Saint Helena

You arrive in Jamestown (by air via Johannesburg or by the RMS) with a GoPro Hero 12, its dive housing, and a compact LED light, total value around €600. No duties to pay: the equipment enters duty-free for temporary import (Second Schedule §4(1), Regulations 2011), with no value limit. Upon arrival, verbally declare your equipment to the HM Customs officer, stating that you will be taking it with you when you leave. Keep your purchase invoices on your phone. Given the low value, your equipment easily falls within the general £1,000 personal effects allowance (§4(3)(d)): the risk of a security deposit is almost nil. Main risk: forgetting the GoPro on the island — the equipment must be re-exported upon departure. Photographing whale sharks awaits you.

You are carrying a Sony A6700 in an Ikelite housing, two Ikelite DS161 strobes, and a macro lens, valued at approximately €3,500. This value exceeds the general £1,000 allowance, but the temporary exemption under §4(1) applies without a cap: full exemption if you re-export everything upon departure (stay ≤ 6 months). Upon arrival, proactively present yourself to HM Customs, list your equipment (ideally a written inventory with serial numbers and invoices) and state your departure date. The Collector may, at their discretion, require a security deposit equivalent to the duties (20%, or approximately €700), refundable upon exit when the equipment is presented. Be prepared to cover this amount by card or Saint Helena pounds. Risk: without proof of purchase, the customs valuation may be contested. The ATA Carnet is not recognized here, so there's no point in using it.

Your kit: Canon R5 II, Nauticam housing, dome port, two lenses (fisheye and 100mm macro), two Retra Pro Max strobes, aluminum arms — approximately €15,000. Good news: Saint Helena imposes no value limit for temporary import (§4(1) and Section 14, Ordinance 1999). Procedure: always declare to HM Customs upon arrival with a detailed inventory (serial numbers, invoices, photos of the equipment). At this value, the Collector will more likely require a security deposit: up to 20% (approximately €3,000), refunded upon re-exportation. Negotiate a detailed official receipt and verify the refund procedure before departure (potential banking delays on the island). Be aware: the ATA Carnet is NOT accepted — do not rely on it. If your stay exceeds 6 months, the 20% duties become payable or the deposit is forfeited.

Is my ATA Carnet valid in Saint Helena?

No. Saint Helena is not a contracting party to the Istanbul Convention, unlike metropolitan United Kingdom. Do not rely on your ATA Carnet: the applicable procedure is temporary import under Section 14 of the Customs and Excise Ordinance 1999, with verbal declaration upon arrival and a potential refundable security deposit set by the Collector.

Do I need to pay a deposit for my underwater photo equipment upon arrival?

Not systematically. The HM Customs Collector may, at their discretion, require a deposit equivalent to the duties (20% of the value), especially for high-end equipment. This deposit is refunded upon exit when the re-exported equipment is presented. Keep the official receipt and be prepared with the amount in cash or by card. For modest equipment (GoPro, compact camera), it is rarely requested.

What happens if I stay longer than 6 months or sell my equipment on the island?

The temporary import exemption is limited to 6 months. Beyond that, or if you dispose of the equipment on the island, customs duties of 20% (HS 9006/8525.80) become payable, and any security deposit paid is permanently forfeited by HM Customs. If you extend your stay, contact the customs service in Jamestown before the deadline expires.