Top tips to send your passport and other important documents

Need to send important documents like passports overseas quickly and securely?

Understanding the requirements and determining what you need to clear customs smoothly is essential. Read on for an easy-to-follow guide on the best way to send passports and other important documents overseas.

Mailing passports, birth certificates, university transcripts, immigration documents, medical records, or legal and financial documents like contracts and deeds is usually straightforward. Still, a lot can go wrong when sending them internationally. Missing important customs clearance documents or forgetting a step can easily derail the process. International express shipping makes shipping passports and other important documents overseas easier, saving you time, money, and avoiding potential headaches.

Millions of customers, from individuals to small businesses to multinational corporations, use international express shipping services like DHL Express to navigate the process and guarantee their shipment arrives quickly and safely.

What are the benefits of shipping passports and other important documents with DHL Express?

Speed & Reliability

Your document will be shipped with DHL Express unrivaled air and land network, making it a safer choice when you want your document shipment to arrive quickly and avoid delays.

Visibility & Flexibility

DHL On Demand Delivery (ODD) offers you a variety of easy and flexible delivery options. You can choose when and where DHL Express delivers the letter or package, and are given full visibility and traceability, with proactive tracking notifications.

Customs Expertise

With robust processes, trained Customs clearance personnel, and full documentation, we’ll give you peace of mind by making sure the complex process of clearing Customs is as smooth as possible.

Shipping passports and other important documents overseas: a step-by-step guide

1. Submit the right shipping documentation

   
   

   To ship a document overseas, you need a valid government ID, an accurate description of goods and value, a detailed invoice, a schedule B (if needed), and a proper shipping label with accurate information. Creating a shipment online with MyDHL+ will help you fill out these documents, which are needed by Customs officials to determine duties, taxes, and requirements for clearance

2. Make sure the information is accurate

   
   

   Sometimes, a sender might provide an incorrect address, the receiver’s name doesn’t match their ID because the name provided is incomplete, or the item description is vague, delaying Customs clearance. It’s important to provide accurate contact information from both the sender and the receiver. We’ll guide you through the process and help you make sure the information you provide is accurate.

3. Pack your documents safely for transit

   
   

   To make sure your documents get to their destination safely, be sure to use a durable DHL Express envelope or flyer to protect them in transit. Do not use a paper envelope.

4. Track your shipment

   
   

   With DHL Express, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing where your document shipment is every step of the way. Track your shipment on MyDHL+ or receive notifications to stay informed about its progress and receive updates on potential issues or delays.