What Documents Do I Need

Most shipments need at least a transport or shipping label. Depending on the shipment, you may need documents for international shipping, including:

• A customs invoice
• Destination-specific documents
• Sanctions documents
• Certificates, permits, powers of attorney, carnets, or letters of credit


The exact shipping documents depend on the value, the type of goods, the destination, the parties involved, and the service being used.

A transport label is one of the documents required for exports and contains the key information DHL Express needs to keep your package moving through the network to its final destination.

Transport labels are documents for import and export and typically include:

• Shipper’s address and contact information
• Receiver’s address and contact information
• Full description of the shipment contents
• Quantity of goods in the shipment
• Number of packages or pieces
• Total shipment weight
• Shipment dimensions

Sometimes, yes. Some shipments only need a transport label. But many international shipments also need customs paperwork or other supporting documents for exports. Whether more customs documents are required depends on the goods, destination, value, and local customs rules.

A customs invoice, whether commercial or proforma, is provided by the shipper and used to declare information to customs authorities for clearance purposes. It is one of the documents needed for international shipping. It helps customs authorities assess duties and taxes, carry out risk checks, and complete other clearance procedures.

In many cases, international shipments need a customs invoice. If goods are crossing a border and need customs clearance, a customs invoice is often one of the key international shipping documents required.

A customs invoice should include all the key information customs authorities need for efficient and timely clearance. Important data can include:

• Shipper or exporter name, address, and contact details
• Receiver or importer name, address, and contact details
• Identification number and/or tax ID for the shipper and/or receiver
• Breakdown of transaction costs, including goods value, insurance, freight, and packaging
• Currency code used in the transaction
• Incoterm and place applied
• Reason for export, such as sale, gift, return, or sample
• Complete commodity details for each item in the shipment

Yes. Each commodity in the shipment should be listed with the relevant details. Customs authorities need complete commodity information to assess duties and taxes and determine whether the shipment can be cleared. Complete commodity details include:

• Description of goods in precise and plain language
• Harmonized System (HS) code
• Country of Origin (where the item was produced or manufactured)
• Quantity, Unit of Measure
• Weight
• Value

Missing or inaccurate customs invoice information is one of the most common causes of customs delays. If the invoice does not describe the goods clearly enough, or if the declared value or classification is incorrect on the customs clearance documents, the shipment may be held for review.

Some shipments may require a General Sanctions and Export Controls Letter of Indemnity or Warranty. These documents help support compliance with export control and sanctions requirements.

Sanctions documents may be required when shipping to high-risk sanctioned countries or when the shipment is affected by export control restrictions. DHL Express requires additional controls in these cases to comply with applicable trade laws.

DHL Express generally does not accept payments for shipments outside the United States in U.S. dollars for certain U.S. sanctioned countries, including:

• Belarus
• Crimea
• Cuba
• Iran
• North Korea
• Russia
• Syria

DHL Express requires shipments to high-risk sanctioned countries to be:

• Accompanied by a Letter of Indemnity (LOI) signed by the shipper
• Screened before export from the origin country
• Subject to enhanced screening, which may include physical inspection

No, DHL Express performs denied party screening for shipments in its network to comply with applicable laws but does not act as exporter for export control purposes, does not classify goods for the customer, and does not apply for export licenses on the customer’s behalf.

No. DHL Express does not accept international shipments containing Controlled Military Items, meaning items on the Wassenaar Munitions List and commonly subject to national export controls because they were designed or modified for military use. This suspension does not include domestic shipments of Controlled Military Items or international shipments of licensed dual-use items.

Additional documents for international shipping may be required based on:

• Commodity type
• Destination
• Parties involved
• Services requested
• Local customs or regulatory rules

When shipping internationally from the United States, special-case documents can include:

• Certificate of Origin or Manufacturer’s Affidavit
• Power of Attorney with any agents
• Licenses, permits, carnets, letters of credit or certificates

A Certificate of Origin is a document that confirms where the goods were produced or manufactured. Some countries require a signed Certificate of Origin for all commodities, while others only require it for certain goods. In some cases, a statement of origin on company letterhead may be enough.

A Certificate of Origin can include:

• Undersigned - name of the owner or agent
• Shipper’s name and address
• DHL as the carrier
• Date of pickup
• Consignee’s name
• Marks and numbers on each package
• Number of boxes or cases
• Gross weight of each package
• Net pounds
• Description of the item
• State of Certificate of Origin
• Country of Certificate of Origin
• Signature of the official stating the document is factual
• Date of signature
• Signature of the owner or agent

A carnet, such as an ATA Carnet, may be used for goods that are being temporarily exported or imported and then returned, for example for exhibitions, fairs, professional equipment, repairs, or review. Carnets can help simplify customs procedures in qualifying countries. Contact 1-888-5-DUTYFREE (1-888-538-8937) for ATA carnet issued support.

Yes. Documents required for international shipping can vary depending on the destination country, local customs law, the goods being shipped, and the parties involved. An item that only needs a label for one destination may require additional documents for another.

Yes. Customs authorities use the shipment documents to decide whether the shipment complies with local rules. If destination-specific requirements are not met, the shipment may be delayed, held, or refused.

If you are unsure, review the shipment requirements before creating the shipment and contact Customer Service for guidance. It is better to confirm the paperwork before shipping than to risk customs delays later.