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Printable Version Shipping with FedEx– a quick reference tool
If you are well-prepared before you begin completing your documentation, shipping internationally can be easy. Begin by asking yourself these two important questions:“Where do I want to ship?” and “What do I want to ship?”
Where do you want to ship?
The destination for your item is crucial in determining what documentation you’ll need, the duties and taxes you’ll pay, and much more. But first you need to have on hand three very basic pieces of information, which will be required on all your international shipping documents:
- The shipper's FedEx account number.
- The shipper’s address and contact information.
- Your recipient’s address and contact information: name, address including postal code, and phone number.
FedEx relies on these codes to route your shipments to countries such as China, which have established postal code systems. If you do not include the postal code, your shipment may be delayed.
Here is an example of the correct recipient information for an address in Canada:
Mr. Bill Sharp
25 Raglan Street, Ste. 205
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 2Z9 Canada
416-977-8124
What do you want to ship?
The nature of the item you are shipping is as important as where it is going.
The following information will help you describe each item in your shipment accurately and determine which documents you will need to complete:
Describe your shipment contents accurately.
One of the most common reasons for customs delays is inaccurate or vague shipment descriptions. A consistent and detailed description of your shipment contents across all documents will help reduce customs delays.
A detailed description should answer the following questions where applicable:
- What is the item?
- How many items?
- What is the item made from?
- What is the intended use of the item?
- The right Harmonized Code
Description Examples |
|
| Poor Description (too vague) | Good Description (specific and detailed) |
| Parts | Two steel springs for woodworking machine |
| Gift | Unsolicited gift: One men's knitted sweater (100 percent cotton) |
| Samples | 200 cm x 400 cm nylon carpet samples for demonstration |
| Documents | 30 pages of legal documents |
What documents are required?
Accurate documentation is one of the most important elements in international shipping. Properly completed paperwork will help your shipment reach its destination on time, reducing the risk of being delayed at customs.
In addition to your FedEx International Air Waybill, the Commercial Invoice, Proforma Invoice, GSP Declaration are the most commonly required documents for sending an international shipment. The documents required will depend on the details of your shipment.
FedEx® Global Trade Manager is an online tool that quickly tells you which documents will be required for your shipment. Simply choose your destination country and complete the details of your shipment. FedEx Global Trade Manager will also provide you with the forms you need to send your shipment.
Interactive tools to help you process your shipment
Now that you have gathered preliminary information and reviewed the shipping documents you’re ready to take the next step:
Preparing your shipping label.
You can easily do this online by going to FedEx Ship Manager
The following other interactive tools are your complete resource for preparing your shipping label (with help from FedEx Ship Manager), completing the right documentation, converting currency, assessing duties and taxes accurately, and much more.
Estimate Duties and Taxes
Enter the details of your shipment, and FedEx Global Trade Manager will provide you with an estimate of the duties and taxes you can expect to pay. It's important to provide as much detail as possible when calculating duties and taxes; underestimated duties and taxes can result in additional landed costs for any complications due to inaccurate calculations.
Find International Documents
Find and print copies of the documents that must accompany your international shipment at FedEx Global Trade Manager Answer some questions about your shipment, and the documents that are required by your origin and destination countries will be identified.
Universal Currency Converter
Get daily-updated currency exchange rates using this interactive calculator.
Metric Converter
Convert your measurements to take the guesswork out of shipping globally.
Worldwide Holidays
Plan your shipment’s arrival date around important observed holidays from country to country, using this simple tool.
fedex.com and toll-free resources:
• FedEx® Global Trade Manager
• Call FedEx International Customer Service: 1800 22 6161/1800 209 6161 Schedule a pickup: go to fedex.com or call 1800 22 6161/1800 209 6161