Sending Parcels to China: 3 Top Tips for Scaling The Great Customs Wall of China
International courier's customs advice for Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is on February 19th. If you are planning on sending a present to mark the start of the Year of the Goat, remember any international delivery to China will have to pass through Chinese customs and comply with China’s rigorous clearance regulations. International couriers ParcelHero has issued its Three Top tips to avoid Customs clearance delays.
With more trade than ever between the UK, the US and China, it’s well worth being aware that Chinese Customs authorities are renowned for being extremely thorough and notoriously strict.
1: List each item on the Customs Invoice
The Customs Invoice or Customs Document is a crucial part of the customs clearance process for parcels to China. Customs Invoices should detail the items you are sending, their individual value and the reason you are sending them. The biggest mistake senders can make is to not list each item on the Customs Invoice.
ParcelHero’s Head of Public Relations, David Jinks, says: ‘Many people will simply declare the contents of their parcel using one word, such as “Gift”. They are unaware that Chinese Customs need more information about what is actually being shipped. When information is missing from the invoice it causes clearance delays. It’s important to remember that Customs are a government authority and their rules are final and not negotiable.'
2: Provide valid contact details for the receiver
Chinese Customs authorities will contact your receiver as part of the Customs clearance process. This is a standard clearance protocol as China has extensive import regulations. The receiver or recipient of your parcel may be required to provide additional information to Chinese Customs. This could be an import licence, or confirmation of the reason for import. Therefore it’s extremely important that you provide a valid telephone number and email address for your receiver in China when you book your parcel online. If customs are unable to contact your receiver then they will not be able to clear the goods for delivery.
3: Be aware of the Customs import regulations
Each country has different rules and regulations for what you can and cannot import. People are often unaware that they are responsible for ensuring the items they send to China are actually permitted for import into the country. Some items are prohibited, whilst other items may have specific restrictions in place in terms of quantities or values, so it’s really important customers check the import rules and regulations for China prior to shipping. It’s too late to check the rules after you have sent your parcel, and this could result in fines applied by Customs, or return shipping charges if your parcel is to be sent back
If you are sending from the UK to China ParcelHero currently offers a rate of £27.85 (31% cheaper than the Post Office), £53.93 for a 10kg parcel (58% cheaper than the Post Office) and £102.72 for a 30kg parcel, saving 55% (£144.93) against the Post Office.
For more details on sending parcels to China see: www.parcelhero.com/en-gb/international-courier-services/asia/china-parcel-delivery
For more information please contact David Jinks, Head of PR, on david@parcelhero.com or by phone on 0208 7584962 (07772 055748 out of office hours)
Leading international online courier ParcelHero® strategically partners with the world's leading, logistics companies, including DHL, UPS and DPD to provide a flexible, cost-effective range of parcel delivery services to over 220 countries worldwide. Huge bulk purchasing power allows ParcelHero® to offer highly competitive pricing with no compromise in service quality.
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