How to Format and Upload Your List
Build your list in Google Sheets or Excel first. When it's ready, export it as a CSV file — that's the format required for upload.
Want help? Email your list to support@easycarnet.com & we'll upload it into your dashboard.
Your CSV must use these exact column headers, in this exact order:
| Description | Serial # | Quantity | Weight (lbs) | Country of Manufacture | Value per item | Total Value |
Copy this template on Google sheets here
The column names and order must match precisely. If you rename a column or swap the order, the upload won't map correctly. If you don't have information for a particular field, leave that cell blank — don't guess, and don't fill it with placeholder text.
The Seven Columns Explained
1. Description Be specific: brand, model, and what the item is. "Camera" will get questioned. "Sony FX6 Full-Frame Cinema Camera Body" won't. Customs officers need enough detail to identify the exact item in front of them.
2. Serial # — Required Serial numbers and part numbers are not optional. This is how customs confirms that the specific unit crossing the border is the same one documented on your carnet. If your item has a serial number, it must be listed here — no exceptions. For items that have a part number instead of a serial number, list the part number. For items with neither — generic cases, cables, basic stands — leave this blank.
3. Quantity How many of this item are you bringing? If you have multiples of the same item but each has a different serial number, give each its own row.
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4. Weight (lbs) The weight per item in pounds. Leave blank if unknown.
5. Country of Manufacture Where the item was made — not where you bought it. A camera made in Japan is listed as Japan, even if you purchased it in the U.S. Check the manufacturer's documentation or the bottom of the item itself if you're unsure. Getting this wrong can cause problems at borders with strict country-of-origin rules.
6. Value Per Item Use current fair market value or replacement cost — whichever is higher. This is not what you paid years ago. It's what the item costs to replace today. This number directly determines your bond amount.
7. Total Value Quantity × Value Per Item. Three lenses at $2,000 each = $6,000. The grand total across all rows must be accurate — discrepancies are a red flag for customs.
What Cannot Be Listed
No disposable items. Consumables — batteries, tape, gels, cleaning supplies — don't belong on a carnet. The carnet is for items that leave with you and come back with you. Listing disposables can get your application rejected.
No weapons of any kind. Firearms, ammunition, or anything that could be classified as a weapon cannot be included on an ATA Carnet under any circumstances.
Need Help?
Our team reviews every carnet list before submission and will catch anything that could cause a problem at the border.
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EasyCarnet is a Carnet Preparer — we assist with paperwork preparation and submission on behalf of Holders (with POA). We are not a law firm and are not licensed customs brokers.
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Micah Cohen
Micah Cohen is the founder of EasyCarnet, a company that helps businesses navigate international trade, customs, and tariffs. Working with hundreds of companies across global markets, Micah brings practical, on-the-ground insights into how trade policy affects real businesses.
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