Clearance
Set of administrative formalities necessary to allow the legal entry or exit of goods from a customs territory.
Customs clearance
Customs clearance refers to all the customs procedures and formalities to be completed so that goods can legally enter or leave a customs territory. It results in the granting of release by customs.
Import customs clearance steps
- Presentation of the goods to customs
- Submission of the customs declaration (electronic via Delta I/E in France)
- Possible documentary and/or physical control
- Liquidation and payment of duties and taxes
- Delivery of release (Good to Remove — BAE)
Necessary documents
Customs clearance generally requires a commercial invoice, a transport document (B/L, LTA, CMR), a packing list, a certificate of origin if applicable, and any product-specific regulatory documents (health certificate, license, etc.).
Deadlines
Customs clearance time varies depending on country, type of procedure and level of control. In France, a declaration without a physical check can be processed in a few minutes via the green circuit. AEO status holders benefit from priority treatment.
Simplifications
Several simplified procedures exist: the domiciliated procedure (PDE), centralized customs clearance, simplified declaration with global supplementary declaration.