Post moved.

[Jeremy Nelson]

Post moved.

[Alister Chapman]

Technically, yes you should have an ATA Carnet. Don't know what these cost in the USA, but typically your looking at around $400 - $700 to get a Carnet set up here in the UK, depending on the size of the bond or insurance.

Of course if you are bringing in professional equipment on a Carnet, then you yourself may be considered a professional person about to undertake paid work in Switzerland, for which you may need a work permit, even if the payment is from a customer in the US.

If you don't have a Carnet then the law is that you must pay the full import duty and VAT due on the equipment on entry to the country. Once you have left the country, provided you are able to prove that you re-exported the equipment you should be able to reclaim the duty and VAT. Attempting to enter without paying the duties could be considered as smuggling.

However. It depends on what you are taking. Most customs people won't stop you taking your own personal camcorder with you and many of us video pros travel around the world with a minimal kit and no carnet all the time. If we get stopped, then there's the "I didn't know" or "It's my personal camera, I'm a video hobbyist" approach, which more often than not works. Do I recommend this approach, no I do not, because the worst case scenario is that your gear is impounded never to be seen again.