Required customs documents

International shipping documents required for exports and imports

DHL Express Waybill – required for all shipments

Your waybill contains all the information DHL needs to know to keep your shipment moving. Our DHL online shipping solutions make it easy to prepare your international shipment. By creating your waybill online you will have visibility to missing or incomplete information, as well as be advised of applicable DHL services.

To create a waybill you’ll need the following information

1. Receiver’s information
2. Shipper’s information
3. Full description of shipment:
   • Goods
   • Quantities of each
4. Shipment details:
   • Total number of packages in the shipment
   • Total (sum) weight of the shipment
   • Shipment dimensions
5. Services:
   • Transit service
   • Optional services
   • Shipment Value Protection
6. Payment information:
   • DHL services
   • Destination duties/taxes
7. Non-document (dutiable) shipment information:
   • Value of shipped items (Must match the value indicated on the commercial invoice)
   • HTS Code (This is a predetermined unique number for export)

Commercial Invoice – for dutiable shipments

A commercial invoice is the first international document that has to be prepared. The commercial invoice serves as a bill for the goods from the seller to the buyer, and is evidence of the transaction.

Additionally, the commercial invoice forms the basis for the classification of the goods so that the shipment can be cleared through customs and it is ensured that all duties and taxes have been calculated correctly.

A commercial invoice requires the following information:

1. Your official company letterhead
2. Sender’s full name and address, including postal code
3. Sender’s telephone, fax or mobile number and VAT number
4. Receiver’s complete address details for the recipient of the shipment, including telephone, fax or mobile numbers
5. Invoice date
6. Waybill number
7. DHL as the carrier
8. Shipper’s invoice number
9. Sender’s reference
10. Recipient’s reference
11. Total quantity for each item
12. Country of origin for each item
13. Full description of the goods
14. Customs commodity code for each item
15. Unit weight
16. Unit value of each item
17. Subtotal of each item
18. Net weight for this shipment
19. Shipment gross weight
20. Total number of shipment pieces
21. Total value and currency of the shipment
22. Freight and insurance charges
23. Other charges
24. Currency code
25. Total invoice amount
26. Type of export (permanent, temporary, repair)
27. Terms of sale / terms of trade (Incoterms® 2010 Rules)
28. Reason for export
29. Additional notes
30. Complete declaration with your name, company title
31. Signature
32. Company stamp (if required)

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Paperless trade allows you to submit documents to customs electronically - without having to print them out and manually attach them to shipments. This feature helps you avoid costly delays caused by handwritten and misread customs documents.