Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring

Done at New York on 4 June 1954

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 11 September 1957, in accordance with article 16.

REGISTRATION: 11 September 1957, No. 3992.

TEXT: United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 276, p. 191; and vol. 596, p. 542 (amendment to article 2). 1

STATUS: Signatories: 32. Parties: 77.2

Note: The Convention was adopted by the United Nations Conference on Customs Formalities for the Temporary Importation of Private Road Motor Vehicles and for Tourism, held at the Headquarters of the United Nations, New York, from 11 May to 4 June 1954. It also adopted the Additional Protocol to the said Convention, relating to the Importation of Tourist Publicity Documents and Material, and the Customs Convention on the Temporary Importation of Private Road Vehicles. The Conference was convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in accordance with resolution 468 F (XV) 3 adopted by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations on 15 April 1953. For the text of the Final Act of the Conference, see United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 276, p. l9l.

Participant 4

Signature

Ratification, accession (a), succession (d)

Algeria 31 Oct 1963 a

Argentina 4 Jun 1954 19 Dec 1986

Australia 6 Jan 1967 a

Austria 4 Jun 1954 30 Mar 1956

Barbados 5 Mar 1971 d

Belgium 4 Jun 1954 21 Feb 1955

Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 Sep 1993 d

Bulgaria 7 Oct 1959 a

Cambodia 4 Jun 1954 29 Nov 1955

Canada 1 Jun 1955 a

Central African
Republic 15 Oct 1962 a

Chile 15 Aug 1974 a

China5

Costa Rica 20 Jul 1954 4 Sep 1963

Croatia 31 Aug 1994 d

Cuba 4 Jun 1954 23 Oct 1963

Cyprus 16 May 1963 d

Denmark 13 Oct 1955 a

Dominican Republic 4 Jun 1954

Ecuador 4 Jun 1954 30 Aug 1962

Egypt 4 Jun 1954 4 Apr 1957

El Salvador 18 Jun 1958 a

Fiji 31 Oct 1972 d

Finland 21 Jun 1962 a

France 4 Jun 1954 24 Apr 1959

Germany6, 7 4 Jun 1954 16 Sep 1957

Ghana 16 Jun 1958 a

Greece 8 15 Jan 1974 a

Guatemala 4 Jun 1954

Haiti 4 Jun 1954 12 Feb 1958

Holy See 4 Jun 1954

Honduras 15 Jun 1954

Hungary 29 Oct 1963 a

India 30 Dec 1954 5 May 1958

Iran (Islamic Republic of) 3 Apr 1968 a

Ireland 14 Aug 1967 a

Israel 1 Aug 1957 a

Italy 4 Jun 1954 12 Feb 1958

Jamaica 11 Nov 1963 d

Japan 2 Dec 1954 7 Sep 1955

Jordan 18 Dec 1957 a

Lebanon 16 Mar 1971 a

Liechtenstein2

Luxembourg 6 Dec 1954 21 Nov 1956

Malaysia 7 May 1958 d

Mali 1 Aug 1973 a

Malta 3 Jan 1966 d

Mauritius 18 Jul 1969 d

Mexico 4 Jun 1954 13 Jun 1957

Monaco 4 Jun 1954

Morocco 25 Sep 1957 a

Nepal 21 Sep 1960 a

Netherlands 4 Jun 1954 7 Mar 1958

New Zealand 17 Aug 1962 a

Nigeria 26 Jun 1961 d

Norway 10 Oct 1961 a

Panama 4 Jun 1954

Peru 16 Jan 1959 a

Philippines 4 Jun 1954 9 Feb 1960

Poland 16 Mar 1960 a

Portugal 4 Jun 1954 18 Sep 1958

Romania 26 Jan 1961 a

Russian Federation 17 Aug 1959 a

Rwanda 1 Dec 1964 d

Senegal 19 Apr 1972 a

Sierra Leone 13 Mar 1962 d

Singapore 22 Nov 1966 d

Slovenia 6 Jul 1992 d

Solomon Islands 3 Sep 1981 d

Spain 4 Jun 1954 18 Aug 1958

Sri Lanka 4 Jun 1954 28 Nov 1955

Sweden 4 Jun 1954 11 Jun 1957

Switzerland 2 4 Jun 1954 23 May 1956

Syrian Arab Republic 9 . 26 Mar 1959

Tonga 11 Nov 1977 d

Trinidad and Tobago 11 Apr 1966 d

Tunisia 20 Jun 1974 a

Turkey 26 Apr 1983 a

Uganda 15 Apr 1965 a

United Kingdom 4 Jun 1954 27 Feb 1956

United Republic
of Tanzania 22 Jun 1964 a

United States of America 4 Jun 1954 25 Jul 1956

Uruguay 4 Jun 1954 8 Sep 1967

Yugoslavia 10 Jul 1958 a

Declarations and Reservations
(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations and reservations were made
upon ratification, accession or succession.)

Algeria

The Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria reserves the right, notwithstanding article 1 of the said Convention, not to regard as tourists persons who, in the course of their visit, accept any paid employment.

The Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 21 of the said Convention concerning compulsory arbitration and declares that the agreement of all the parties in dispute is required for the submission of each individual dispute to arbitration.

bulgaria 10

cuba

The Revolutionary Government of Cuba does not consider itself bound by the provisions of paragraphs 2 and 3 of article 21 of the Convention.

DENMARK

Notwithstanding the provisions of article 3 of this Convention, the Scandinavian countries shall be permitted to make special rules applicable to persons residing in those countries.

EGYPT

"The Delegation of Egypt reserves its Government's right to withhold the advantages provided for by the Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring from any person who, while visiting Egypt as a tourist, takes up employment with or without pay."

finland

"(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of article 3 the Government of Finland shall be permitted to make special rules applicable to persons residing in the Scandinavian countries;

"(ii) Taking into account the relevant provisions in the Finnish legislation the Government of Finland apply the rule in article 10, paragraph 2 so far as sub-paragraph c is concerned to tourists under 21 years of age."

ghana

"(1) The exemption on arms and ammunition included in article 2 (3) of the Convention shall not be applicable to Ghana.

"(2) The authorization contained in article 4 (b) of the Convention, to export travel souvenirs of a total value not exceeding 100 USA dollars, without the formalities applying to Exchange Control and without payment of export duties shall not apply to Ghana."

guatemala

"The Guatemalan Government reserves the right:

"(1) Not to consider as tourists persons who enter the country for business as provided in article 1.

"(2) Not to accept the provisions of article 19 in respect of territories in dispute which are under the de facto administration of another State."

haiti

The Delegation of Haiti reserves its Government's right to withhold the advantages provided for by the Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring from any person who, while visiting Haiti as a tourist, accepts any paid employment or engages in any other form of gainful occupation.

hungary

"The Hungarian People's Republic does not consider itself bound by the terms of paragraphs 2 and 3 of article 21 of the Convention."

poland11, 12

1. The Government of the People's Republic of Poland reserves the right not to apply the provisions of article 4 of the Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring.

romania 13

The Romanian People's Republic does not consider itself bound by the provisions of article 21, paragraphs 2 and 3, of the Convention. The position of the Romanian People's Republic is that a dispute concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention may be submitted to arbitration only with the agreement of all the parties in dispute and that only persons nominated by unanimous agreement of the parties in dispute may act as arbitrators.

Russian Federation 14

The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, considering that disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring can be decided by arbitration, declares that a dispute may be submitted to arbitration only with the agreement of all the parties in dispute and that only persons nominated by unanimous agreement of the parties in dispute may act as arbitrators.

Senegal

1. The Government of the Republic of Senegal reservesthe right to withhold the benefits of the provisions of the Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring from any person who, while visiting Senegal as a tourist takes any employment paid or not;

2. The Government of the Republic of Senegal reserves the right:

a) Not to consider as tourists persons who enter the country for business as provided in article 1.

b) Not to accept the provisions of article 19 in respect of territories in dispute which are under the de facto administration of another State.

sweden

"Notwithstanding the provisions of article 3 of the Convention concerning Customs Facilities for Touring, the Scandinavian countries shall be permitted to make special rules applicable to persons residing in those countries."

syrian arab republic

Reserving "the right of the Government to deny the privileges and facilities provided in the said Convention, to any tourist who takes up any job-paid or unpaid-during his stay in the country".

tunisia

A dispute may be submitted to arbitration only with the agreement of all the parties in dispute.

uganda

"The Government of Uganda shall be bound by Article 2 provided that a tourist's stay in the East African Territories does not exceed six months, but shall not be bound by Article 2 in so far as it refers to portable gramophones with records, portable sound recording apparatus, portable wireless receiving sets, tents and other camping equipment, fishing outfits, non-powered bicycles, skis, tennis racquets and other similar articles if the period of stay in the Territories does not exceed six months, but undertakes to allow the temporary importation of these articles in accordance with the temporary importation permit procedure.

"The Government of Uganda shall not be bound by Article 3 but undertakes to grant reasonable concessions.

"The Government of Uganda shall not be bound by Article 4 and reserves the right to require that such goods shall be dealt with in accordance with the temporary importation permit procedure."

united republic of tanzania 15

"The Government of the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar [Tanzania] shall not be bound by article 3 of the Convention, but undertakes to grant reasonable concessions in respect of the items referred to therein."

Territorial Application

Participant	Date of receipt of the notification	Territories
Belgium 16	21 Feb 1955	Belgian Congo and the Trust Territory of Ruanda-Urundi, with reservations
Netherlands	7 Mar 1958	Surinam, Netherlands Antilles, Netherlands New Guinea
New Zealand	21 May 1963	Cook Islands (including Niue)
Portugal	18 Sep 1958	Overseas Provinces
	30 Mar 1983	Macao
United Kingdom 5, 17, 18	7 Aug 1957	North Borneo, Cyprus, Fiji, Jamaica, Federation of Malaya, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somaliland Protectorate, Tonga and Zanzibar; and Malta with reservation
	14 Jan 1958	Brunei, Antigua, Mauritius, Sarawak, Dominica, Bermuda, Gambia, Montserrat, Federation of Nigeria, British Solomon Islands Protectorate, Gibraltar, Virgin Islands, St. Helena, Grenada, St. Vincent; and Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika with reservations
	16 Jun 1959	Barbados
	12 Sep 1960	British Honduras
	11 Nov 1960	Hong Kong
	9 Jan 1961	St. Christopher, Nevis and Anguilla
	15 Sep 1961	Trinidad and Tobago
	5 Feb 1962	British Guiana
United States of America	25 Jul 1956	Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

NOTES:

1 In a communication received by the Secretary-General on 9 August 1966, the Government of the Netherlands proposed an amendment to article 2, paragraph 3 of the Convention to the effect that the words "one portable television set" be inserted after the words "one portable wireless receiving set". The text of the proposed amendment was circulated by the Secretary-General to all contracting States on 6 September 1966. No objection having been expressed to the proposed amendment within the period of six months from the date of the circulation of its text by any of the contracting States, the amendment is deemed to have been accepted, in accordance with paragraph 2 of article 23 of the Convention. Pursuant to paragraph 3 of the same article, the amendment entered into force for all contracting States three months after the expiration of the said period of six months, that is to say, on 6 June 1967.

2 Including Liechtenstein. On 16 June 1975, the Government of Switzerland declared that the provisions of the Convention apply to the Principality of Liechtenstein so long as it is linked to Switzerland by a customs union treaty.

3 Official Records of the Economic and Social Council, Fifteenth Session, Supplement No. 1 (E/2419), p. 9.

4 The Republic of Viet-Nam had acceded to the Convention on 31 January 1956. See also note in chapter I.2 and note 1 in chapter III.6.

5 On 6 and 10 June 1997, respectively, the Governments of China and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland notified the Secretary-General of the following:

China:

[Same notification as the one made under note in chapter V.3.]

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:

[Same notification as the one made under note in chapter IV.1.]

6 See note in chapter I.2.

7 In a note accompanying the instrument of ratification the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany stated that this Convention, the additional Protocol thereto and the Convention on the Temporary Importation of Private Road Vehicles also apply to Land Berlin.

With reference to the above-mentioned statement, communications have been addressed to the Secretary-General by the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, on the one hand, and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany, on the other hand. The said communications are identical in essence, mutatis mutandis, to the corresponding ones referred to in note 3 in chapter III.3. See also note 6 above.

8 In a notification received on 4 April 1974, the Government of Greece stated that it accepted the decisions, recommendations and declarations contained in the Final Act of the Conference.

9 Notification by the United Arab Republic. See note in chapter I.1.

10 The Governments of Italy and Switzerland have notified the Secretary-General that they object to this reservation. The Government of the United States of America has notified the Secretary-General that it has no objection to this reservation, but "considers that it may, and hereby states that it will, apply the aforesaid reservation reciprocally with respect to Bulgaria".

Subsequently, in a notification received on 6 May 1994, the Government of Bulgaria notified the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw the reservation made upon accession with regard to article 21 (2) and (3). For the text of the reservation, see United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 348, p. 358.

11 The Governments of Italy and Switzerland have notified the Secretary-General that they object to these reservations.

12 On 16 October 1997, the Government of Poland notified the Secretary-General that it had decided to withdraw its reservation with regard to article 21 of the Convention made upon accession. For the text of the reservation see United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 367, p. 334. (See also note 11 in this chapter.)

13 The Governments of Switzerland and the Republic of Viet-Nam informed the Secretary-General that they object to this reservation. The Government of the United States of America informed the Secretary-General that it has no objection to this reservation but "considers that it may and hereby states that it will apply this reservation reciprocally with respect to Romania".

14 The Governments of Italy and Switzerland have notified the Secretary-General that they object to this reservation. The Government of the United States of America has notified the Secretary-General that it has no objection to this reservation, but "considers that it may and hereby states that it will apply this reservation reciprocally with respect to the Soviet Union". The Government of Yugoslavia has informed the Secretary-General that it does not object to this reservation subject to the provisions of paragraph 7 of article 20 of the Convention.

15 In a communication received on 2 August 1965, the Government of Portugal notified the Secretary-General that, in accordance with paragraph 7 of article 20 and paragraph 7 of article 14, respectively, of the Convention and Additional Protocol, Portugal reserves the right of not extending to the United Republic of Tanzania the benefit of those provisions of the Convention and the Additional Protocol to which apply the reservations made upon accession by the United Republic of Tanzania.

16 This Convention is applicable to the Territory of the Belgian Congo and to the Trust Territory of Ruanda-Urundi, subject to the following reservations:

(1) The temporary importation of firearms and their ammunition cannot be considered without a temporary importation document (article 2 of the Convention);

(2) The exemption in the case of wine, spirits, toilet water and perfume must continue to be limited to opened containers and subject, in the case of alcoholic beverages in particular, to the observance of the legal provisions in force (article 3 of the Convention);

(3) Worked ivory and objects of indigenous art must be excluded from the operation of the Convention (article 4).

The Government of Rwanda notified the Secretary-General of its succession to the Convention on 1 December 1964. Subsequently, in a communication received on 10 February 1965, the Government of Rwanda informed the Secretary-General that it did not intend to maintain any of the above-mentioned reservations.

17 [As concerns Malta] "The definition of `Personal effects' contained in paragraph 3 of article 2 of the Convention shall not include `one portable wireless set'."

On 3 January 1966, the Government of Malta notified the Secretary-General of its succession to the Convention. In a communication received on 28 February 1966, the Government of Malta notified the Secretary-General that it did not intend to maintain the said reservation, which had been made on its behalf by the Government of the United Kingdom at the time of the notification of the extension of the Convention to Malta.

18 "(i) The Governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika shall not be bound by article 2 of the Convention in so far as it refers to portable musical instruments, portable gramophones with records, portable sound-recording apparatus, non-powered bicycles and sporting firearms with cartridges, but undertake to allow the temporary importation of these articles in accordance with the temporary importation permit procedure.

"(ii) The Governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika shall not be bound by article 3 of the Convention but undertake to grant reasonable concessions in respect of the items referred to therein.

"(iii) The Governments of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika shall not be bound by article 4 of the Convention and reserve the right to require a temporary importation permit in respect of the articles referred to therein."

For the reservations made on accession by the Governments of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, see under "Declarations and Reservations" in this chapter.