Import clearance
The import declaration prepared and lodged, duty and tax worked out, queries from customs answered and the release passed to your haulier.
Per entryfrom $95
Cleared at the border, not stuck at it
We classify your goods, prepare the import and export declarations and deal with customs for you at the port, the airport or the road crossing. Duty and import tax are set by each country's customs authority, and we tell you what to expect before the goods arrive.
Sea, air and road freightLicensed brokers on staffEntries lodged the day papers arrive
- Tariff codes checked twice
- One named contact per shipment
- Desk open from 07:00
- Port, airport and road crossings
Customs work we take off your desk
Our fees are for the brokerage work. Duty, import taxes and any charges made by customs or the port are added at cost, exactly as the authority calculates them.
Export declarations
Export entries lodged before the goods leave, with the proof of export kept for your records and your tax filings.
Per entryfrom $65
Tariff classification
Each new product given its tariff code from what it is made of and what it does, checked by a second broker and saved to your product list.
Per product linefrom $40
Duty and tax estimates
A landed cost estimate before you place an order, based on the published tariff, the origin and the value, so the margin holds.
Per estimatefrom $50
Licences and controlled goods
Food, plants, chemicals, medicines and other controlled goods matched to the permits and checks they need before they ship.
Per licencefrom $120
Origin and trade agreements
Rules of origin checked so goods that qualify can use a lower rate under a trade agreement, with the supporting paperwork in order.
Origin reviewfrom $150
Rates, rules and permits change, and each country's customs authority has the final word on classification and duty. Our estimates are made in good faith from the rules published on the day.
Papers for each shipment
Send these as soon as the goods are booked. Exact requirements depend on the goods, the countries involved and the customs authority at the border.
| Document | What it shows | Usually comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Seller, buyer, goods, value and terms of sale | The supplier |
| Packing list | Packages, weights, dimensions and marks | The supplier |
| Bill of lading or air waybill | The contract of carriage and who may collect | The carrier or forwarder |
| Certificate of origin | Where the goods were made | The supplier or a local chamber of commerce |
| Permit or licence | That controlled goods may enter | The agency responsible in that country |
| Product details | Materials, use and any safety data | You, the importer |
From arrival notice to release
Papers to us
The invoice, packing list and transport document reach us as soon as the goods are booked.
Classified and valued
We confirm tariff codes, origin and customs value, then send you the duty and tax estimate.
Declaration lodged
The entry goes to customs electronically, and duty and tax are paid in the way agreed with you.
Checks and release
If customs picks the goods for a document check or an inspection, we arrange it and answer every query.
Handed to your haulier
Once released, the goods pass to your haulier with the release note, ready for delivery.
Getting the tariff code right
The tariff code decides the duty rate, the import tax and whether a licence is needed, so a wrong code can cost money long after the goods have been delivered. Our brokers classify each new product from its materials, function and use, a second broker checks the decision, and the code is saved to your product list for every shipment after.
- Samples or specifications examined
- Advance rulings requested where customs offers them
- Codes reviewed whenever the tariff changes
- Reasoning kept on file in case customs asks
Ways to work with us
Pay per shipment, or open an account if goods cross the border for you every month.
Single shipment
per entry, from$95
For occasional importers and one off consignments.
- Import or export entry
- Duty and tax estimate
- Release passed to your haulier
Regular importer
a month, from$340
For businesses with several shipments a month.
- Up to 6 entries a month
- Product list with saved tariff codes
- Monthly duty and tax statement
- A named broker
Trade programme
a month, from$890
For importers and exporters with steady volumes and several origins.
- Up to 20 entries a month
- Origin reviews for trade agreements
- Quarterly check of past entries
- Support during a customs audit
Entries above the monthly allowance are $60 each. Duty, taxes and port charges are always passed on at cost.
On the quay, at the airport, at the border
Our brokers attend inspections in person whenever customs asks to see the goods.
From importers and exporters (example reviews)
A container of floor tiles was picked for inspection on a Friday. The broker met the officer at the shed and kept us posted until the release came through.
The duty estimate before ordering showed that one product line simply did not pay. That spared the company a costly first shipment.
Exporting to a new market looked daunting. Borderline listed every document, checked the origin rules and the first pallets left on schedule.
Customs questions from new importers
Can you estimate the duty before an order is placed?
We can estimate it from the tariff code, the origin and the value, using the importing country's published tariff. The final amount is decided by the customs authority when the declaration is accepted, and rates can change between your order and the arrival.
Do importers need to register before a first shipment?
Most countries ask importers and exporters to register with customs before the first shipment. The name of the registration and the process differ from country to country, and we help you apply where it is needed.
Why was a shipment held?
Customs selects some shipments for document checks or physical inspection, sometimes at random, and a hold does not mean anything is wrong. We find out what is needed, arrange the inspection and keep you updated until release.
What if customs disagrees with a tariff code?
We explain the reasoning behind our code and provide the product details. If the authority's view stands, we correct the entry, and where the law allows we can help you ask for a review.
Who pays the duty and import tax?
Usually the importer named on the declaration, although the terms of sale agreed with the seller can build the cost into the price instead. Our invoice shows the amounts exactly as the authority set them.
Can you clear goods anywhere?
We clear at the port, the airport and the road crossings we are licensed for. For other countries we work with partner brokers and say so at the quote stage.
Request a clearance quote
Describe the goods and how they are moving. On weekdays a broker replies within two working hours with a price and the list of papers needed.
- Duty and tax estimate on request
- One named broker per shipment
- Goods already waiting? Call +1 555 0246
Reach the brokerage desk
Shipments already waiting at the border come first. Call the desk for anything that has landed.
Desk and email
By the container port, clearing at the port, the airport and road crossings
Desk hours
| Monday to Friday | 07:00 to 19:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00 to 13:00 |
| Sunday | Urgent releases only |
Where we clear
Our office sits by the container port, a short drive from the airport cargo terminal. Brokers attend inspections at the port, the airport and the road crossings we cover.