International Shipping Tools & Resources

Documents

Because you’re shipping a written, typed, or printed form of communication with no commercial value, no forms are needed. All you’ll need to do is create a shipping label for the envelope you’re shipping them in.

Packages

Shipping One Parcel

You will need a FITS label and 3 copies of commercial invoices.

Shipping Multiple Parcels

If you’re sending multiple parcels to the same recipient, it will require your lead parcel to have a FITS shipping label and three copies of the commercial invoice. Each parcel after that will need a tracking label as well.

If you’re sending multiple packages to various recipients, each package needs to have its own set of FITS shipping label and a commercial invoice.

Know Your Shipping Documents

Commercial Invoice

A commercial invoice is the primary document used for importation control, valuation, and duty determination of the shipment at destination. It’s required for all shipments containing non-documents. Our shipping tool will help you fill out your commercial invoice as you’re creating your shipping label. It is important to provide accurate and specific information to avoid customs delays.

The form should include:
• Complete name and address information for both shipper and recipient.
• Phone numbers for both shipper and recipient.
• Terms of Sale (Incoterm).
• Reason for export.
• A complete description of the item.
• What the item is.
• What the item is used for.
• Harmonized Tariff Codes, if known.
• Country or territory of origin (where manufactured) for each item.
• Number of units, unit value and total value (purchase price) of each item.
• Number of parcels and total weight.
• Shipper’s signature and date.

If there’s no commercial value for what’s being shipped, a fair market value must be listed.
It is important to note that a commercial invoice from the shipper is a legal document declaring the goods and will be used by customs at both the origin and destination. Any misinformation or mismatch could incur penalties.

Packing List

A packing list is an optional document that allows shippers to give specific details on a shipment’s contents. A packing list might seem like a commercial invoice, but it’s not the same. A packing list should not – and will not – replace a commercial invoice. Why? Because it isn’t used by customs to determine duties and fees associated with the shipment.
Without information about the cost or value of a shipment’s contents, a packing list can still be very useful when you have multiple parcels under the same parent shipping label.

Certificate of Origin

A certificate of origin is a document that verifies the manufacturing country of the items being shipped, and the item’s origin and destination determine if the certificate is required. Requirement reasons could be because of established Treaty arrangements, varying duty rates and preferential duty treatment dependent on the shipment´s origin.
Rules for when a certificate is needed change frequently. Be sure to verify your specific requirements before shipping.