To ensure your parcel clears customs the following details are required on the commercial invoice:
Detailed Item Description
Make sure your description is as accurate as possible. For example: 'Dog statuette, made from oak, ornamental.' Vague descriptions such as 'Gift' or 'Carpet' are likely to be flagged by customs to investigate.
Providing a local contact number and email address will allow customs to get in touch with the recipient to clear the parcel.
The contact details required may vary depending on the country. Please check before sending by going to the country's government and tax duties website.
Avoiding Delays
Providing these details will prevent any unnecessary delays at customs, allowing your parcel to get to its destination quickly.
Destinations
The following countries have specific requests for their commercial invoice. For information on any not listed below, visit a country's government tax and duties website.
Please ensure the correct French territory is selected during the booking process and not France (Mainland). This will enable the commercial invoice to be generated correctly.
Please ensure the correct contact details for the receiver are added during the order process, including a local telephone number for the correct territory.
Please note Duties and Taxes may still be applied by customs to shipments going to French territories.
Iceland
Please ensure the correct contact details for the receiver are added during the order process, including a local telephone number for the correct country.
Please ensure the delivery address is accurate and contains all the correct information.
Iceland is a member of the EFTA countries and Duties and Taxes may be applied.
Parcels shipped to India must be cleared using a KYC (Know Your Customer) document.
During the booking journey, you will be asked to provide the recipient's PAN number - this is their Vat number/ID card and every resident in India should have one).
If further clearance documentation is required, the receiver will be contacted via email.
DPD Online Tip: To avoid any additional delays make sure you include a valid local contact number that the recipient can be contacted on and a working email address that belongs to them.
Israel
Please ensure the correct contact details for the receiver are added during the order process, including a local telephone number for the correct country.
Please ensure the delivery address is accurate and contains all the correct information.
Lichtenstein
Please ensure the correct contact details for the receiver are added during the order process, including a local telephone number for the correct country.
Please ensure the delivery address is accurate and contains all the correct information.
Lichtenstein is a member of the EFTA countries and Duties and Taxes may be applied.
Norway
Please ensure the correct contact details for the receiver are added during the order process, including a local telephone number for the correct country.
Please ensure the delivery address is accurate and contains all the correct information.
Norway is a member of the EFTA countries and Duties and Taxes may be applied.
Shipments to Japan require a detailed commodity breakdown from shipper with itemised description and values are required.
All shipments require a valid local contact number.
Singapore
Please ensure the correct contact details for the receiver are added during the order process, including a local telephone number for the correct country.
Please ensure the delivery address is accurate and contains all the correct information.
Spanish Overseas Territories
Please ensure the correct Spanish territory (Canary Islands, Ceuta or Melilla) is selected during the booking process and not Spain(Mainland). This will enable the commercial invoice to be generated correctly.
Please ensure the correct contact details for the receiver are added during the order process, including a local telephone number for the correct territory.
You will need to provide a correct ID number (CIF or NIF) for the receiver. Please ensure that the name given during the order is the recipients full name and includes both surnames if double barrelled.
Please note Duties and Taxes may still be applied by customs to shipments going to Spanish territories.
Switzerland
Please ensure the correct contact details for the receiver are added during the order process, including a local telephone number for the correct country.
Please ensure the delivery address is accurate and contains all the correct information.
Switzerland is a member of the EFTA countries and Duties and Taxes may be applied.
UAE
Please ensure the correct contact details for the receiver are added during the order process, including a local telephone number for the correct country.
Please ensure the delivery address is accurate and contains all the correct information.
Parcels travelling to the USA may be subject to inspection via the FDA if there are food-based or animal base for example leather items, they may also need more information on certain electrical items.
If this is the case the receiver will be required to provide certain documents.
Here is a link of where to find any documents that you may need:
Please ensure the correct contact details for the receiver are added during the order process, including a local telephone number for the correct country.
Please ensure the delivery address is accurate and contains all the correct information.
Duties and Taxes applied may be indicated as COD, this is because some couriers pay the customs charges to release the parcel and pass the charge to the customer upon delivery.
South Africa requires the receivers tax ID which is requested during the booking journey.
If you are shipping any form of paperwork/documentation, when completing the customs details please ensure you state the reason for export as 'Documents'. It is recommended documents be of a minimal value to be under the South African low value threshold of ZAR 500.00.
Duties & Taxes
Customs and duties and taxes may be applied to all parcels travelling outside of Great Britain. This will depend on the value, the item(s) and the purpose of shipment.
If an IOSS number is not provided during the booking journey, customs officials will contact the recipient for payment if there is any duty owed, and this will need to be paid before the parcel is released.
Parcels will be held by customs until payments are made. Any payments not received may result in parcels being returned or in some cases destroyed.
Commodity Codes
Some services may ask for a commodity code. These are also known as a tariff code or a HS code.
These codes are used to identify the item(s) so border officials can check they're safe and legal, and calculate any duties owed.
If you're not sure how to classify your goods, check and search the UK government website by clicking below.
The services provided to us by the couriers do not allow the following items on their network.
Any person sending items considered to be Prohibited will be subject to their order being cancelled.
Animal / Animal Related*
Goods made from or containing animal products.
Appliances*
Any sized white goods or small appliances such as washing machines, water heaters and any similar domestic or commercial appliances.
Drugs*
Drugs or medicines, in any form or state, are fully restricted.
Hazardous Items*
Any goods, products or other items containing, in whole or in part, hazardous materials.
Liquids*
Liquids of all kinds are prohibited.
Perishable Goods*
Any product in which quality deteriorates due to environmental conditions through time, needs to be kept chilled or frozen. Such as perishable food like meat, fish, dairy products, flowers etc. are prohibited.
Vehicle Parts*
Large vehicle parts or over 15 Kg. Vehicle parts that contain fluid, oil or fumes are prohibited. For a full list click below.
Weapons*
Weapons of all kinds are prohibited.
*Parcel protection will become invalid if you send items which fall under our prohibited items list.
Items Not Protected
The services provided to us by the couriers will deliver the following items, however, you do so at your own risk.
The item will not be protected for any loss or damage, however if the item is lost within the network we will refund the cost of the carriage only.
Glass*
Glass items of any kind, including glassware can be sent at the risk of the sender. These items will not be eligible for protection in the event of damage.
China / Porcelain*
Fragile materials such as bone china, fine china and porcelain are not protected for any loss or damage.
Jewellery*
All jewellery items can be sent but are considered ‘no protection’.
Items Protected For Loss Only
The services provided to us by the couriers will send the following items, however, they will not be protected for any damage.
If the item is lost within the network you will be refunded the cost of the carriage and the items value
*.
Furniture & Electricals*
Including objects such as tables, chairs, desks, beds or electronic devices. Must be within service restrictions and packaged correctly.
Instruments*
All Musical Instruments must be sent in a hard case and boxed. Maximum parcel protection value is up to £1,000.00 for lost items.
Ornaments*
Must not be made of porcelain, china or glass (non-comp items).
Bicycles*
Bicycles can be sent but are not protected for damage, please ensure these are correctly packaged in a box with the wheels detached and handle bars in a straight position.
*Parcel protection must be taken out for any loss to be claimed.
Prohibited Items:
The following items (or any item similar in description or content) cannot be carried on any service.
Any person sending such an item may be subject to their order being cancelled without notice:
Active Mobile Phones Outside The EU
Aerosol
Aftershaves
Air Bag
Amber
Ammunition
Animals Or Organisms Of Any Form (Alive Or Dead)
Antiques
Any Articles (Or Part Of Them) That Are Made Up Of China, Glass, Porcelain, Earthenware Or Other Similar Materials
Mobile Phone/Mobile Phones With Or Without Sim To Any Address In Turkey/Pakistan/Ecuador
Money/Cash/Currency/Vouchers
Nail Varnish
Oil
Ornament
Over Head Projector
Packaging/Media Packaging
Paint
Painting/Pictures
Passport
Perfumes
Perishable Goods (All)
Personal Effects - Including Personal Belongings Or Personal Items
Petrol Or Diesel Tanks (Full Or Empty) In Any Item
Pewter Figures
Picture Frames
Plant/S
Poster
Precious Metals (Gold/Silver/Platinum Etc.)
Print
Printer Toner/ Ink Cartridges
Projector
Real Fur
Replica Weapons
Resin
Scanner
Seatbelt Tensioner
Settee
Sewing/Knitting Machine
Shower Screen
SIM Cards
Slush Syrup
Slush Syrup
Sofa
Spectacles
Stamps (Unless Franked)
Steering Wheel
Stoneware
Suitcase
Suitcases/ Flight Cases (Not Acceptable As Packaging)
Surf Board
Telescope
Television
Tickets
Tiles
Tobacco And Tobacco Products
Toilets
Torches
Trees
Turntables
TV
Tyres
Vase
Vehicle Bonnet
Vehicle Bumper
Vehicle Door
Velux
Vermiculite Board
Vouchers With A Face Value
Washbasin
(DPD Local, ExpressPak)
Watch
Water
Weapons
Wheels
Window
Window Frame
Wooden Items (Australia)
Special Provisions:
Amplifiers
- maximum Parcel Protection value for damages is £200, up to £2,500 for lost items.
Apple Mac
- maximum Parcel Protection value for damages is £200, up to £2,500 for lost items. iMacs are on the prohibited list and not protected for loss or damage.
Banjo
- maximum Parcel Protection value for damages is £100, up to £1,000 for lost items. Banjo must be sent in a hard case.
Cello
- maximum Parcel Protection value for damages is £100, up to £1,000 for lost items. Cello must be sent in a hard case.
Guitar
- maximum Parcel Protection value for damages is £100, up to £1,000 for lost items. Guitar must be sent in a hard case.
Violin
- maximum Parcel Protection value for damages is £100, up to £1,000 for lost items. Violin must be sent in a hard case.
Clothing
Fabric
Gift
Toys
Shipping to the EU After Brexit
Parcels sent to the EU will be subject to EU VAT unless your parcel is a gift under the value of €45 (about £38). This total value must include the cost of the items within the parcel in addition to the cost of shipping.
If you're sending a parcel directly from a marketplace, such as Amazon or eBay, or you're a business shipper, your parcel will not be exempt from EU VAT. The VAT rate is different for each country within Europe, so it's important to check the customs website for the country you're sending to before you ship.
You can work out and pay customs fees and duties during DPD Online's booking process.
