Instrument Travel Document | Confirmation of Materials Letter

When travelling abroad with your instrument or bow, you may be required to obtain a document listing the materials used in the construction of your item. This is to prove to officials one of two things. Either your item has no restricted materials - as listed by CITES - within it and is free to move from country to country or, your item does have a restricted material - like tortoise shell or elephant ivory - and will need an additional MIC (Musical Instrument Certificate, used for individuals) or TEC (Travelling Exhibition Certificate, used for groups, like orchestras).

Stringers of London is able to provide a stamped document listing the materials of your instrument or bow with or without images, along with it’s date of manufacture (or at least an approximation of era of manufacture). Due to the bespoke nature of this service Stringers will need a sufficient amount of time to create the document and you may be required to leave your instrument or bow with us for 48-72 hours to have the materials confirmed and images taken.

If your item does have a restricted material you will need to obtain an MIC or TEC certificate. If you are travelling by yourself with your item, you will need an MIC. Please click here to go to the UK Government website to download the relevant FED0172 form and follow the instructions to acquire your MIC certificate. We recommend that you read the ‘Import or export or re-export application: guidance for completing form FED0172’ document when filling out the FED0172 form.

If you are travelling with an orchestra and the orchestra is obtaining a certificate on your behalf (TEC certificate) you will still need to provide them with a Confirmation of Materials Document.

A sample of the document you would receive is shown below.

Cost:
£60 (one instrument and a bow) without photos

£120 (one instrument and a bow) with photos*
*If your instrument has no identifying label or stamp, or the label or stamp is covered, you will need images on your document so that customs official can match the document with your item.

Please contact us to book an appointment regarding a Confirmation of Materials Document / Instrument Travel Document.