Packing

There is lots to consider when sending a parcel outside the European Union. For example, you will need to produce paperwork for customs clearance, declare the value of each item and explain why you're sending it. Customs will then review your declaration and may apply customs import duty and tax charges. These charges are usually paid by the receiver.

If you're shipping gifts or sending personal effects then they may be exempt from customs import charges. This will depend on the value of the items, and the regulations for that particular country.

Quick links:

About customs

Import duty, tax and other charges

Creating your customs paperwork

Paying customs duty and taxes in advance

Tracking your shipment

Union Couriers helps you produce all the customs forms you will need when shipping outside the EU, and unlike a freight forwarder, all our courier services include customs clearance.

Customs will decide if any duties and tax charges should be applied, and if so the customs fees will need to be paid by the receiver, along with any admin charges applied by the courier before delivery can be made. Obtaining payment can sometimes delay the delivery process.

Here's a quick summary of what happens when you ship outside the EU:

1. As part of your booking process, we will ask you to declare what you are shipping and why.
2. Union Couriers will then provide the required customs paperwork for you to print out.
3. When your shipment arrives at the destination country, the carrier will arrange the customs clearance, and customs will assess your declaration to determine the amount of import duty that should be applied to your shipment. These charges will as a norm, be billed to the receiver.
4. The receiver will be contacted and asked to pay any charges. They will also be provided with a copy of your customs declaration as reference.
5. If you would prefer to pay these customs charges yourself, we can arrange this. This is a popular option when sending gifts. There is an additional charge for this and a deposit is required.
6. Once any charges have been paid, your parcel will exit customs and be delivered.

About customs

Customs regulations cannot be avoided and all international courier services have to comply. Customs work for the government of the country you're shipping to, they have two main purposes:

1. To prevent any items that are classed as illegal or prohibited from entering the country.
2. Determining if goods being imported into the country are liable for import tax and duty, and if so deciding what level of customs charges are to be applied.

Each country has different import restrictions and charges, and it's your responsibility as the shipper to research this prior to sending your parcel. For example some South American countries do not allow second hand clothes to be imported, even if they are personal effects. If you want to check that your goods are ok to send, you can either contact customs in the country you are shipping to, or get in touch with our customer service team, who will be happy to advise you.

Import Duty, Tax And Other Charges

Customs will determine the import charges to be applied to your international parcel based on the information provided on your customs paperwork - the declared value, the reason for export and the goods description.

Whilst each country has its own regulations, most countries will have a set duty threshold for low value items. Often low value items such as gifts, samples and personal effects will attract a lower amount of duty or may be exempt from any charges. If you want to know the threshold for gifts, samples or personal effects, or you require any further help, please contact us.

Often people declare a lower value on the customs invoice to reduce the customs tax and duty. This is only recommended if you can genuinely justify the lower value if it is questioned by customs.

For example, you may want to send a laptop that originally cost you £1000 but now has a value, to you, of only £200. You can declare it as having a value of £200, and incur a lower customs clearance charge. However, if customs suspect you have undervalued it, you will be asked to justify the stated value. Your shipment will not be delivered until customs are fully satisfied that the declaration you have made is genuine. Declaring a lower value may also affect your claim value in the event of a loss or damage in transit.

Union Couriers has no control over any of the charges applied to your goods by customs, and once your parcel has arrived at the customs facility in the destination country, the only way to have the parcel delivered is to pay any clearance charges.

If your goods are dutiable (for example if you're selling them) then Customs will decide which charges to apply based on the products you're sending and the value you have declared.

Every product has a commodity code (also known as a Customs Tariff code or harmonization code). Each commodity code has a set level of duty and tax that varies from country to country, and if you don't state the correct code then the custom clearing agent in the receiver country will need to literally guess it based upon the description you have provided. If you're sending a low value item, it's not so much of a concern, but if your shipment has a high value then it could result in your receiver incurring significantly higher import duty rates. To check the correct commodity code for the goods your shipping, click here.

Once you know the commodity codes for your products, you can then contact the customs authority in the destination country to establish how much customs duty and tax will be applied to your shipment.

Creating Customs Clearance Paperwork

When sending a parcel outside the EU, the only time you don't need to make a customs declaration, is when sending documents. It's important that you understand that the information you provide on the customs invoice is legally binding.

Here's what happens:

• When you book a delivery that going to outside the EU, Union Couriers will prompt you for the following information:
  1. A list of the items inside your shipment
  2. The value of each item
  3. The reason for export – in other words ‘why you're sending the shipment'. For example, it could be a gift, personal effects or a business sample.
• Union Couriers will then create your customs invoice when you complete your online booking and print your shipping labels.

We recommend you print out five copies of the customs invoice – two copies need to be attached to your parcel, the remaining three should be given to the courier collecting your shipment. Don't worry, you will be prompted with the exact instructions at the time of booking.

Paying Customs Duty & Taxes In Advance

Union Couriers understands you may not want your recipient to pay the customs charges. For example, you may be sending a gift. Union Couriers offers an option for you to pay these charges in advance.

If you would like to pay the customs charges in advance, please contact our customer service team as soon as you have completed your booking as it must be arranged before your parcel is collected.

There are additional charges for this service:

Tracking Your Shipment Through Customs

You can track your parcel's progress on our website all the way from collection to delivery with real time updates on its location and status.

If your shipment is delayed in customs, the tracking status will automatically change to ‘Exception' and you will be able to see that your shipment is awaiting customs clearance, as well as the reason for the clearance delay.

You can contact us to for more information about the clearance delay. However most clearance delays usually occur when the receiver is delaying their payment of the customs charges. The best way to speed things up is to contact them and ask them to pay the charges as soon as possible. Once payment has been received by customs, the shipment can be released for delivery.