Do you ever send shipments to countries outside the EU? If so, the rules on free movement of goods and services do not apply. Your shipments will go through customs and you will have to submit a customs form. To avoid unnecessary delays in international shipping, it is important that you complete the customs form as completely and truthfully as possible. This form also serves as your shipping label. The customs form is also an official document that guides any future investigations in the event of problems or claims. In this blog, we explain everything you need to know about the customs form.
Where can I find the customs form (CN23 and CP71)?
Through MyParcel, the customs form is integrated into your online shipping portal. This means that the system will provide you with the forms you need to fill in, if applicable, when you create a shipment. MyParcel provides you with a CN23 form, CP71 form and commercial invoice. The CN23 form must be attached to parcel shipments outside the EU and contains information about the goods being transported.
Next, the mandatory Dispatch Note CP71 will be sent to you automatically, on which you need to describe the contents of your shipment in more detail. If you wish to send multiple types of products in your parcel, you need to complete the following fields per product type. Once you have filled in detailed information per product type, click ‘Add’ to start the next product. When creating a shipment, these forms integrated into our platform when a shipment is created help you send your parcels to destinations across the world – it’s quick and easy!
Sending a parcel abroad.
More information on sending parcels abroad is available on this page. Want to get started now? Through your account, you can create shipping labels for all the parcels you want to send in just a few simple steps.
How does the customs form work?
- Log into your MyParcel account.
- Start creating a new parcel shipment.
Select ‘Shipments’ → ‘New shipment’ → ‘Parcel’ → Select the correct shop if necessary → Select your parcel’s destination country (outside of the EU) and enter the recipient’s address details. - Use the dropdown menu to specify which types of products you are sending
NB: the rules for sending goods and substances vary for each country. Information on which goods and substances are prohibited is available here.
- ‘Sale of goods’. If you are shipping commercial goods and samples or if it is a return shipment, you need to provide some information:
- The invoice number, as it is stated on your sales invoice.
- The total weight of the shipment, i.e. all products, packaging, padding, etc. combined, rounded to the nearest kilogram (or gram).
Next, you need to describe the contents of your shipment in more detail. If you wish to send multiple types of products in your parcel, you need to complete the following fields per product type. Once you have filled in detailed information per product type, click ‘Add’ to start the next product:
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- Which types of products the parcel contains.
- The amount of products of the same product type in the parcel.
- The total weight of the amount of each specific product type, rounded to the nearest kilogram.
- The total value of the amount of each specific product type, rounded to the nearest kilogram
- The goods code. When products pass through customs at the EU border, the goods code has to be specified on the invoice. The goods code can be found on the website of the customs authorities. NB: if you click the folder on this page, the various options will appear. You also need to enter a four to six-digit code into the system, (roman numerals are not accepted).
- The country of origin of the product type.
- Once all of the information has been entered correctly, click ‘Add’.
- If you want to send more than one type of product in your shipment, you need to answer the questions again for the other product types.
‘Gifts, samples and documentation’.If you are sending a gift to friends or family or you just want to send documents or samples, a customs declaration is still required. It is important that you clearly specify what is in your parcel. The more detailed the description, the quicker the parcel will be handled by customs:
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- The total weight of the shipment, i.e. all products, packaging, padding, etc. combined, rounded to the nearest kilogram (or gram).
Next, you need to describe the contents of your shipment in more detail. If you wish to send multiple types of products in your parcel, you need to complete the following fields per product type. Once you have filled in detailed information per product type, click ‘Add’ to start the next product:
-
- Which types of products the parcel contains.
- The amount of products of the same product type in the parcel.
- The total weight of the amount of each specific product type, rounded to the nearest kilogram.
- The total value of the amount of each specific product type, rounded to the nearest kilogram
- The goods code. When products pass through customs at the EU border, the goods code has to be specified on the invoice. The goods code can be found on the website of the customs authorities. NB: if you click the folder on this page, the various options will appear. You also need to enter a four to six-digit code into the system, (roman numerals are not accepted).
- The country of origin of the product type.
- Once all of the information has been entered correctly, click ‘Add’.
- If you want to send more than one type of product in your shipment, you need to answer the questions again for the other product types.
Tip: Specify your customer’s telephone number on the customs form. Sometimes, the recipient needs to be contacted.& Always describe the content of your parcel in English or in the language of the destination country.
Attaching the customs form to your parcel?
You can print the customs form on standard A4 paper. There will always be two documents you need to print.
- The first page contains the shipping label and customs form.
- The second page contains the commercial invoice.
Take these steps so you know for sure that you have done everything correctly:
- Fold the first document in half and place it in a transparent A5 envelope.
- Sign both sides of the document in the signature field.
- Make sure the CN23 form specifying the recipient’s address is visible at the top.
- Place the commercial invoice in a separate transparent envelope.
- If you are sending commercially goods, add your sales invoice as well.
- Attach both envelopes to the parcel.
- Your parcel is now ready for shipment!
Alternative delivery for shipments with customs forms.
The delivery time for world shipments may vary per country. Officially, the customs authorities have four weeks to clear your parcel. However, from time to time there are disruptions and alternative shipping arrangements for a specific country. View the current status of your shipment here.
More information about international shipping for parcels with customs forms?
In addition to the customs form, there are other things you need to consider when shipping a parcel to an international destination. This useful checklist tells you everything you need to know.
More information?
Still have questions about international shipping? Please contact us.