Essential documents for a shipment from China
Documents are what customs see first. Getting them right avoids delays and fines.
Common documents
- Commercial invoice: goods, values and quantities.
- Packing list: contents, weights and dimensions of each carton.
- Bill of lading (sea) or air waybill (air).
- Certificate of origin, when needed.
- Product certificates or registrations required by your country.
Why accuracy matters
Differences between the invoice, the packing list and the actual goods can delay clearance or cause penalties, so we reconcile the packing list with what we actually received before shipping.
Tip
Check the current document list with a customs broker in your country before the goods ship.
FAQ
Do you prepare the certificate of origin?
We can help request it depending on the goods and destination, and confirm before shipping.
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All guides
- Buying from 1688 and Taobao through an agent
- Incoterms in brief: EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP
- How to start an online store with products from China
- China Yiwu International Commodities Fair: is it worth visiting?
- Factory or trading company? How to tell the difference
- Sea freight: full container (FCL) or shared container (LCL)?
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