Customs and paperwork for an international uniform order

An international uniform order needs a small amount of paperwork, and the paperwork is not the interesting part. It is the part that decides whether the parcel moves or waits.

What we send with every export is a commercial invoice and a packing list. The invoice states the description of the goods, the quantity, the unit value, the total value, the country of origin and the terms of sale. The packing list states how many cartons, what is in each one, and the weight.

Country of origin is Nepal. That is stated on every invoice, and it matters because some destinations apply different treatment depending on origin.

The declared value should be the real value. Undervaluing an export to reduce duty is a bad trade. Customs can hold the parcel, reassess it, and in some cases return it. The cost of that is far higher than the duty saved.

What you may need at your end depends on the destination. In some countries an individual can clear a courier parcel personally with an identity document and a payment of duty. In others, a company importer needs a tax number and a customs broker. If you are a hospital, your procurement office will usually know which applies.

Two things help the whole process.

Send us the exact legal name of the importing entity, not a trading name. The invoice has to match the paperwork at your end.

Tell us if the shipment is a sample or a gift rather than a commercial sale. It changes the declaration, and a mismatch is a common reason for delays.

We would rather spend ten minutes getting the invoice right than a week explaining why a carton is sitting in a bond.