If you send or receive goods from outside of the European Union, you must fill out and attach the customs invoice to the parcel. Here you’ll find the sample customs invoice and step-by-step instructions on how to complete it.

The following is very important if shipping outside the European Union:

Take care to fill it out correctly.
Use the instructions below as a reference.

Print 3 copies of the customs form and

Put the documents in an envelope and attach it to the parcel.
You can buy adhesive envelopes in any post office or shop.

Step-by-step instructions on how to fill in the customs form

CUSTOMS INVOICE

The customs invoice is a document that the customs authorities of each country must process and on which the necessary taxes and restrictions are applied. You must select how you wish the invoice to be issued:

• as a commercial invoice
  When the content is a sale and the recipient made the purchase.
• as a non-commercial invoice
  When the goods that you send are:
  • personal belongings
  • a sample
  • a return
  • a gift

SENDER AND RECIPIENT INFORMATION

Both the sender’s and the recipient’s National Identity Card, Foreigner Identity Card, or passport numbers must be indicated, and if it’s a company, the VAT number must be provided. Without this information, the parcel will be blocked at customs.

CONTENTS INVENTORY

You need to make a detailed inventory of everything you’re sending.

Detailed description of each item in English

Describe each item you’re sending in the first column of the table. Use all the lines if necessary

• its purpose
• the material it’s made from
• its brand
• its size
• its use
• its intended gender (for example, women’s shoes)
• any other detail that could describe the item in question

Example

As Maria’s boyfriend was recently transferred to Canada for work, she is sending him some of his most valuable personal items: a poster, a pair of shoes, a mobile phone, a watch and two t-shirts.

For items that may contain materials of animal origin, such as leather, wool or silk (for example, shoes, jackets, pyjamas, etc.) it’s obligatory to note the material and its origin, whether the material is bovine leather or synthetic.

If your items are used, make sure to mention this in the description.

Tariff Code/Tariff Heading

The tariff code is an international code used by the customs authorities to classify goods. To ensure that your parcel is delivered without delays, you must specify the correct code.

To find the tariff code, visit www.tariffnumber.com and look for the code at the top. Carefully read the full description of the code before choosing the correct one.

Example

Maria needs to find the tariff number for 5 different items. These are the codes she found:

Don’t copy these, your items may contain different materials.

Country of origin

Indicate your item’s country of origin. As a general rule, you’ll find this on the product label under "Made in"

Number of products

If you’re sending more than one item of the same type (for example, two cotton t-shirts), you only have to describe it once in the table, but you should indicate the number of items you’re sending. To decide whether you need to describe your items on a new line, ask yourself:

If your answer is no, then you need to describe this item on a new line.

If you’re sending more than 13 different items, download an additional table from here

Download the additional table

Item Value

Indicate the true value of each item you’ve described.

If you’re sending personal items without a specific value, try to value them as accurately as possible, for example how much would you sell it for at a second-hand market?

If you’re sending items you have made yourself, try to estimate the value of the materials and production cost.

Example

Although the shoes and phone are used, Maria detailed their real market value, which she calculated based on their original value and age. This value is approximate, but it’s necessary

This is how María completed the customs form:

PURPOSE OF EXPORTATION

Select the correct reason for the shipment. Remember that Packlink doesn’t manage temporary exports, only permanent ones

SHIPMENT DETAILS

Indicate the number of parcels you’re sending in the correct field. If it’s more than 1, add up the total weight of the parcels and enter this into the weight field.

Indicating the exact weight is extremely important in order to avoid problems at customs. As well as delaying your shipment, it can lead to additional costs.

The Shipping cost (€) field must include the price paid to Packlink for the shipment.

 DUAL USE DECLARATION

This is an obligatory declaration for the customs authorities. It states that what you’re sending is not for military use.

If you’re thinking about sending something that can be used for military purposes: DON’T DO IT, it’s illegal

CITES Declaration

This is an obligatory declaration for the customs authorities. It states that you’re not sending anything manufactured with materials prohibited by protection laws for species in danger of extinction.

If you’re thinking about sending anything that may be made of materials originating from species in danger of extinction (for example: elephant tusk): DON’T DO IT, it’s illegal. If you’re not sure, you can check here: http://checklist.cites.org/#/es

DEFINITIVE/PERMANENT EXPORT

Here you need to declare that you acknowledge that your shipment will not be exported temporarily, and that standard customs taxes will be applied. Packlink doesn’t handle temporary shipments outside the EU.