Freight from the USA

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Notice of Arrival for Shipping Goods from the USA

An Arrival Notice lets consignees know that their goods have reached the destination country, allowing them to start the import recovery process.

Arrival Notices, or Notices of Arrival, are sent by ocean freight carrier agents to consignees and relevant parties. They notify recipients that goods exported from the U.S. are arriving and provide cargo details. These notices also list necessary shipping documents for customs clearance and detail destination charges.

International shippers should know that all freight has destination charges, or local charges, which are not included in freight quotes. The consignee is responsible for paying these charges.

When shipping from the U.S. to other countries, the consignee must pay destination charges before the shipment arrives. These charges may include several costs, such as:

Expenses related to the destination country government (customs) may include duties and taxes (if applicable), harbor fees, and a fee for entry filed by a customs broker at the destination.
The charges for handling at the destination terminal (THC) and other costs associated with cargo de-consolidation and storage.
If the consignee requests 'door delivery', there will also be corresponding charges for that service.

Typically, an arrival notice will be sent via email as an attached file. To prevent fraud, it’s important to verify the sender's email address, as a random email alone is not sufficient for confirmation. Sea freight carriers may also send notifications to your consignee regarding goods being shipped from the USA to their destination, and that is perfectly acceptable.

Your cargo recipient must request a formal arrival notice that appears official and includes the following:

The destination agent's letterhead with their address and contact information.
Details about the cargo.
The address and contact information for the cargo location, if it’s different from the destination agent's address.
The LOT number for the cargo location or other reference numbers related to the cargo.
Instructions for recovering the cargo, including needed shipping documents and recovery steps.
A list of local charges.

An arrival notice is NOT a document that releases your freight. It just tells you how to start recovering your imported goods.

Your main contact for cargo recovery is typically the agent of the international ocean freight carrier. This agent handles all tasks related to recovering your imports and will charge you for their work, in addition to any other fees. It's important to respect the agent's role, as they will do their best to get your goods to you as quickly as possible.

Sometimes, you may also need to work with other parties during the recovery of your imported goods. Here are the usual parties involved in this process:

A consignee, also known as the Importer of Records, plays a key role in import recoveries.
Officials from the destination country, such as customs agents and border protection officers.
An agent from the international ocean freight carrier.
Representatives from terminals in the destination country.
A customs broker and the importer of records operate independently while handling import entries.O
Other parties involved in the import recovery and delivery process include domestic freight forwarders, bonded warehouses, and local cartage companies.

Recovering internationally shipping goods is usually simple, but it can sometimes be complicated and costly. If you have trouble, ask a licensed customs broker in the destination country for help.

Wait for and do not overlook the arrival notice

You should receive an arrival notice for goods shipped from the USA a few days before they enter your country. This notice helps you prepare for customs clearance.

The consignee and any other relevant parties will receive the notice by email or fax. Expect this notice a few days before the estimated arrival date (ETA). Don’t ignore it! Contact the sea freight carrier’s agent listed on the notice right away, as customs clearances are time-sensitive.

If you don’t get the arrival notice, contact the carrier’s destination agent using the information on your Bill of Lading.

Keep in mind that the agent might learn about your goods a few days before the estimated departure date (ETD). If you reach out early, they may not have updates yet. Just send them a copy of your Bill of Lading, confirm details, provide your contact information, and wait for their arrival notice.

Do not ignore or delay the import recovery process

When shipping goods from the USA overseas, remember that U.S. laws no longer apply once your goods leave the country. A U.S. freight forwarder or ocean freight carrier cannot assist with import recovery abroad. Instead, rely on the carrier's destination agent for guidance. This agent is not a U.S. business, so only your consignee can handle any issues that may arise.

For less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments, you typically do not need a customs broker at the destination, as the carrier's agent acts as one. However, if problems occur, it’s best to find an independent customs broker licensed in the destination country.

If you experience issues recovering your goods, we suggest:

If the sea freight carrier's destination agent hasn’t contacted you a few days before the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA), reach out to them first. Their contact details are in your bill of lading.
Check your junk email folder regularly for messages from the agent. Always request an Arrival Notice in legal format, which must include a date, the agent's letterhead, and a breakdown of local charges. Phone calls or casual emails are not enough.
Follow the agent's instructions carefully. Their job is to quickly release your goods to the consignee. Be prepared to pay local charges and pick up your goods.
If you have issues with your import recovery, contact us. We need a copy of your Arrival Notice to work with an ocean carrier and track your shipping goods.

Remember: Import recoveries are time-sensitive! Start working on them as soon as possible to avoid penalties like storage fees, demurrage, and Customs fines.