Customs Clearance Process: What Happens When Your Package Arrives at Customs

All international packages sent by mail or courier services undergo customs clearance to ensure that the packages contain no prohibited items, that all paperwork is in order, and that all applicable duties and taxes are paid. What exactly does the customs clearance process entail, and is there anything you, as the sender, can do to ensure everything goes smoothly?

Every international package must have a shipping label that also serves as a customs declaration form. The label contains information about the sender and recipient, as well as a list of the package contents, including their description, quantity, cost, and purpose. If you purchase and print your own shipping labels, you must complete the customs declaration form online. If you ship packages from a post office, you must complete a paper form and give it to the clerk who creates your shipping label.

When an international package arrives in the destination country, the postal service or courier submits a customs declaration to the local customs authority, which reviews the declaration to ensure compliance with laws and regulations. This includes verifying the type of goods to ensure they are permitted and calculating any duties or taxes based on the declared value.

If the value of the package exceeds a certain threshold, customs notifies the postal or courier service, which then collects the applicable duties and taxes from the recipient. Once these fees are paid, the package is handed over to the postal service or courier for final delivery. If the recipient fails to pay the duties and taxes within a certain timeframe, the package will be returned to the sender or, in some countries, destroyed.

While reviewing the declaration, customs may flag a package for inspection. However, most packages pass through customs without a detailed check because it is impossible to inspect every package due to the high volume of international mail. For this reason, customs authorities usually use risk-based screening, flagging packages that appear suspicious, exceed certain value limits, come from high-risk countries, or contain restricted items. Packages with incomplete or incorrect customs declaration forms are also flagged for inspection.

Customs officers open flagged packages and inspect the goods to ensure they match the provided documentation and comply with local laws and regulations. If there are no issues and no duties or taxes are due, the package clears customs. If customs finds a problem with a package, the outcome depends on the type and severity of the issue.

Prohibited or restricted items are usually confiscated. Prohibited items may be destroyed or, in some cases, handed over to another authority. If an item is restricted rather than prohibited, customs may hold the package until the sender provides the required permit or documentation. If the documentation cannot be provided, the package will be returned or confiscated.

If customs believes the declared value is too low or incorrect, they may reassess the value and calculate duties and taxes based on the revised value. The package may be held until proof of the correct value is provided, such as a purchase receipt, or until the recipient pays the revised duties and taxes.

If the customs declaration is missing information or is unclear, customs may hold the package until the postal service or courier contacts the sender or recipient to provide the missing details. If the issue cannot be resolved, the item will be returned to the sender. If the sender’s address is missing or invalid, the item will be treated as undeliverable and destroyed.

What can you, as the sender, do to ensure your package clears customs? The answer is simple. First, make sure that the items you’re sending aren’t restricted or prohibited. Second, provide complete and accurate information on the customs declaration form. If your documentation is accurate and consistent, there shouldn’t be any problems at customs.