Customs Information

When using a shipping company to send to or from outside of the EU (more specifically the European Economic Area), you will be required to complete a brief customs form and attach this to your item.

If You Are Sending Within The EU No Customs Paperwork Is Required.

UK CUSTOMERS - As the UK has now left the EU, customers requirements now apply when shipping between the UK ( excluding Northern Ireland) and the EU.

From time to time, we may display a customs alert for a destination; always read your destination's country page before travelling

What Customs Documentation Must I Attach?

Packing List

When you are sending to any country which requires customs documents, you will be prompted in the customer area of SendMyBag.com to complete a packing list (also known as a pro-forma customs invoice). Our easy to use system will guide you through completing this online in a matter of minutes. You simply select what is in your luggage and tell us the quantity and estimated worth.

The purpose of this document is to establish the value of items moving across international borders; it is not for insurance purposes.

Once completed, you can print two copies and attach them to your luggage in the same way, but in a separate plastic wallet, to your barcoded label.

Personal Effects Form

In addition to a packing list, many countries will ask for a personal effects form to be completed. This allows the sender to confirm that the items being sent have been in their possession for some time and are not intended for sale. In the majority of cases, this will allow your luggage to enter and exit the country without local customs charges.

If Send My Bag® is aware that a personal effects form exists for your destination, it will be available for download from the customer area. If you are sending outside of the EU and no personal effects form is available for download, you should check with the destination country that at the time of shipping one is still not required.

If you send items of high value, items intended for re-sale, or prohibited items you may find your luggage subjected to customs delays and fees.

Important Information

Most countries, including the UK and USA offer a tax and duty free allowance for returning residents, travellers and settlers who send unaccompanied baggage containing "Personal Clothing & Personal Effects (sports equipment etc.)" which are for their sole use and which have been owned by them for a minimum of 6 months. Not all countries offer this allowance, for example Russia & Norway do not.

Over 99% of Send My Bag® non-EU shipments will pass through customs without being stopped and as such our service assumes your item will be categorized for free passage through customs as above and our prices do not include any taxes, local charges, inspection fees or any other charges. Our transit times also assume your item is waived through customs without stopping.
It is the sender's responsibility to ensure that you are aware of how your own personal circumstances, what you are sending and the prevailing customs regulations of the destination country will effect the categorisation of your shipment and consequently whether you will be liable to pay customs duties, taxes or local charges.

For example if you send 10 boxes to a business address in Australia, the Australian customs authority may require additional clarification on the nature of the shipment than if you sent a suitcase to a residential address.

If you send to a hotel please use c/o in the company line to help the customs authority see it is a personal shipment travelling to a hotel and not a commercial shipment for the hotel.

If your shipment enters a customs clearance event please be aware it can take 24-72 hours for information to be received and processed, once the extra information is provided or duty paid it can then take 24-72 hours from the point customs officially clear the item for it to be processed, re-enter the delivery network cycle and be delivered. It is for this reason, in particular with regard to holiday baggage, when sending outside the EU you should always check in advance with the destination if your items will require clearance and ensure the packing list and other documents are clearly visible.

Our team are always available to answer your questions, however just as an airline cannot check your visa, Send My Bag® cannot check you have complied with the destination customs regulations, we recommend every customer sending outside of the EU takes 5 minutes to check the regulations for their destination directly with the destination country's official travel advise line / customs office.
Send My Bag® offers the best prices around and while 99% of customers complying with our advice will receive no delay or customs charges we do recommend you always check with the destination before travel.

Arrival

In some countries you may be asked to provide information regarding your following unaccompanied baggage when you personally arrive at customs. You may be required to present a copy of your passport or offer a packing list.

In some rare cases you may be required to visit the local customs office and present your passport.

Other Local Charges

Depending on your circumstances and the nature of the goods you are sending other local inspection fees and customs fee may become due (consult the destination customs' authority for information). Customs may also x-ray or open your item for inspection if they see fit.
If any local fees, inspection fees, customs duties or taxes arise these will need to be settled directly with customs before Send My Bag® can deliver your item.

If a customs authority has removed the item from Send My Bag®’s care, this will constitute delivery. You may therefore be required to pay the authority an additional delivery fee or to collect the item.

Transit Times

If charges do arise these must be settled by the sender directly with the authority (or in some cases via our agent) before your items can be delivered.
Send My Bag® transit times do not account for customs delays and SendMyBag.com is in no way responsible for any late deliveries, additional delivery fees, or the necessity to collect due to customs.

Please consult the relevant destination country's customs' authority website to ensure your documents and shipment complies with all regulations.

Prohibited Items

Please consult your destination country's customs and border agency's website for details of items which you may not be allowed to send unaccompanied when using shipping companies.

Please note Send My Bag® also prohibits certain items across all routes, the prohibited item list is available in our terms and conditions. Notable prohibited items include: aerosols, liquids, pastes, gels, illegal and restricted Items, toner cartridges, tobacco, money and medication.

Disclaimer

The above information is provided from our experience and is for information purposes only.

Our friendly customer service team are available to offer advice but when sending outside of the EU, the customer should always ensure they comply with the destination country's customs regulations by checking their website before travel.