FedEx customs clearance for business: documents, timing and what to do if cargo is held

How FedEx customs clearance for business works

When FedEx cargo arrives in Ukraine, it comes under customs control. For an LLC or sole proprietor this is commercial cargo: it must be declared, its customs value confirmed and, if necessary, customs payments made. This work is done by a customs broker. For business this is a typical situation: we work with B2B cargo weighing from 0.1 to 70 kg — commercial shipments, product samples and repair shipments.

At SEMERO, customs clearance of DHL and FedEx cargo goes through the Kyiv hub. We work under our own customs broker licence UACBR125000640 — with no intermediaries between you and customs. We explained why this matters in the article DHL and FedEx customs broker for business: the difference from an ordinary agent.

You can order the service in exactly the scope you need:

• FedEx customs clearance only — if delivery has already been arranged by your supplier or by you;
• FedEx delivery booking only — if your customs clearance is already set up;
• as a package — delivery and customs clearance together.

We cover the need you actually have and do not impose a package.

Which documents are needed to clear FedEx cargo

The basic set for a commercial shipment:

• invoice — with an exact description of the goods, quantity, value and the details of the sender and recipient;
• contract or another document confirming the basis for the delivery; for free-of-charge deliveries, including samples, documents for free-of-charge delivery;
• FedEx waybill number (AWB) — used to track the cargo and match it with the documents;
• permits, if they are required for the specific goods.

The most common problem is an overly generic description in the invoice ("spare parts", "sample") or a mismatch between the invoice and the actual contents. That is why it is worth showing the documents to the broker before shipping, not after the cargo arrives. If you send or receive samples, see also the product samples delivery page.

What determines customs clearance timing

The clearance time depends less on the carrier than on document preparation:

• whether all documents are ready when the cargo arrives;
• whether the description, quantity and value match across documents;
• whether the goods require permits;
• whether customs has additional questions.

Storage is worth remembering separately. At the SEMERO customs warehouse, cargo is stored free of charge for 3 days; after that, storage is charged. So the best scenario is to agree the documents before the cargo arrives in Kyiv. If the supplier is shipping to you for the first time, ask them to send you a draft invoice in advance: this gives the broker time to check the description and value, and the sender time to correct errors before handing the cargo to FedEx. We covered the general logic of the process in the article What is customs clearance on DHL or FedEx and how long does it take.

What to do if FedEx cargo is held at customs

A hold does not mean the cargo is lost. Act step by step:

1. 1Check the status by the AWB number on the official FedEx website.
2. 2Find out the reason: a document is missing, or there are questions about the value, description or code of the goods.
3. 3Do not send documents at random — first agree with the broker what exactly is needed and in what form.
4. 4Prepare corrected or additional documents together with the sender.
5. 5Keep track of storage periods so as not to accumulate unnecessary costs.

Correspondence with the sender abroad usually takes the most time: different time zones, a different language, different document requirements. A broker who clearly states what exactly is missing helps shorten this stage.

If customs clearance has already failed, a step-by-step action plan is in the article Customs clearance on DHL or FedEx failed: what businesses should do.

When a broker consultation is needed before shipping

A consultation is useful for any commercial shipment — even from 0.1 kg. Shipping without one significantly increases the risk of delays and additional costs, even if the value of the cargo is low. The 150 EUR threshold without customs payments applies to private individuals — it should not be automatically applied to companies.

Repair shipments are a separate case. A special customs procedure exists for them that can help avoid paying duty twice, but it works only with the correct documents and contract. Here a consultation before shipping is especially important: the outcome depends on how the delivery is documented.

How to order FedEx customs clearance from SEMERO

Describe the cargo: what you are shipping, from where, the approximate weight and value, and which service you need — customs clearance only, FedEx delivery only or a package. We will check the documents and tell you what is worth correcting in advance.

To calculate the cost, contact us via the contacts page — form, WhatsApp or phone.

Frequently asked questions