If you are shipping or receiving a parcel outside of the European Union, you must complete and affix the customs invoice to the parcel. Below you will find the customs invoice and the process to follow to fill this in.

If you are shipping outside of the European union, it’s important that you:

Correctly and carefully complete the customs invoice above.

Print 3 copies of the customs invoice and

Place all documents in an envelope attached to the parcel.
You can purchase adhesive envelopes from any stationery shop or post office.

How to complete the customs invoice, step by step:

CUSTOMS INVOICE

The customs document is an invoice which is essential for the customs authorities of each country to clear goods through customs, in order to calculate any taxes and apply any restrictions. It is important to indicate how your customs invoice will be processed:

• as a commercial invoice
  When the goods are the object of a sale: the recipient has made a purchase.
• as a non-commercial invoice
  When the goods delivered are:
  • your personal items
  • a sample
  • a return
  • a gift

SENDER AND RECIPIENT DETAILS

You must complete the identification fields for the sender and the recipient (identity number, passport number), or, for legal persons, the VAT number. Without this information, your parcel will be blocked at customs.

CONTENTS INVENTORY

You must complete a detailed inventory of the items contained in the shipment.

Detailed description of each object, in English

Describe each type of object you have shipped in the first column of the table, as precisely and detailed as possible, as well as:

• its purpose
• its production materials
• its brand
• its size
• its use
• the gender for which it is intended (e.g.: shoes for women)
• any other detail which may apply to your specific object

Example

Marie is sending her husband, who has been transferred to Argentina for work, his personal items: a poster, a pair of socks, a phone, a watch and two t-shirts.

 

For any items which may contain materials of animal origin, such as leather, wool or silk (e.g.: shoes, jackets, bedspreads, etc.) it is mandatory to note the type of material and its origin: whether it is bovine leather or synthetic material.

If your items have been used (second hand), make sure to indicate this in the description.

Tariff code

The tariff code is an international classification of objects, used by customs authorities. In order to avoid any delays to your shipment, you will need to indicate the correct tariff code corresponding to your object.

To find the tariff code, visit www.tarifdouanier.eu and enter your object in the search bar located at the top of the page. Be sure to read the entire code description before choosing which is correct.

Example

Marie needs to find the tariff code for 5 different objects. Here are the numbers she has found:

Do not copy this, as your objects may contain different materials.

Country of origin

Indicate the object’s country of origin. In case of any doubt, you can check this information on the ‘Made in’ label. If you do not have this information, indicate the shipping country.

Number of items

If you are shipping more than one item of the same type (e.g.: 2 cotton t-shirts), you can describe them in one line of the table, and then specify the number of items shipped. To decide whether or not you need to describe the object in a new line, ask yourself:

If the answer is no, you will need to describe the item in a new line.

Item value

Indicate the actual value of each item you have described.

If you are shipping personal items without a specific value, try to estimate as precisely as possible; how much would you sell these items for second hand?

If you are shipping items you have produced yourself, try to estimate the cost of the materials used for their production.

Example

Although the shoes and telephone are used, Marie indicates their actual market value, basing this figure on their origin and age. This value is approximate, but necessary.

Here you can see how Marie has completed the customs invoice:

SHIPMENT REASON

Select the correct reason for the shipment. We remind you that DPD does not carry out temporary exports, only permanent ones.

SHIPMENT DETAILS

Indicate the number of parcels being shipped in the corresponding field. If there is more than one, add the total weight of the parcels and indicate this in the weight field.

It is essential that you indicate the exact weight. If not, you may encounter problems with the customs authorities: delay, blocked goods or additional fees.

DUAL-USE DECLARATION

This is a declaration required by the customs authorities. It confirms that what you are shipping is not for military usage.

If you intend to ship an item which may be used for military purposes: DO NOT SHIP IT, this is illegal.

CITES declaration

This is a declaration required by the customs authorities. It indicates that you are not sending any item produced with prohibited materials, in accordance with legislation for the protection of endangered species.

If you intend to ship an item produced with materials originating from endangered animals (for example, an elephant tusk): DO NOT SHIP IT, this is illegal. In case of any questions, consult: https://checklist.cites.org/

PERMANENT EXPORT

You acknowledge having been warned that the shipment cannot be exported temporarily, and that standard customs duties will be applied. DPD does not carry out temporary customs clearance outside of the European Union.