05 / Prepare before the border
PREPARE THE BORDER DETAILS
Gather accurate information while you can still see the contents. Do not leave the declaration until you reach the counter.
Check the route and the contents.
A parcel crossing a customs boundary may need a declaration and supporting information. Requirements depend on the origin, destination, contents and service, not simply whether the destination feels “international.” Special territories and customs arrangements can complicate what looks like an ordinary route. Check the selected service’s current instructions for that exact journey.
Before packing, check both the carrier’s prohibited and restricted goods list and the destination authority’s import rules. Food, plants, seeds, animal products, medicines, alcohol and cosmetics can have additional requirements. Batteries, aerosols and perfumes can also raise dangerous-goods transport issues. An item allowed into a country may still be unacceptable on a particular postal or air service.
If a restriction is unclear, ask the carrier or the relevant authority before buying postage. Do not remove warning labels, rename a regulated item or split a shipment to conceal its nature. Ordinary household use does not automatically make something unrestricted for transport.
Describe each item specifically.
Make an item list using ordinary, precise language. “Two cotton T-shirts” tells an examiner more than “clothing”; “one glazed ceramic mug” is more useful than “gift.” Include the material or purpose when it helps identify the goods. Use the required language and complete every field requested by the booking system.
Record quantity, item value, currency and any requested weight information consistently. The value should follow the applicable customs rules and reflect the goods accurately. A used item still has a value; a present is not automatically worth zero. Keep receipts or another reasonable basis for the declared amount, particularly for valuable goods.
Country of origin generally refers to where an item was produced or manufactured under the relevant origin rules, not simply the country from which you are posting it. If you do not know, check the product information or ask for guidance rather than guessing. Returns, repairs and temporary exports may require additional explanations or evidence.
Use the required forms and classification.
Postal shipments may use CN22 or CN23 customs declarations, depending on the applicable rules and service. Courier shipments may require a commercial invoice or another customs document, including for some non-sale movements. Electronic advance information may be required in addition to, or as part of, printed documentation. Let the carrier’s current process determine what you submit.
The Harmonized System maintained by the World Customs Organization provides an international product-classification framework. Its core headings are extended by countries into more detailed tariff codes. If a commodity code is requested, use an official tariff tool or obtain competent advice. Do not copy a code from a vaguely similar online listing and assume it is correct.
Useful official starting points include HM Revenue & Customs for United Kingdom customs information, the European Commission’s taxation and customs resources for European Union matters, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for United States import guidance. The Canada Border Services Agency and Australian Border Force publish destination-specific rules too. None of these authorities is affiliated with this website.
Check who may need to pay or respond.
Import duties, taxes and carrier processing fees are different charges. Whether any apply depends on the destination’s rules, the goods, their value, the shipment purpose and the service arrangement. Confirm who is responsible for payment under your selected service and tell the recipient what to expect. Do not promise a tax-free delivery based on an informal threshold found online.
Make sure the recipient can be contacted through the carrier’s requested channels. Customs clearance may require clarification or additional documents, and a delivery estimate can be affected by that process. Avoid promising an arrival date for an event unless the service’s actual terms support that commitment.
Before handover, compare the declaration, invoice and booking. Descriptions, quantities and values should agree. Sign or confirm declarations only after checking them, attach documents as instructed and retain copies. This is general preparation guidance, not legal, tariff-classification or tax advice; obtain professional advice for complex or commercial shipments.