If you are new to shipping or moving for the first time, the customs clearance process may look intimidating. And, most of the time it is. That is why it is important to learn about it before you get to customs. Of course, you do not need to learn about everything concerning shipping. You just need to know specifics concerning your type of cargo, needed paperwork, and rules and regulations of origin, transit, and destination countries. Of course, it will be easier if you are transporting your cargo via air freight Kuwait. There is less paperwork involved when using air freight to transport your goods. And there is a big possibility that there won’t be transit countries involved in the process.
Learn about transporting your type of goods from and to a specific country
Before you involve in a customs clearance process you need to learn about it as much as possible. Every type of merchandise has its own required regulations and paperwork. That is why it is important to learn about it before you start shipping your goods. Of course, the expected complications depend on the type of your merchandise. Shipping food, for example, is probably the most complicated thing to ship. It requires much more procedures and paperwork than other types of goods. Besides standard invoices, payment instructions, BL, and packing lists, you will need health certificates, certificates of origin, veterinary documentation, and few more. On the other hand, if you are moving and your items need to go through customs, the whole process and paperwork will be much different.
Here is the list of 7 things to know about the customs clearance process
- It is good to hire an experienced freight forwarding company to help you go through the customs clearance process
- All paperwork has to be 100% accurate if you want to pass through customs
- Your shipment will go through the customs clearance in every country it goes through
- Customs laws and regulations change frequently
- You never know how long your shipment can be held at customs
- Customs can sometimes ask for additional documents
- Properly packed merchandise can fasten the customs clearance process
Hiring an experienced freight forwarding company to help go through the customs clearance process
When you are trying to ship your merchandise to another country, the only proper way to do it is to hire an experienced and reliable freight forwarding company. If you think about doing it yourself, you should know that that is not recommendable. Freight forwards know everything about shipping and customs clearance procedures, and they can immensely ease this process. However, not every freight forwarding company will be good for you. Ideally, you should hire a company that has many connections and experience. If you manage to find such a company, you should establish a long-term relationship with them. On the other hand, if you are just moving, moving services Kuwait you hired, should also provide you with all necessary information regarding your international relocation.
All paperwork has to be 100% accurate if you want to successfully pass through the customs clearance process
When preparing the exporting paperwork for your merchandise, you will need to know what you are doing before you begin. You can probably find useful general information on the internet, but it is usually too old and unreliable. Therefore, the only reliable and 100% accurate information you will get from your freight forwarders or movers. After you learn about all the required paperwork, you will need to fill it accurately. If you make even the smallest mistake, your merchandise will not pass through customs. That is why it is very important to check your paperwork before you send it with your cargo. If you are doing the paperwork, find another person who will make additional checks and verify that the data in your documentation is 100% accurate.
Your shipment will go through customs clearance process in every country it goes through
Every country has its customs. So, your shipment will be checked by every customs in every country it goes through. That is why shipping your cargo via airfreight is the best way to do it. It may be more expensive, but it will save you time and hair on your head, as you will only go through your destination country’s customs and Kuwait customs clearance.
Laws and regulations change frequently
Shipping merchandise is a complex business. And like that is not enough, customs laws and regulations change so frequently that it is sometimes hard to keep track of everything. And because of that, you never know how the things will turn up at the end. The things you did in the past to ship your goods successfully, may not be enough the next time you do it. So make sure that you inform yourself regularly.
You never know how long it will take to process your shipment
One of the problems is that you never know how long your items will be held at customs. And there are a few reasons for that. It depends how busy it is, is there any problems with your paperwork or cargo, and it depends on the engagement of the customs officers who are in charge of your shipment.
Customs may ask for additional paperwork
If you have incomplete or inaccurate paperwork, your customs officer may ask for additional documents. The best way to avoid this is to be in contact with your freight forwarders and to do all paperwork in coordination with them.
If you pack your items properly, it will be a much faster customs clearance process
When shipping any type of merchandise you will need to pack and prepare it properly. That is why it is important to learn about the process of shipping your cargo. You need to know what types of transportation will be used to carry your items. Carrying items via sea freight Kuwait can make a mess of your cargo if it’s not packed properly. And when your container is opened at the customs, it will take significantly more time to process your shipment if everything is turned upside down. So, make sure that you secure everything before you ship it.