In international trade, customs clearance is a crucial link. It directly affects whether goods can be imported and exported smoothly and the time required. Understanding the time frame for customs clearance not only helps you plan your logistics, but also ensures that you can effectively fulfill your business commitments. I hope you have learned the basic situation of customs clearance time through this article.
What is customs clearance
Customs clearance refers to a series of procedures that import and export goods must complete in accordance with relevant laws and regulations when passing through customs. It is necessary to submit relevant documents and information of the goods to the customs, such as commercial invoices, bills of lading, packing lists, etc. The customs will inspect the goods, check tariffs and other fees, and ultimately decide whether to release the goods. This process is designed to ensure the legality, safety and compliance with the country’s import and export policies of the goods.
The process of customs clearance
Customs clearance varies depending on the mode of transportation. Air express with carriers such as DHL is simple – make sure they have the commercial invoice and they will take care of the rest.
For air or sea freight, you need to do more. Submit an ISF, provide a bill of lading, and provide your commercial invoice and packing list to the customs broker.
HTS Code
Accuracy is key to submit the correct HTS code to avoid overpayment or underpayment of taxes, which can result in fines.
Arrival Notice and X-ray Inspection
When your goods are about to arrive, a notice will be sent to start customs clearance. Usually it is very fast, unless there is a sign for an X-ray inspection, it may be delayed.
Port unloading time
Even after customs clearance, you can’t load and ship immediately. Remember that unloading takes time, usually longer than customs clearance itself.
Complete customs clearance
In short, customs clearance starts with shipment preparation. Once customs receives the arrival notification, the process begins and is usually completed within a day or two unless there are problems. Avoiding X-ray inspections and ensuring that the documents are complete can speed up customs clearance.
Customs Clearance Time
Customs clearance time varies depending on a number of factors. Typically, customs clearance time ranges from a few hours to a few days.
| Region | Typical Time (Business Days) |
|---|---|
| North America（USA, Canada） | 1-2 |
| Europe（UK, France, Germany） | 2-3 |
| Asia（UAE, Japan, India） | 1-3 |
| Africa（South Africa, Nigeria） | 3-4 |
| Oceania（Australia, New Zealand） | 2-3 |
These times are for reference only and may vary depending on the type of goods and customs clearance procedures as well as laws and regulations between each country.
Customs clearance for export from China
Below I will give you an example of customs clearance from China to three different countries. I hope you can understand the customs clearance between different countries in detail
Customs clearance from China to the USA
Customs clearance time: Usually 1-2 working days. If further inspection, additional documents or payment of tariffs are required, the time may be extended.
Steps for customs clearance from China to the USA:
- Pre-declaration: Submit declaration information (such as description of goods, value, etc.) through an electronic system before the goods arrive.
- Customs review: Customs inspects the goods and declaration documents and may require additional inspections.
- Payment of tariffs: If the goods are subject to tariffs or other fees, they must be completed in this step.
- Release: After completing all requirements, the goods are released and can be distributed.
Customs clearance fees:
- Tariffs: Calculated based on the type of goods and the declared value, usually between 0% and 37%.
- Other fees: May include customs processing fees, agency fees, transportation fees and insurance fees.
Customs clearance from China to the UAE
Customs clearance time: Usually 1-3 working days
Customs clearance steps: Submit goods and document information. UAE Customs may require additional certification or inspection for certain categories of goods (such as food and medicine).
Cost: Most tariffs are 5%, but specific goods may have different tax rates; there may also be document processing fees.
UAE Customs processing is relatively fast, but the supervision of specific goods is stricter, and requirements may include additional health or safety certification.
Customs clearance from China to Germany
Customs clearance time: usually 2-3 working days.
Customs clearance steps: Detailed declaration documents (such as commercial invoices, packing lists) need to be submitted, and customs review may be more detailed, involving the calculation of VAT and tariffs.
Cost: In addition to tariffs, 19% VAT is required; in addition, customs clearance service fees may be incurred.
German customs procedures are strict, with high requirements for the integrity of documents. Goods classification and declaration must be accurate to avoid delays.
Factors Affecting Customs Clearance Time
- Types of Goods: Different types of goods may require different customs clearance procedures, especially for special goods such as food, medicine, and electronic products, which often take longer to clear.
- Document Preparation: If the documents are incomplete or incorrect, customs clearance will be delayed. Inconsistent information on the commercial invoice or bill of lading may require re-declaration, resulting in delays.
- Customs Inspection: If customs decides to inspect the goods, this may add 1-2 days or even longer to the customs clearance time. Reasons for inspection include doubts about the authenticity of the goods, inconsistent value declarations, or high-risk goods.
- Efficiency of logistics service providers: The efficiency of the selected logistics service provider in communicating with customs and processing customs clearance documents will also affect customs clearance time.
- Holidays and working hours: Holidays and weekends are usually not working hours, and customs clearance operations may be suspended or delayed, which has a greater impact on customs clearance time.
- Customs Clearance Location and Infrastructure: Customs infrastructure and customs clearance efficiency vary in different regions. Customs in areas with high cargo flow may face longer customs clearance times.
Strategies to alleviate customs clearance delays
- Prepare documents in advance: Ensure that all documents required for customs clearance are complete and accurate to avoid delays caused by document issues.
- Understand and comply with the laws and regulations of the importing country: Be familiar with the laws and regulations of the importing country, especially the customs clearance requirements for special commodities, and obtain relevant licenses in advance if necessary.
- Use high-quality logistics services: Choose reliable logistics service providers who are more professional in handling international freight and customs clearance to avoid unnecessary delays.
Customs clearance is an inevitable part of international trade, and its duration is affected by many factors. I hope that through this article, you can understand the customs clearance process, prepare complete documents, and choose the right logistics service provider, which can effectively shorten the customs clearance time and reduce the risk of cargo delays.