Do I need an ATA Carnet to bring film equipment into the UK?

Yes. In nearly all cases, international film crews need an ATA Carnet to temporarily import gear such as cameras, lighting, drones, and sound equipment into the UK without paying duties.

How much does an ATA Carnet cost?

Costs vary by country. For example, in the USA fees range from $255 to $545 depending on gear value, plus a refundable deposit or insurance. In France and Germany, fees range from €150–€200 plus 25–100% deposit or 0.55% insurance.

Where do I get an ATA Carnet?

Apply through the official issuing body in your country. For example, USCIB in the USA, your local Chamber of Commerce in France, or an ABF-authorised chamber in Australia.

Do I need to pay UK customs when using a Carnet?

No. As long as your Carnet is valid and properly stamped on entry and exit, you won’t pay UK import taxes or duties.

Can I rent gear instead of importing it?

Yes. For short shoots, renting locally can be more cost-effective. Here Now Films provides camera, lighting, and sound rental packages for productions across the UK.

What happens if I forget to get my Carnet stamped?

Missing stamps may result in import duty charges or delays when closing the Carnet. Always present your Carnet at customs when entering or exiting the UK.

Film Equipment Import UK - Here Now Films

A picture of a plane flying through the sky for the Film Equipment Import Page.

Bringing Film Equipment Into the UK: A Complete Guide for International Productions

If you’re flying into the UK to shoot with your own gear; camera kits, lighting, drones, sound equipment; you’ll need to navigate customs, compliance, and logistics.

This guide explains how to legally and efficiently bring film equipment into the UK without delays or surprise import duties.

As one of the UK’s leading film crew agencies we know a thing or two when iot comes to making shoots go smoothly. This guide comes from years of experience working with teams across the US & Europe.

Do Film Crews Need an ATA Carnet?
What’s Covered (and What’s Not)
Why You Shouldn’t Skip It
How to Get an ATA Carnet (Wherever You’re Based)
What You’ll Need to Apply
ATA Carnet Pricing: Country-by-Country Breakdown
Using Your Carnet at the Border
Best UK Airports for Carnet Processing
Shipping Gear as Freight
Renting vs Bringing Gear: What’s Smarter?
Insurance & Legal Must-Knows
Final Checklist: Bringing Film Gear Into the UK
Useful Resources

Do Film Crew’s Need an ATA Carnet?

Yes, in almost every case. An ATA Carnet is a customs document that acts like a passport for your kit, allowing you to bring camera systems, lighting rigs, drones, sound gear, gimbals, and more into the UK without paying import tax or duties, provided it’s re-exported within 12 months.

What It Covers:

Cameras, lighting, sound equipment
Drones, monitors, data wrangling stations
Tripods, gimbals, boom poles
Props, set pieces (non-consumable)

Not covered: single-use or consumable items like batteries, tape, glue, paper, or bin bags — these must be declared separately or purchased locally.

Why It’s Essential:

Without a carnet, you risk:

Being charged full import tax (can be thousands)
Gear held at customs
Delays or missed shoot days
Difficulty re-exporting your kit

Even if you’ve travelled gear without a carnet before, don’t risk it. UK customs now expect full compliance post-Brexit, even from EU productions.

How to Get an ATA Carnet (Wherever You’re Based)

You’ll need to apply through the official ATA Carnet issuing body in your country of residence. This is usually your national chamber of commerce or a designated authority. For example:

USA → Apply via USCIB (providers: Boomerang Carnets, Roanoke)
France → Your local Chambre de Commerce
Germany → IHK (German Chamber Network via DIHK)
Spain → Cámara de Comercio
Australia → Local chambers approved by the Australian Border Force
Netherlands → Netherlands Chamber of Commerce (KvK)

What You’ll Need to Apply

A detailed item list (with serial numbers, values, and country of origin)
A clear project purpose (e.g. commercial shoot, documentary, branded content)
Your travel itinerary (entry and exit countries, dates)
A choice of security method: either a refundable deposit or a guarantee insurance premium

Processing Timelines

Service Type	Turnaround Time
Standard	2–5 working days
Express	Often possible in 24–48 hours (fees apply)

Express services vary by country — not all chambers offer rush processing.

How ATA Carnet Pricing Works for Film Gear Import

Whether you’re flying in with camera kits, lighting rigs, drones, or sound gear, an ATA Carnet lets you bring equipment into the UK without paying import duties. Here’s what it typically costs, depending on where you’re coming from, and what to expect when you arrive in the UK.

🇺🇸 From the USA

USA Carnet Fee Table (USCIB – Official Rates)

Total Gear Value (USD)	Issuing Fee (Carnet)
$1 – 9,999	$255
$10,000 – 49,999	$300
$50,000 – 149,999	$365
$150,000 – 399,999	$425
$400,000 – 999,999	$480
Over $1,000,000	$545

Security deposit: Typically 40% of gear value (for vehicles, 100–150%)
Guarantee (insurance) alternative: ~$0.80–1.55 per $100 of gear value
Extra fees: $12 per additional page, $25 per extra set, $75–150 for rush service

Note: Here are some super useful links for US Importers: USCIB / Boomerang / Roanoke

🇪🇺 From Europe — Film Equipment Carnets

France

Issuing fee: ~€201
Deposit: 25–100% of gear value or ~0.55% insurance alternative
Carnet Issuer: https://www.cci.fr/

Germany

Follows EU rules, issuance fee and deposit range similar to France
ATA Carnet Issuer: https://www.dihk.de

Spain

Issue fee: ~€165 (plus €50 for express processing)
Deposit: 25–100% or insurance alternative
ATA Carnet Issue: https://www.camara.es/

Netherlands

EU-standard fees, similar deposit model
ATA Carnet Issuer: https://www.kvk.nl/

🇦🇺 From Australia (via ABF‑approved Chambers)

Deposit: ~50% of gear value
Issuing fee: ~AUD 550 covering up to 3 countries
Additional country voucher: +AUD 71.50 or +AUD 253 for extra trips
Urgent (2‑day turn around): +AUD 407; (1‑day): +AUD 462
Useful links for Aussie importers: ATA Carnet Express

Using Your Carnet at the Border

Every time you cross a border, you must:

Exit customs in your home country (get the carnet stamped)
Enter customs in the UK (get the carnet stamped)
Repeat the process when leaving and returning

You must physically present your carnet with your gear and go through the red customs channel, even if you normally use eGates.

Customs desks aren’t always in ideal spots — arrive early, especially if travelling with excess kit.

Best UK Airports for ATA Carnet Processing

Airport	Carnet Support	Notes
Heathrow (LHR)	Full customs desks	Notify ahead for off-hours
Gatwick (LGW)	Limited to South Terminal	Check terminal location
Manchester (MAN)	Reliable customs	Ideal for northern shoots
Edinburgh (EDI)	Call ahead required	Customs limited
Bristol (BRS)	Not recommended	Use London if possible

What About Shipping Gear as Freight?

You can ship gear via a film-experienced freight forwarder, but you’ll still need:

ATA Carnet
Pro forma invoice
Agent at both ends

We recommend:

Dynamic International
Rock-It Cargo

Always build in 2–3 days buffer time for clearance and delivery.

Renting vs Bringing Gear: What’s Smarter?

Sometimes it’s simpler, cheaper, and faster to rent locally in the UK — especially for shorter shoots, bulky equipment, or if you’re travelling through multiple countries.

Advantages of Renting in the UK:

No carnet or customs stress
No transit risk/damage
Full access to top-tier gear (ARRI, RED, Sony, Canon)
Local delivery to set or hotel
Instant swap-outs if something fails

Here Now Films offers full camera, lighting, and sound rental packages, either dry hire or crewed.

Insurance & Legal Must-Knows

Whether you’re renting or importing your own gear, make sure you’re covered:

Production insurance (liability, crew, public)
Equipment insurance (for theft, transit, breakage)
Carnet value insurance (optional but useful)

We can extend our insurance to cover rentals when booked via Here Now Films. Alternatively you can get bespoke insurance through a provider like Hiscox.

Final Checklist: Bringing Film Gear Into the UK

✅ Get your ATA Carnet prepared
✅ Notify customs at your arrival airport (if needed)
✅ Pack printed item list and serials
✅ Get carnet stamped at every border
✅ Allow time for customs checks
✅ Consider renting if it reduces cost/logistics
✅ Ensure full insurance coverage
✅ Don’t list consumables on the carnet
✅ Bring backup power adaptors (UK plug is Type G!)

Useful Resources

We’ve pulled together a few trusted guides, links and organisations to help you plan:

Need Help Navigating This?

We help international production teams shoot smoothly in the UK — from carnet questions to kit rental and vetted crew. We’ve supported brands like Red Bull, Airbnb, and JP Morgan with exactly this kind of logistics.