Crossing a border is easier when cargo details, transport arrangements and documentation have been coordinated in advance.
The documents required cannot be determined solely from the destination country of the goods. The goods, the roles of the sender and consignee, the route and customs procedure all work together. The following guidance helps with preparation; we agree the documents for the specific shipment with our customs partner.
Prepare details of the sender and consignee and, where different, the exporter and importer. Provide the planned route, collection and delivery addresses and the agreed delivery term or agreed Incoterms® rule with a precisely named place. The customs partner will clarify which identification numbers, representation details or authorisations are required.
A commercial invoice or another document appropriate to the transaction, packing list, number of items, weight and invoice value including currency are usually important starting points. The commodity code and origin of the goods must also be correctly determined for customs clearance. Whether proof of origin is required depends, among other things, on whether a tariff preference is claimed or special regulations apply. If a classification is unclear, please tell us; unknown details should not be guessed.
Food, medicines and other regulated goods may require additional permits, supporting documents or official procedures. Returns, temporary exports or transit may also require different procedures. This must be checked against the specific product and transaction, rather than a generic list.
Changes during transport planning or operations, such as a vehicle change, a different border crossing or a revised quantity of goods, may also affect customs data. We coordinate such changes with our transport and customs partner and check whether the existing documents need to be amended. Having documents available does not, on its own, guarantee a border crossing without waiting.