International trade is a responsible affair and different countries correspond to different regulations and require different relevant documents. The choice of shipping method corresponds to different materials, so below is a list of a few of the most commonly used shipping documents that should give you an idea of what documents are required to ship your goods or personal effects.
Commercial invoices
A commercial invoice is a document presented by the seller containing the name, quantity and price of the goods. A commercial invoice is effectively a note or invoice from the seller to the buyer describing the agreement between the parties on the terms of sale and purchase of the goods.
The commercial invoice is mainly used for import and export of goods between countries. It is mandatory in international trade. The commercial form of the invoice is used for customs clearance and collection of duties, and some countries require the original invoice for customs purposes.
It also records the goods being transported, the place from or to which they are being shipped and the names of the parties or businesses involved in the transport of the goods.
Bill of Lading (B/L)
A BOL has a lot of information. The B/L must have the name of the consignor and consignee, the origin, the destination and the quantity of goods. It is one of the most important documents you will care about when shipping internationally.
There are two forms of bill of lading. A non-negotiable bill of lading is a registered bill of lading, also known as a non-negotiable bill of lading.
In this case, the goods recorded on the bill of lading can only be picked up by the specific consignee on the bill of lading, in other words, the carrier can only deliver the goods at the port to the consignee named on the bill of lading for unloading.
A bearer bill of lading is negotiable – the carrier delivers the goods to the person holding the bill of lading. As a shipper or customer, you should always have a copy of the bill of lading because you prove that you own or have the right to claim the consignment.
A bill of lading is a written document provided by the carrier, usually signed by the shipping company’s transport department, certifying the carrier’s acceptance of the particular goods received in the form of cargo and its responsibility to deliver the goods to their destination. destination or to the named consignee.
Insurance document
An insurance policy is a certificate of cover issued by an underwriter who has underwritten insurance. This is the insurance of the goods purchased at the port of export prior to shipment. This document will be the basis of your claim if these goods are lost, stolen or damaged in transit.
Packing List
A packing list is a document detailing the contents of a shipment. As a supplementary document, it sets out details of the packing matters agreed between the buyer and seller in the letter of credit (or contract) so that foreign buyers and customs can check the destination of the goods when they arrive in port.
Usually, the commercial invoice includes the relevant contents, but when explicitly required by the L/C, the packing list must be produced strictly in accordance with the L/C.
Certificate of Origin
A certificate of origin is a document issued by the relevant government agency of the exporting country to prove the origin or place of manufacture of the goods. It is mainly used by the customs of the importing country to implement differential tariffs, import duty rates, import quotas, etc. according to different national policies.
Importers require exporters to provide certificates of origin, which are available in various forms. The most widely used are Certificate of Origin and GSP Certificate of Origin, which are commonly used in countries or regions where customs invoices or consular invoices do not need to be provided.
If you are importing from China, the certificate of origin is issued by the Chinese government’s customs department.
Air Waybill
This shipping document is issued by the air carrier or its agent. It is the carrier’s receipt of the goods and is the contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier, proving that the carrier has received the goods you have listed in the AWB and that the air waybill is also non-negotiable.
It is also your proof that the carrier is responsible for the removal of your goods to the named destination.
Import Licence
Some countries require importers to obtain a prior licence for the import of certain goods. Otherwise, they cannot engage in this business.
These countries limit the amount of imports for the sake of homeland protection. So foreign companies have to apply for an import licence in order to import some goods.
Relevant Dangerous Goods Certificates
For certain goods you must prepare a Dangerous Goods Certificate. If the goods you are transporting are dangerous goods, you will need to use a Dangerous Goods Note, also known as a DGN.
The DRG will give details of what dangerous goods are, what risks may be involved in transporting them and how to transport them efficiently and safely. For example, if you are transporting lithium batteries, you will need an MSDS.
Our advice
Knowing the correct way to prepare these documents is very specific and must be done properly, otherwise even minor errors in the documents will be enough to keep your goods in customs for a long time.
Worse still, you will have to pay fines or penalties. To avoid this, it is a good idea to have your international shipping provider or customs broker assist you with all documentation requirements.
In addition, you need to know which documents are relevant to the laws of the country you are importing or exporting to, the goods and the mode of transport. For example, sea freight and air freight have different documentation requirements.
When you need to import certain goods from China, you should choose a professional China freight forwarder to hedge all the risks for you, a professional doing a professional job to achieve twice the result with half the effort. TJ China freight is a good choice for you.
