ?
(Carnet and Triptique)
Temporary import of the car and other goods can be done duty free under the ATA Carnet system. "Carnet De Passage En Douane" is an internationally accepted travel document for the purpose of temporary importation of private road vehicles into various countries (including India) by a tourist free of duty. This document is issued by an approved Automobile Association abroad. List of such associations is printed on the Carnet document itself. Each form/booklet bears a distinct serial number and is approved by Alliance International De Tourist. The booklet consists of a number of sheets showing the name of the carnet holder, the particulars of vehicles, engine number, chassis number, registration number, value of the vehicle and validity of the carnet. It is in French Language. Entry and exit particulars of the vehicle are recorded by the customs in various pages of the carnet. There is also a similar document called Triptique - this is given if the car owner intends to visit only one country. Carnet is given if the owner intends to visit a number of different countries.

To procure a carnet, the owner of a vehicle is required to contact the approved Automobile Association (authorised to issue a carnet) in the country he is residing. The Automobile Association on receipt of a requisite fee will issue the Carnet and the necessary documentation & certifications. On arrival in India, the owner of the vehicle is required to contact the Indian Customs at the port and fill up the requisite form. Customs officer will then inspect the vehicle and endorse the carnet and other necessary documents. Along with the particulars of the vehicle, details of journey/route, date of return etc. may have to be provided. The tourist will also be required to declare that he/she will re-export the vehicle after the permitted period. Failure to re-export will be treated as smuggling offence and will attract severe penalty. A show cause / demand notice will be served on the guaranteeing automobile association, who will be asked to pay the duty.

India is a signatory to the international convention on the "Temporary importation of private road vehicles" to facilitate International tourism. As a result, the vehicles as defined in Article 1 of the convention are exempted from payment of customs duty vide Notification No.296 dt.2nd August, 1976 of the Ministry of Finance provided that :
(1) such vehicles or component parts are re-exported within the period specified in the said notification or within such further period as the customs authorities may allow;
(2) the provisions of the said notification or of the "Triptique or Carnet-De-Passage" permit are not contravened in relation to such vehicle or component parts;
failing which the provisions of this order shall apply to such vehicles or component parts and such vehicles or components shall be deemed to be goods the import of which has been prohibited under the Customs Act, 1962.

Conditions

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