Select your destination country above to calculate the shipping cost for your cargo from the USA overseas.
If accepted, a valued packing list (VPL) can substitute for commercial invoices (CI) when shipping goods from the USA overseas.
A commercial invoice is an essential shipping document in international cargo transportation. Unless a valued packing list substitutes it, it must be submitted with any international shipment. Your cargo cannot be released to international shipping until you provide a commercial invoice for your shipping goods or a valued packaging list.
A commercial invoice serves different purposes when shipping goods from the United States. The most crucial commercial invoice is to consider and assign customs duty upon arrival of the goods at the destination. However, a commercial invoice can calculate marine cargo insurance, act as proof in international trade, identify a commodity shipping abroad for the US CBP, etc.
When shipping goods from the USA, commercial invoices must be in English. In the US, commercial invoices must comply with Section 141.86 of US customs regulations on shipping merchandise internationally from the United States of America. It must provide information on:
An accurate seller invoice or a buyer's detailed purchase receipt typically complies with the above requirements. If you buy and ship or sell and ship from the United States, it is a good idea to submit a copy of the original invoice with your international shipment.
However, if you're shipping commercial cargo and cannot submit a copy of your sale-purchase receipt for some reason, you may consider submitting a proforma commercial invoice in the form of a valued packing list. Most of the time, this works, but it may cause questions at customs.
Valued packing list for shipping household goods and personal effects from the USA overseas
If you ship household goods or personal effects from the US, the only way to comply with international shipping regulations is to submit a valued packing list.
To prevent confusion when an inexperienced shipper fills a valued packing list, here are some suggestions:
Perhaps the most frequently asked question is, "How detailed should I describe the content in boxes?"
The answer is: On the one hand, you don't have to list each spoon and fork that you are shipping. On the other hand, the description should reflect the content.
It's three boxes with used clothes, toys, and dishes, each weighing 60 lbs and valued at US$600.
However, avoid too uncertain descriptions. Do not submit the shipment like this: 12 boxes with household goods. The weight is 360 lbs. The value is $2,499.