Customs and Documents for International Courier

Most delays at customs come from missing papers or unclear descriptions. Here is what to keep ready for each kind of shipment, and what happens to your parcel at the border. Our team checks your paperwork before pickup.

Personal shipments

Sender's ID proof: Aadhaar, PAN or passport (any one)
Packing list with a description and value for each item
Recipient's full name, address with postal code, and phone number

Food items

All the personal shipment documents
Food invoice with manufacturing date and ingredients
Sealed, original manufacturer packaging where possible

Electronics

All the personal shipment documents
Purchase invoice with serial numbers
Declaration of value; lithium batteries declared and packed as per IATA rules

Commercial shipments

GST registration certificate and IEC code
Commercial invoice with HS codes
Packing list with weights and dimensions
Certificate of origin and AD code registration, where applicable

How customs clearance works

The parcel arrives at the carrier's international hub in the destination country.
Customs reviews the documents and the declared contents and values.
Some parcels are inspected, most often food and organic items.
Duty and tax are assessed, if any apply.
Customs releases the parcel and the carrier delivers it to the door.

Who pays customs duty?

The recipient pays any import duty and tax charged by the destination country. CourierVia does not collect destination duties. Each country sets its own duty-free limits for gifts and personal items; our country pages list the limits for that country, and our duty-free limits guide compares them.

How to avoid customs delays

Declare every item accurately; hidden items are the most common cause of seizure.
Declare correct values. Under-declaring can lead to penalties.
Include complete invoices with clear item descriptions.
Keep food sealed and labelled.
Check the restricted items list before packing; prohibited items are confiscated.

We check your paperwork before pickup, so documents are complete before the parcel leaves Delhi.

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