Customs requirements

A shipment of any type that travels only within the European Union does not need a commercial invoice. Please let us have a commercial invoice for any shipment that is not a document which will travel outside the European Unionl.

We have based the following guidelines on the majority of worldwide customs regulations, but these can vary depending on the country and can also change without notice. So if you think there may be a special customs clearance requirement for the country you're sending your shipment to please tell our Customer Service department and we will provide suitable advice.

When you're preparing your commercial invoice please include the following information :

• Sender's name and address.
  
• Head the document with the word ‘invoice' (‘Proforma invoices' are not acceptable).
  
• Name and address of the importer. (Please note the receiver may be a different person or company to the importer).
  
• Date of invoice.
  
• Invoice number.
  
• Quantity of each line of goods supplied.
  
• Full description of each line of goods supplied (catalogue numbers or part numbers will not do suffice the Customs Authorities want to know what each item actually is so please carefully describe the goods).
  
• The total value of goods covered by the invoice and this must at least be the intrinsic value of the shipment. Never use the terms 'value for customs purposes only' or 'customs invoice'
  
• Make sure you make it clear what currency you're using when you give the value of the goods.
  
• Specify the country of origin.
  
• Give gross and net weights of the goods covered by the invoice, together with the number of items consigned for carriage. Your packaging material used to protect the goods in transit will make up the difference between the gross and net weights.
  
• Please include a commercial invoice which has been translated into English and this will save time clearing your goods through customs.