Customs Advice

International shipments are required to go through screening by Customs to obtain clearance when they cross borders between countries. The bulk of the Customs clearance process takes place in the destination country with the local Customs authority.

This typically is an instant process but in some cases Customs may hold a shipment if they wish, either to obtain more information, verify the contents, or contact the recipient. 

???? When your package is held in Customs, this is not calculated as part of the transit time, as the actions of Customs are outside the control of the carrier. This means that if you were to select a service of 3-5 business days, but Customs holds your shipment for 6 days, those 6 days are not included as transit time.

Customs is a government agency that controls what is shipped in and out of a country. They ensure no illegal or prohibited goods get through their borders and also ensure the government they represent receives the correct amount of tax and duty owed.

Customs has the authority to hold any shipment for any reason and for any length of time. If additional information is required, the local Customs authority will reach out to the recipient directly (so long as proper contact information is provided) to obtain what is necessary to clear the package for import. Incorrect receiver information can cause long delays in delivery as Customs may then contact the carrier concerned who in turn will eventually make contact with us the booking agent. We will then reach out to our customer, the sender, but this can be a lengthy process which is why full recipient details are so important. 

Most commonly, Customs may hold a shipment to request verification of the value of the goods (proof of value) in the form of a commercial invoice or similar documentation, or to contact the recipient to complete the importation process.

Other reasons for a hold may be that they need to verify the importer’s information; they need to collect importation charges; a broker needs to be obtained; the contents of the parcel are restricted in some way and require specific documentation or a special clearance process… 

Each country has its own rules and import restrictions, which can change frequently and without notice. As the shipper, you must ensure that all of the items you are shipping are allowed to be imported into the destination country without restriction.

A shipment may be prohibited for reasons such as, but not limited to: its contents, its recipient, the country of origin or destination, or the country in which the goods were manufactured, so you may wish to do some research if you are not certain your goods can be shipped.

All international shipments are sent DDU (delivered duty unpaid). This means that any Customs charges or other importation fees levied by the local Customs authority will need to be paid for by the importer (the recipient) in order to release the shipment for delivery. This also means that if for any reason the recipient does not pay them, you may become responsible for any Customs charges raised.

Customs charges are based on the information listed on the invoice attached to the outside of the parcel prior to shipping, and in some cases, an inspection of the contents of the parcel by Customs agents. The Customs invoice is generated based solely on the information provided during the booking process, which means that you must provide an accurate description of the contents of the parcel and their value to ensure the fastest Customs processing. 

1. Provide accurate booking information
   The booking details you provide are used to generate a Customs invoice. Local contact information for the Consignee is necessary for the Carrier or Customs to be able to contact them in the event of any problem delivering the parcel, and for Customs to contact the importer to complete the clearance process for international shipments. Phone numbers must be local to the delivery country or they are considered invalid.
2. List all of the items in the parcel and their accurate item costs (more on declaring your goods below)
3. Attach the documentation to your parcel in a clear plastic envelope and attach it securely where it will be visible to handling agents. If you do not have a clear envelope, you may put the signed Customs forms into a regular envelope clearly marked “Customs Documentation” and attach it securely to the outside of your parcel where it will be visible to handling agents.
4. Make sure the recipient is aware they are receiving an international package and that they should expect to hear from Customs.

Declaring Your Goods

It is imperative to declare all of the goods in your shipment and provide their accurate prices to ensure that your shipment completes the clearance process with a minimum of fuss.

❗ ❗ ❗  For Customs processing, Personal Effects are any goods that are not new, are not in the original packaging, and/or do not have manufacturers' tags attached.

Personal Effects going through Customs may require a specialized clearance process that must be completed, or the Consignment may not be able to be imported. Check local laws regarding the shipment of Personal Effects, including unaccompanied baggage or the shipment of items as part of a permanent move.

Restricted Items

The Parcel Monkey Restricted & Prohibited Items list does not list items specifically prohibited by Customs, which vary from country to country. The shipper will need to research whether the goods being sent are allowed to be imported into the destination country.

Shipments containing prohibited goods of any kind may be returned, destroyed, discarded, or have the prohibited item removed and destroyed at Customs' sole and unlimited discretion without notice or compensation.

Yes. As a branch of the government tasked with control of what goes in and out of a country, if they deem any of the contents of your shipment restricted or prohibited, they have the authority to seize the shipment, remove the restricted/prohibited item(s), or reject the shipment and return it to the sender.