What is customs clearance on DHL or FedEx and how long does it take

What is customs clearance in plain words?

Customs clearance is a set of actions confirming the legality of moving goods across the border: submitting a customs declaration, checking supporting documents (invoice, waybill, certificates if required), determining the HS code of the goods, calculating duty and taxes (if applicable) and releasing the cargo for free circulation.

In plain words: it is a 'passport control' for goods. Without it, a parcel or cargo simply cannot legally enter Ukraine.

How long does customs clearance take?

If the documents are in order and the value of the goods matches the invoice, clearance usually takes 1-2 business days. In simple cases (documents, small parcels free of duty) it can even take just a few hours.

What slows the process down:

• The value of the goods in the invoice does not match the real value
• Inaccurate or too generic content description ('things', 'gift' instead of a specific list)
• Confusion between a private individual and a legal entity in the recipient field
• Missing permits for certain categories of goods
• Goods that are prohibited or restricted for import

How long does clearance take when there are discrepancies?

If customs finds a discrepancy, the cargo is not cleared automatically and goes for additional inspection. Customs keeps uncleared cargo free of charge for only 30 days, after which paid storage begins and, if necessary, a chargeable return to the sender.

How to avoid losing time at customs

The best way to avoid delays is to check the documents before shipping, not after the cargo is already stuck at the border. A properly prepared invoice with an accurate description of the goods and a realistic value resolves most problems at the start.

SEMERO is your international delivery agent: we arrange shipping through leading international express carriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL and others) and hold our own customs brokerage licence, so we check documents in advance, not after the fact.