How to Avoid Customs Delays When Sending Parcels Overseas from Australia 

Getting a parcel through customs smoothly starts before it leaves Australia. Discover the simple steps online sellers can take to avoid customs delays and get international orders to customers on time.

Estimated reading time: 4-5 minutes

What You Need to Know

Sending a parcel internationally from Australia involves more than simply packaging it up and arranging delivery. Once your parcel leaves Australia, it will need to go through customs in the destination country and its contents and value may be checked. 

While customs delays can't always be avoided, getting the details right before you send your parcel can help reduce the risks. This includes completing customs declarations accurately checking and understanding duties and taxes ahead of shipping.

Read on to learn how to prepare your shipments for international delivery and avoid unnecessary customs hold-ups.

Understand and Complete Customs Declarations Accurately 

Ensuring your customs declaration is completed accurately is one of the easiest ways to avoid delays when shipping internationally from Australia. Accurate paperwork helps customs authorities process your parcel more efficiently, keeping it on track to its destination.

The information required on a customs declaration must include specific details for each item, which are: item description, its value and its country of manufacture. It's important to be as precise as possible when describing the contents. For example, rather than stating ‘gift’, describe the item as ‘women's cotton t-shirt’. Providing clear and accurate information can help minimise delays and additional charges.

Customs duties and taxes may also apply to international parcels, with the amount depending on the destination country.  With SendNow’s Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) services, you have the option to pre-pay all customs charges before your parcel is even sent. This helps avoid unexpected costs for your recipient and can support a smoother delivery experience.

How HS Codes Reduce Customs Delays When Sending Parcels Overseas from Australia

HS Codes, also known as Commodity Codes, are internationally recognised numbers used to classify goods being shipped across borders.

Including the correct HS Code on your customs documentation can help reduce the risk of delays by:

  • Allowing customs authorities to quickly identify the contents of your shipment

  • Helping officials determine whether your goods comply with the destination country's import regulations, including any restrictions or prohibited items

Finding the correct HS Code doesn't have to be difficult. With SendNow by Asendia, HS codes are automatically assigned based on the description of your item. Simply provide a clear and detailed description of what's inside your parcel and we'll provide you with the most accurate HS codes for your shipment.

Avoid Customs Delays by Checking Prohibited Items Before You Ship

Another common cause of customs delays is sending items that are restricted or prohibited in the destination country as customs authorities may hold, inspect or reject shipments that contain goods that are not permitted.

Restrictions and prohibitions vary from country to country, so it's important to check the destination country's rules before shipping.

Commonly restricted items include:

  • Aerosols

  • Batteries

  • Alcohol

  • Food products

  • Certain cosmetics

Commonly prohibited items include:

  • Dangerous goods

  • Counterfeit products

  • Other goods not permitted for import

Before booking your shipment: take the time to confirm that the items you're sending can be imported into the destination country. Checking these requirements in advance can help your parcel clear customs easily and avoid unnecessary delays.

Address Parcels Correctly to Avoid Customs Delays

Using the correct address format for your parcel’s destination country helps to ensure it arrives on time and avoids costly delays or the package being returned to the sender.

Why the correct format is important:

  • Postal scanners can read the address quickly, reducing delivery issues

  • It lowers costs, as misrouted or undeliverable parcels often incur extra fees

  • Reduces customs delays by helping your shipment clear customs smoothly.

Different countries have different order details and formats for their addresses, so it’s recommended to double check your parcel’s destination countries format before writing the address. As a best practice, use clear block capitals, avoid unnecessary punctuation and always include a return address in case the parcel cannot be delivered.

How SendNow by Asendia Can Help with International Shipping

Sending a parcel internationally may seem complicated, but with SendNow it doesn’t have to be. 

We take the hassle out of international shipping by supporting you with all customs documentation, HS Codes and duties and taxes. By providing the right information from the start, you can help avoid customs delays.

We offer both Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) and Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) shipping options, giving you the flexibility to choose whether duties and taxes are paid upfront or by the recipient upon delivery.

Ship to Europe and over 150 countries worldwide with SendNow by Asendia, with international delivery services starting from just $12.90.

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