Guidelines for Importing Archaeological Equipment into Greece
In order to import archaeological equipment into Greece, scholars or project directors are asked to get and fill out a Carnet or ATA Carnet. Please link to: Carnet Document.
A Carnet or ATA Carnet is an international customs document issued by 70 countries. It is presented when entering a Carnet country with merchandise or equipment that will be re-exported within 12 months. It is sometimes called The Merchandise Passport for boomerang freight.
Upon presentation, the Carnet permits the equipment or merchandise to clear customs without the payment of import duties and import taxes* such as VAT or GST. Payment is not necessary because the Carnet guarantees that the merchandise or equipment will be re-exported within a year. Thus the use of a Carnet is a way of temporarily importing into foreign countries without payment of import duties and taxes. Carnets also serve as the U.S. registration of goods so that the goods can re-enter the U.S. without payment of duties and taxes.
If goods are properly imported into one EU country and re-exported from a second EU country, the Carnet holder is unlikely to encounter any claims fees.