Customs and International DHL Shipments

International shipping with DHL opens global markets for online retailers – at the same time, every border crossing multiplies complexity in fulfillment. Customs and international DHL shipments are crucial for delivery times, customer satisfaction and profitability. If customs data is missing or the HS code is incorrect, the shipment gets stuck at the border, the recipient receives additional charges or the goods return as a return shipment.

This guide explains how to prepare DHL shipments abroad in a customs-compliant manner: EU versus third country, mandatory documents, IOSS and typical pitfalls in the warehouse.

Why Customs Is Critical in DHL Fulfillment

DHL transports the shipment – customs clearance is a separate legal layer. Whether Paket International, Warenpost International or Express: at every customs border, authorities check value, origin and duty liability. DHL acts as a customs agent only with complete, plausible information.

Typical consequences of incomplete customs data:

001. Delay at the border – shipment sits in customs processing for days.
002. Additional charges for import VAT and customs duties to the recipient.
003. Rejection for prohibited or incorrectly declared contents.
004. Fines for missing IOSS registration or systematically incorrect information.

Important: Customs problems almost always arise before handover to DHL – during product selection, goods description and shipping software. Anyone scaling internationally needs customs processes in the warehouse.

EU Shipping versus Third Country

Not every international DHL shipment is subject to customs in the classic sense. Within the EU, different rules apply than when shipping to Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the USA.

Criterion

EU Domestic

Third Country (e.g. CH, UK, USA)

Customs clearance

Generally not required

Mandatory for goods import

Value added tax

OSS/standard taxation from turnover threshold

Import VAT and possibly customs duties for recipient

IOSS

Relevant for distance selling under 150 euros

Not applicable

Documents

No customs papers, commercial invoice recommended

CN22/CN23, commercial invoice depending on value

Transit time

2–5 business days

5–15+ business days, customs may add time

For tariff zones: Shipping Zones Domestic and Abroad. Light EU shipments via Warenpost International – third countries require the full customs package.

EU vs. Third Country Shipping Costs

EU Shipping

Pure transport costs – predictable and low. No customs clearance, observe OSS/IOSS for distance selling.

Third Country Shipping

Total costs incl. customs and additional charges – higher and harder to calculate. Complete customs documentation mandatory.

Mandatory Information for International DHL Shipments

Every customs-relevant shipment requires correct information for CN22/CN23, electronic customs declaration or commercial invoice.

Core Fields of the Customs Declaration

001. Recipient address – complete, formatted according to country.
002. Sender address – including EORI number if required.
003. Goods description – precise in English, no generic terms like "Gift".
004. HS code – six to ten digits, decisive for customs rate.
005. Goods value – net value per line item and total value in currency.
006. Country of origin – origin of the goods.
007. Weight – gross weight including packaging.
008. IOSS number – for EU distance selling under 150 euros goods value.

CN22 and CN23

CN22 – for low-value shipments; green label on the parcel.
CN23 – for higher-value shipments; often commercial invoice with three copies required.

Warning: "Gift" or "Merchandise" as the sole description leads to customs hold. Describe the item as in the shop – e.g. "Cotton T-shirt, size M, blue".

IOSS and OSS in EU Distance Selling

With Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS), EU retailers report import VAT for shipments under 150 euros centrally – provided the IOSS number appears on the customs document. Without IOSS, the recipient pays on delivery, which leads to refusal of acceptance.

Store IOSS number in shop and shipping software.
Transfer to CN22/CN23 and electronic customs declaration when creating labels.
Check goods value – from 150 euros, different duty models apply.
Observe OSS separately for intra-community distance selling.
Reconcile monthly OSS/IOSS declaration with logistics data.

Tip: Communicate at checkout: "All prices incl. VAT, no customs fees on delivery" – only if IOSS is processed correctly.

DHL Products for International Shipping

DHL Product

Use Case

Customs

Tracking

Warenpost International

Light shipments up to 1 kg

CN22/CN23, IOSS for EU

Limited

DHL Paket International

Standard parcels worldwide

Electronic customs declaration

Full

DHL Express Worldwide

Time-critical shipments

Express customs clearance

Real-time

DHL Paket EU

Within the EU

No customs, observe OSS/IOSS

Standard

Details on Express: Express Products. Size limits: Sizes and Weight Limits.

Regulated Goods and Special Contents

Restrictions tighten internationally. DHL and customs authorities delay or reject shipments for:

Lithium batteries in devices or as individual parts
Liquids, aerosols and perfumes
Food and dietary supplements
Plants and animal products
Weapons, knives and counterfeits

More on dangerous goods: Dangerous Goods Packaging.

Frequently Asked Questions on Customs and DHL

Does the customer have to pay customs?

With DAP yes – with DDP or IOSS-processed EU shipping under 150 euros, no.

Is a commercial invoice sufficient?

From certain value thresholds in addition to CN22/CN23 – three copies in the parcel.

Who holds the EORI?

The economically responsible party – retailer or 3PL with customs power of attorney.

What if the HS code is wrong?

Customs hold, additional charges or return – maintain HS code per SKU.

Can DHL pay customs in advance (DDP)?

Yes, via DDP Incoterm – seller bears all import charges upfront.

Incoterms and Cost Allocation

DAP (Delivered at Place): retailer delivers to the address, customer pays import charges. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): seller bears all costs including customs – predictable for the customer.

001. EU with IOSS: final price incl. taxes in shop.
002. Third country without DDP: checkout notice on import charges.
003. B2B with DDP: include customs rate in calculation.

Process Flow: International DHL Shipment with Customs

1

Order received

2

Customs check (HS code, IOSS) – critical customs point

3

Pack and weigh

4

Create label/CN22 – critical customs point

5

Handover to DHL

6

Customs clearance in destination country – critical customs point

7

Delivery to recipient

Technical Integration: Customs Data in Portal and API

From medium volume onward, CSV import or API is mandatory – including all customs fields.

Common pitfalls:

HS code missing in product master data.
Currency conversion differs from invoice.
IOSS not in label request.
Wrong DHL product for destination country.
No commercial invoice in parcel despite value threshold.

Postage: Online Postage. Shop integration: API and Shop Integration DHL.

Workflow: Customs Data into DHL Label

1

Shop – trigger order

2

Product master (HS code) – most common break point when code is missing

3

OMS – merge order data

4

Shipping software – validate customs fields

5

DHL API – request label with customs data

6

Print label and release shipment

Avoiding Typical Pitfalls

Pitfall

Cause

Countermeasure

Customs hold

Unclear goods description

Standardized descriptions per SKU

Additional charges to recipient

No IOSS, DAP without notice

Use IOSS or checkout notice

Wrong HS code

Outdated master data

Maintain HS code per SKU

Return to sender

Prohibited goods, address error

Destination country checklist per product group

Further sources of errors: Common DHL Shipping Errors. For customs hold: Track and Claim Shipment.

Statistics: Without IOSS and automation, customs holds affect 8–15 percent of international shipments. With complete customs data, the rate drops to 2–4 percent – professionalization measurably reduces delays and return rate.

Checklist: Customs and International DHL Shipments

Destination country list with EU/third country classification maintained
HS code and country of origin stored for each SKU
IOSS number active in shop and shipping software
Goods descriptions standardized in English
CN22/CN23 logic configured by goods value
Commercial invoice automatically in parcel (from value threshold)
DHL product mapping defined per destination country
Checkout notices on import charges for third countries
Regulated goods approved or blocked per destination country
Test shipments per new destination country documented

Daily Release of International Shipments

Destination country correct
HS code present
Goods value plausible
IOSS for EU under 150 euros
CN22/CN23 attached
Invoice in parcel
Weight within limit
Address formatted

Best Practices

001. Maintain product master with HS code and customs description.
002. Do not print label without complete customs data.
003. Review destination countries and DHL tariffs quarterly.
004. KPIs: customs hold rate, international returns, additional charge rate.

Internationalization with DHL

Month 1

Register IOSS and store in shop

Month 2

Test Warenpost International

Month 3

Complete HS codes in product master

Month 4

Launch first third country destination

Month 5

API automation for customs data

Month 6

KPI review: evaluate customs hold rate and returns

Conclusion

Customs and international DHL shipments require the same discipline as domestic shipping – with additional mandatory fields. Those who map EU with IOSS, fully declare third country shipments and maintain HS codes use DHL's network without customs holds, additional charges and costly returns.

Frequently Asked Questions about Customs and International DHL Shipments

Question

Answer

Do all international DHL shipments require classic customs clearance?

No. Within the EU, customs clearance is generally not required, while shipments to third countries such as Switzerland, the United Kingdom or the USA need full customs handling for goods import. EU domestic transit times are typically two to five business days with pure transport costs, whereas third-country shipments often take five to fifteen or more business days because customs can add delay. For light EU shipments Warenpost International may suffice; third countries require the complete customs package including CN22/CN23 and, depending on value, a commercial invoice.

What mandatory information must appear on a customs declaration for DHL?

Every customs-relevant shipment needs correct data for CN22/CN23, an electronic customs declaration or a commercial invoice. Core fields include a complete recipient address formatted for the destination country, the sender address with EORI if required, a precise English goods description, an HS code of six to ten digits, net goods value per line item and total, country of origin, gross weight including packaging, and the IOSS number for EU distance selling under 150 euros. Vague labels such as Gift or Merchandise as the sole description commonly trigger a customs hold; describe the item as in the shop, for example Cotton T-shirt, size M, blue.

When should I use CN22 versus CN23 for international DHL parcels?

CN22 is intended for low-value shipments and appears as a green label on the parcel. CN23 applies to higher-value shipments and often requires a commercial invoice with three copies in the parcel. Which form applies depends on goods value and destination rules; both must carry accurate HS codes, values and descriptions. From certain value thresholds a commercial invoice is needed in addition to CN22 or CN23, not instead of them.

How does IOSS work for EU distance selling with DHL under 150 euros?

With Import One-Stop Shop, EU retailers report import VAT centrally for shipments under 150 euros goods value, but only if the IOSS number is printed on the customs document. Store the IOSS number in the shop and shipping software, transfer it to CN22/CN23 and the electronic declaration when creating labels, and check the goods value because from 150 euros different duty models apply. Without IOSS the recipient pays on delivery, which often leads to refusal of acceptance. OSS remains separate for intra-community distance selling and should be reconciled monthly with logistics data. Checkout messaging that all prices include VAT and that no customs fees apply on delivery is only truthful when IOSS is processed correctly.

Does the customer have to pay customs, and what is the difference between DAP and DDP?

Under DAP the retailer delivers to the address and the customer pays import charges. Under DDP the seller bears all costs including customs upfront, which makes the landed price predictable for the customer. For EU shipping with correctly processed IOSS under 150 euros, the customer typically does not face customs fees on delivery. For third-country shipping without DDP, the checkout should clearly notice possible import charges. In B2B DDP scenarios the customs rate must be included in the calculation. DHL can collect duties in advance when the shipment is booked under the DDP Incoterm.

Which DHL products suit international shipping and how do they differ for customs?

Warenpost International covers light shipments up to one kilogram with CN22/CN23 and IOSS for EU destinations, but tracking is limited. DHL Paket International is the standard worldwide parcel product with electronic customs declaration and full tracking. DHL Express Worldwide targets time-critical shipments with express customs clearance and real-time tracking. DHL Paket EU is for shipments within the EU with no classic customs clearance, though OSS and IOSS rules still apply for distance selling. Choosing the wrong product for the destination country is a common integration pitfall when requesting labels via portal or API.

What happens if the HS code is wrong or missing, and how can customs holds be reduced?

An incorrect or missing HS code can cause a customs hold, additional charges to the recipient or a return to sender. The HS code is decisive for the customs rate and should be maintained per SKU in the product master; missing codes in master data are the most common break point when customs data flows into the DHL label. Unclear goods descriptions, missing IOSS under DAP, outdated HS data and prohibited contents are typical causes of holds and returns. Standardized English descriptions per SKU, IOSS or clear checkout notices, destination-country checklists for regulated goods and complete customs fields before label print reduce risk. Without IOSS and automation, customs holds affect about eight to fifteen percent of international shipments; with complete customs data the rate can drop to two to four percent.