When the tracking status says "customs clearance completed," it means that the package has passed through customs inspection in the destination country and has been approved to continue to its final destination.
Customs clearance procedures vary by country and can include inspection, assessment, payments of duty and taxes, and ensuring the contents of the package align with laws and regulations of the destination country. Once customs clearance is completed, the package is released by customs and is en route to its final destination.
In general, the customs clearance process includes these steps:
- Import declaration: The entity responsible for the importation must declare the goods in detail, such as type, quantity, and value.
- Document inspection: These include commercial invoices, packing lists, or other related documents.
- Physical examination: This can include inspecting the goods and verifying the details declared.
- Tariff classification: Goods are classified according to the Harmonized System Code, and corresponding duty tax rates are checked.
- Customs valuation: The customs value of goods are determined based on the set rules.
- Duty & Tax calculation and payment: A calculation of the amount of duty and tax payable is made and payment is collected.
After the goods have been cleared and fee's settled, the status "customs clearance completed" is updated to inform that the goods are released and will be soon delivered.
Learn more:
- Basic Importing and Exporting - U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- How to tackle Customs Clearance Challenges - Tandem Global Logistics