Customs clearance is the border process used to check the goods, supporting documents and any duty or tax. Booking a courier does not remove the destination country’s import requirements.
Describe what each item actually is. “Cotton shirts, 4 pieces” is more useful than “personal items”. For food, list the product and ingredients; for medicines, identify the product and quantity. Used items and gifts still need a truthful description and an appropriate declared value.
Use a commercial invoice, pro-forma invoice or other declaration as instructed for your shipment type. Do not call a business sale a gift or deliberately lower the value to avoid a charge.
| Charge | Question to ask before booking |
|---|---|
| Freight, fuel and GST | What is included in the quoted transport price? |
| Remote-area, oversized or handling charges | Does the postcode or parcel size create an extra charge? |
| Destination duty, VAT/GST or import tax | Who is responsible, and is any amount expressly included in writing? |
| Clearance, disbursement, inspection or storage | Can these arise separately, and how will the receiver be contacted? |
A personal parcel, a gift and a commercial shipment can receive different treatment. Country rules, genuine value, product classification and applicable reliefs affect the assessment. If a service is offered with particular charges included, ask for the precise scope in your written quote.
For UK parcels, goods sent from abroad are checked by customs and taxes can apply. For Canada, assessment also depends on value, the type of goods and any applicable exemption. EU purchases from outside the Union can attract import VAT, customs or handling charges.
Further reading: GOV.UK: goods sent from abroad · CBSA: importing by mail or courier · European Commission: goods arriving from outside the EU
Give a reachable phone number and email where available. Warn the receiver to look out for a genuine carrier request for documents or payment. Verify unexpected requests through the carrier’s official contact details rather than an unfamiliar payment link.
A tracking message that says “clearance” or “held” needs to be read with the carrier’s reason. Contact our team with the AWB, latest status and any notice received. We can help identify the next step; release is decided by the relevant authority.
Official references reviewed 18 September 2026. Check the applicable requirements again when booking.
Clear information for every shipment, from the contents of your box to the paperwork at customs.
Documents, clean clothing, books and non-hazardous gifts are common parcel enquiries. Tell us exactly what is inside, including hidden batteries, liquids or food ingredients. Acceptance is confirmed for the destination and selected service before booking.
A mixed parcel is checked item by item. One restricted product can affect the entire box, so include every item in your list and keep product labels or invoices ready.
Never hide illegal goods, counterfeit products or undeclared hazardous materials in a parcel. Fireworks, fuel, gas cylinders, corrosive chemicals and similar dangerous goods do not belong in an ordinary personal parcel.
Medicines, food, seeds, wooden articles, batteries, perfumes and valuables need separate checks. A restricted item may need permits or specialist handling; it is not automatically accepted because another item in the box is allowed.
Shipping weight considers both the scale weight and the space occupied by the packed box. Measure its outer length, width and height in centimetres and send us all three measurements with the actual weight.
Volumetric weight = length × width × height ÷ the service’s divisor. For an illustrative divisor of 5,000, a 50 × 40 × 30 cm box gives 12 kg. Carrier measurement, rounding and the chosen service determine the final chargeable weight.
Further reading: FedEx: actual and dimensional weight
Give a clear item description, quantity, genuine value and reason for sending. Customs can inspect the parcel or request documents. A gift or personal parcel is still subject to destination import rules.
Ask which freight, tax, duty, remote-area and clearance charges your quote includes, and who pays any destination charges. Never use a false description or a deliberately reduced value to avoid customs checks.
Keep the sender’s recognised identity and address proof ready. Names and addresses should match the shipment paperwork. Business consignments and regulated items can require additional documents.
Complete verification through the office or the verified carrier process after the service is confirmed. Do not paste identity numbers, prescriptions, passwords or payment details into the public quote form.
Further reading: FedEx India: KYC and customs documents
Use a sound carton, protect items from movement and remove old labels. Keep food in suitable sealed packaging only after acceptance is confirmed. Add the receiver’s full address, postcode and reachable phone number.
Keep an item list and photos of the packed contents. Confirm pickup availability, the expected delivery window and any remote-area requirement before handing over the parcel.
Food, medicines, customs and delivery requirements differ by country. Choose the actual receiving country before preparing your parcel.
