Essential documents for importing.
The documentary core of any import and what changes with the product and the regulating agency.
4 min read
The core is always the same
Commercial Invoice, Packing List and the transport document (BL for ocean, AWB for air) form the basis of any import. These three must agree with one another: a divergence in weight, quantity or description between them is one of the most common causes of holds.
What varies is the product
From the tariff code onward come licences and certificates from regulating agencies. Electrical products, health items, food, cosmetics and toys have their own requirements that must be resolved before shipment — not after arrival.
Tariff classification is not a detail
The tariff code defines duty rate, administrative treatment and whether a licence is needed. Getting classification wrong is not a paperwork problem: it is what separates routine clearance from a hold with a fine.
