Foreign Trade Documentation

The ATA Carnet is an international customs document which permits goods to be exported for a maximum period of one year duty-free and tax-free to countries which have acceded to the Agreement. An extension of the ATA Carnet may be granted if necessary. You are advised to check this with the Chamber of Commerce.

On an ATA Carnet you can carry

• commercial samples,
• professional equipment and
• goods for presentation or use at trade fairs, shows, exhibitions, or similar events.

Examples include computers, tools, filmmaking gear, musical instruments, machines, jewellery, clothing, medical devices and works of art. The ATA Carnet cannot be used when goods are exported for processing or repair, or when goods are exported which are consumed during the journey or distributed to customers.

The Chambers of Commerce in each of the countries that have joined the Convention issue ATA Carnets and form a chain to guarantee customs duties. The Finland Chamber of Commerce is responsible for customs duties on goods exported or imported with Carnets.

Learn more about using and applying for an ATA Carnet

The European Union’s Certificate of Origin primarily proves the origin of goods, so that it is possible to follow the customs or trade regulations in the country of destination. The Certificate of Origin does not qualify for preferential tariff treatment, and it is mainly used with countries that do not have a free trade agreement with the EU. Companies can verify at the EU’s Access2Markets whether the export country requires a certificate of origin.

Vientiasiakirjat.fi is an electronic service for foreign trade documents. It allows a company to apply for European Union Generic Certificates of Origin. There the customer can prints the Certificate of Origin that has been electronically approved by the Chamber of Commerce on a standard form and other verified documents on plain paper. The service price list is stored on the website.

A company registers as a user via the form on the front page of the service. Upon registration, an authorisation document is filled in and signed. With the authorisation document, the company commits to adhere to the general terms of use of the service and the rules of the Chamber of Commerce regarding the European Union Generic Certificate of Origin. At the same time, the company appoints an administrator for the service, who is responsible for creating and managing the other users of the company. Access to the service is always personal and cannot be transferred to another person.

Finnish Chambers of Commerce are accredited members of the CO Chain of the International Chamber of Commerce. This means that the company or authority receiving the certificate of origin can check the authenticity of the certificate on the ICC website.

The Chambers of Commerce also certify other export-related documents such as invoices, packing lists, and price lists through the vientiasiakirjat.fi website, similar to certificates of origin.