Export guidelines for international parcel dispatch
With our export guidelines we offer you help on how make sure your international shipments reach their destination without any troubles. If you follow these guidelines for export shipping your parcels abroad is just as easy as shipping them domestically.
Export guidelines for international parcel dispatch
Parcel transportation in all important markets and business centers of Europe within regular delivery times, depending on the destination within 2 to 4 days, with the reliability you are accustomed to from our national services. Standards such as continuous parcel tracking and status information over the internet or telephone are also ensured in our international consignments. Make sure to thoroughly read our export guidelines.
Shipping documents
For dispatching goods in the states of the European Community no customs papers are necessary. Exceptions are air freight shipments to Greece, Cyprus and Malta. Furthermore, you need special shipping documents for EU-freezones (e.g. Canary Islands, Channel Islands, ..) and for the export to states with their own customs jurisdiction (e.g. Gibraltar, San Marino, Andorra etc.). Here special dispatch papers are necessary. For detailed information please download the export checklist.
Goods excluded from transport
Please check our Special Business Conditions for information about goods excluded from the transport with GLS.
Terms of Delivery
- Delivery Term 10 DDP:
Free of freight, duty and tax paid – Sender pays all resulting costs. The receiver has no costs. - Delivery Term 20 DDU:
Free of freight, duty paid and untaxed – sender only pays the freight. The receiver bears all other cost. - Delivery Term 30 DDP, VAT unpaid:
Free of freight duty paid, untaxed – sender pays freight, duties, customs and import duties. The receiver pays the resulting taxes. - Delivery Term 40 DDU, Cleared:
Free of freight, without customs and without taxes – sender pays freight and customs clearings; the receiver pays the customs, import duties and resulting taxes. - Delivery Term 50 DDP low value:
Free of freight, duty paid and “cleared” – sender pays freight and customs duties, the receiver bears no costs. This delivery term is for shipments of low value or document dispatch. Please consider individual country value limits.
Export guidelines for parcel dispatch to EFTA-States and third countries – export documents
Commercial invoice
Please ensure that the commercial invoice (for EFTA-States and third countries) is attached to each shipment on original business paper in triple duplicate. In order to guarantee a smooth customs clearance, please follow our Export Guidelines and make sure the following information is included on the commercial invoice:
- Name and address of the sender
- EORI number of sender
- Name and address of the recipient including telephone number
- Delivery address, if this deviates from the invoice address
- Invoice date, number and place
- Description and quantity of goods
- Value of goods per position and value of goods altogether (with indication of currency)
- Delivery terms
- GLS parcel number(s)
- Weight (gross/net)
- Country of origin/declaration of origin
- Company stamp and signature
Proforma invoice
A proforma invoice may be issued for goods which do not have a commercial value, e.g. goods not for resale, samples or gifts, and for shipments free of charge. All information required for a commercial invoice must necessarily be included in the proforma invoice. In addition, a declaration of the value has to be made, e.g. a note stating "sample or gift (as the case may be) - value for customs purpose only".
Export declaration
For parcel dispatch to EFTA states and third countries an export declaration is needed. Since the implementation of "e-zoll.at" in Austria each consignment has to be declared electronically. This procedure is done by GLS Austria if you do not declare your shipments yourself.
Proof of origin
In case of exceeding the low value clearance limit a proof of origin should be issued. This certifies that your goods were manufactured in the European Union or an EFTA state. If a declaration of origin is provided there will be no customs duties (EFTA) or a lower rate (third countries) charged.
Declaration of origin (UE)
For goods of up to 6,000.00 Euro, a declaration of origin (UE) is sufficient, which should be indicated on the invoice.
The obligatory text reads:
“The exporter (authorized exporter, customs authorization number) confirms that – except where otherwise clearly indicated – these products are of European Community-preferential origin.”
The Declaration of Origin must be signed in original (inclusive plain text and company stamp!), if the exporter is not an “authorized” person.
EUR goods transportation certificate
The EUR goods transportation certificate is necessary when exceeding a value of 6,000.00 Euro. This certificate must be stamped by the responsible customs office. An exception applies to "authorized" exporters wo neither have to respect this value nor have to sign the EUR.
A.TR document
For dispatch to Turkey an A.TR document is to be used accordingly, irrespective of the value of goods.