Welcome to the Commercial Customs Hub
This page is designed for Royal Mail account holders and provides an overview of the key customs information you’ll need when sending items commercially with Royal Mail.
If using one of our Consumer services please see here.
Please note that customs rules and regulations differ by country, and Royal Mail does not set or influence these requirements. The guidance provided here is intended as general information only. Export requirements can vary depending on both the type of goods being sent and the specific regulations of the destination country.
The guidelines apply to the following products:
- International Business Tracked Priority
What do you need to provide when sending items using our international services?
- Product Label
- Router Label (where applicable)
- Commercial Invoice
- Any additional licenses and certificates required for your items (please see licenses section below)
For more information, please visit the ‘Commercial product requirements’ tab below.
Royal Mail shipping solutions will generate a CN23 as part of the booking journey for this service, but you are not required to attach this to the package.*. Please ensure that you supply relevant documents with your item(s) to avoid any delays or returns.
*Please note - It is your responsibility to identify whether any additional licences and/or certificates are required for your items prior to sending. These will not be produced automatically by Royal Mail shipping solutions.
More exporting and customs support
A customs declaration is required for all parcels exported from the UK to overseas destinations, as well as for parcels imported into the UK. As the sender, you’re responsible for ensuring the declaration is full and accurate, as you are legally liable for the parcel’s contents.
Customs authorities rely on this information to check that items meet national regulations and to determine any taxes or duties that may apply. If the declaration is incomplete or inaccurate, your parcel may be delayed, held, or returned by customs - resulting in longer delivery times.
Each destination sets its own import controls and restrictions. Customers should always check whether the items they’re sending require any licences, certificates, or may incur additional charges upon import. As part of the onboarding process for this product, you will be asked to provide HS Code information, which will be used to qualify item acceptance for specific destinations.
Please note: When sending items from Northern Ireland to the EU, customs declarations are not required when sending gifts or goods. Our shipping systems may still prompt for this data and generate a CN23, but it should not be attached to the parcel.
All customers will be required to upload a commercial invoice before manifesting. It is important that the data provided is a true and accurate reflection of the contents.
Where required, supporting documents such as certificates and licences must be physically supplied when sending your item. These documents should be placed in a clear plastic wallet securely affixed to the outside of the parcel, ensuring all information is fully legible.
We recommend attaching the wallet on the same side as the address label wherever possible. If space is limited, it may be placed on the reverse of the parcel, provided it remains clearly visible and securely affixed.
Missing, invalid, or incomplete documentation can result in your item being delayed, held by customs, or returned to the sender. All supporting documents must be completed accurately before collection or drop off.
As the sender, you are responsible for ensuring that all information provided for customs purposes is true, complete, and accurate. Royal Mail cannot be held liable for incorrect or misleading declarations. We strongly advise familiarising yourself with the relevant export and import customs regulations before shipping.
Electronic customs data is mandatory for all international parcels. Pre registration schemes such as the Import One Stop Shop (IOSS) depend on accurate and complete electronic data to ensure items clear customs smoothly and without delay.
Any parcel with missing, incorrect, or incomplete electronic data may be delayed, held by customs, or returned to the sender.
All customers will be required to upload a commercial invoice before manifesting. It is important that the data provided is a true and accurate reflection of the contents.
Where a customer using Pro-Shipping has not completed 1 of the following we will create a Commercial Invoice on their behalf using the data they supplied:
- Uploaded their own Commercial Invoice
- Requested a System Generated Commercial Invoice be created on their behalf
- Has provided a Proforma Invoice instead of a Commercial Invoice.
International account holders can enter all the required customs information directly through Click & Drop®. These systems will automatically generate the appropriate labelling based on the data you provide. All customers will be required to upload a commercial invoice before manifesting.
It is essential that the information submitted is a true and accurate reflection of the items being dispatched, as this data forms part of the Electronic Customs Data used by overseas customs authorities. Royal Mail cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies; the sender is legally responsible for ensuring all customs information is complete, compliant, and accurately reflects the contents of the parcel.
We strongly recommend familiarising yourself with relevant export and import customs regulations to ensure items can be processed and cleared without delay.
| Products | Data needed | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| International Business Tracked Priority |
Sender’s details in FULL, including contact details Ensure the sender’s full name, address, and a valid postcode are included. We also recommend providing contact details, such as a mobile phone number and/or email address. This helps ensure you can be reached if customs or delivery partners need further information about the item. Recipient’s details in FULL, including contact details, and importer details (where applicable) Overseas customs authorities require accurate recipient contact information. Providing local recipient contact details such as a mobile number or email address helps ensure the recipient can be reached promptly if additional information is needed. Failure to include this information increases the risk of customs delays, which may impact delivery times. If importer details are missing, then the recipient details will be used automatically. Sender’s GB EORI number / IOSS number (where applicable) EORI numbers should start with 'GB' followed by 12 digits (14 characters in total). IOSS numbers should always begin with 2 alpha (always "IM") characters followed by 10 numeric characters with no spaces. Where this is provided incorrectly, the package is likely to be returned or delayed. Recipient EORI For B2B shipments, we recommend that you provide importer EORI and recipient EORI. Reason for shipment (category/nature of goods) For example, sales of goods, returned goods, commercial samples. Please note: gift is not applicable as a description / nature of goods for commercial items. It is not possible for businesses to declare packages as gifts. For businesses wishing to send promotional “gifts”, which do not form part of a sale, Royal Mail recommend that customers declare the category of goods as “Other”. The customs declaration must be completed in full and accurately, including the provision of true value of goods. (Guide to customs valuation can be found here.) Content description This must be a concise and accurate description without unnecessary detail (e.g. children’s t-shirt / board game / chocolate bar). For more clarity, please refer to the links below: WCO guidelines on acceptable descriptions Please note: ambiguous or generic descriptions are not allowed. Customs use the content description to facilitate border checks and apply the correct duty rates. The HS/tariff code (minimum 8 digits) HS (Harmonised System) codes or tariff codes are an internationally recognised standard used to identify goods consistently across global customs systems. Because these codes are universally adopted, customs authorities worldwide can understand the type of goods being shipped, regardless of language barriers. This helps streamline customs processing and reduce delays. While the first six digits of an HS code are standardised globally, any digits beyond this are national extensions. Customers must ensure they verify the correct tariff code for the destination country, as requirements can vary. For more information on finding the correct HS/tariff code, please click here. Please note: Royal Mail cannot be held liable for the HS code selected. Value of each individual item in the parcel Please do not combine the value of the parcel if the contents are not the same. When sending a parcel containing a mixture of goods, each item must be listed separately. Every product requires its own line entry with complete and accurate details. Identical items with the same country of origin may be grouped on a single line, but you must include the quantity and the value per item. The item value refers to the customs value of the goods only and must not include postage or shipping costs. Items cannot be declared as having zero value, regardless of the reason for sending them. This rule applies to gifts, samples, returns, repairs, and all other item types. For guidance on how to correctly value goods for customs purposes, please click here. Weight per individual item in the parcel Accurate weights are required for each line item in the parcel to ensure that the customs duty and taxes can be calculated where applicable to weight-based calculations. Country of origin This means the country where the goods originated e.g. were produced, manufactured, or assembled. Postage Postage should be declared separately and not included in the item value calculation. Sender’s signature This confirms your liability for the item in terms of the contents of the parcel. This can be a digital or printed signature of the person completing the declaration. |
Product label x 1 Router label (where applicable) Commercial invoice Any additional licences Please note: the commercial invoice and CN23 do not need to be physically attached to the parcel on this service. |
Certain goods exported to specific countries may require an export licence or additional documentation often issued by relevant regulatory bodies. Where a licence or certificate is required, it must be physically attached to the outside of the parcel in a clearly marked envelope.
Customers must also provide details of these documents electronically during the booking process.
Before shipping, please check with the appropriate government department to confirm whether your goods require any additional licences or certificates. The following resource may be helpful when determining export requirements:
Additional information
Please note from the 1st July 2026 a flat customs duty of €3 now applies per line item to all Business-to-Consumer (B2C) parcels valued under €150 entering the EU. This is non refundable and applies to all eligible goods.
From 1 November 2026, the EU are introducing an additional handling fee as part of the wider Customs Reform programme. This change will coincide with the mandation of Product Identifier (PID) requirements for applicable shipments. The purpose of the fee is to support the increased customs controls and processing associated with low-value e-commerce imports, while helping customs authorities identify unsafe, non-compliant, or prohibited goods more effectively. The fee has been published in the delegated act as €2 per line, will apply to distance sales and will be charged in addition to the existing €3 customs duty. Please visit our EU Insights Page for more information.
There are a range of external organisations in the UK who can help you with all of the above. As a starting point and for additional information about exporting goods from the UK please visit the HM Revenue & Customs website.
To check your item is not prohibited or restricted, please click here.
Please note: when using our International Business Tracked Priority service, additional prohibitions and restrictions will apply alongside those listed on this page. Please see here, for further information.