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Documents Required for International Freight Shipping

A plain guide to the main shipping documents: what they are, who issues them and why customs needs them.

At a glance

Commercial invoice: Issued by the seller: buyer and seller, goods description, quantity, value and terms of sale. The basis for customs valuation.
Packing list: What each package holds, its weight and dimensions; used for inspection and delivery.
Bill of lading: Issued by the line or forwarder: the cargo receipt and contract of carriage, and it can be a document of title.
Air waybill: The transport document for air freight; it is not a document of title.
Certificate of origin: Proves where the goods were made; issued by the chamber of commerce or the competent body.
Customs declaration: Filed by the customs broker on the customs system of the country of import or export.

Transit times and prices depend on the carrier, the season and the goods; we send current figures in your quote.

How it works

Tell us the origin, destination and goods. We send an itemised quote.

We book the shipment, collect from the supplier and prepare the documents.

We follow the journey and clear your goods through customs on arrival.

We deliver to your warehouse or the address you choose.

What mistake delays clearance most?

Data that does not match between the invoice, packing list and bill of lading, such as weight, number of packages or consignee name.

Do I need originals?

It depends on the bill type and what customs or the bank requires. We tell you before shipping if originals are needed.

We reply with an itemised quote within one business day.