What is DHL customs clearance? (all you must know)
Whenever goods move from one country to another, whether it’s a care package from a home or a pallet of goods from an e-commerce company, they have to go through customs.
This process mainly consists of scrutinizing the paperwork of the shipment and assessing whether any taxes are due. DHL notifies customers of this event by using the tracking update “Clearance Event”. To learn more about this update, keep reading!
What is DHL Clearance 2022?
A “Clearance Event” is a DHL tracking update that indicates a package will clear customs in 2022. Usually, this involves checking and/or determining tariffs. Packages will pass this stage within 2-3 days if the paperwork is in order and there are no fees. However, if further action is required, a DHL representative will contact you.
When you see a clearance event popping up in your tracking information, you may still have questions about what to do, so make sure to complete this article!
What does “DHL Clearance Activities” mean?
Seeing the DHL Clearance Event on your tracking information indicates that your package is clearing through customs.
Generally speaking, there are two main customs clearance events that take place. They are as follows:
- Customs clearance document inspection—— In this case, customs officers are checking the customs documents of the shipment to make sure everything is in order. This is a normal process and does not indicate any problems.
- Determining tariffs – This event means that the package is being inspected to determine if duties should be paid. If duties are due, the amount will be calculated and recipients will be notified of the amount they owe.
How long does DHL customs clearance take?
Your package will be held at customs for an average of 2 to 3 days.
That said, a package is equally likely to clear customs in more or less time, depending on its contents, where it’s going, and how busy the customs office is.
What can I do when I receive an update on DHL’s customs clearance activities?
If you check your tracking information and see DHL clearance activity, the first step is to check for more information.
Below the main playthrough notification, you should see a tab labeled “More Details”.
Clicking this tab will provide you with more information about customs clearance events related to your shipment.
Below the main notification, there is a “More Details” tab. If you click this button, it will provide details of the actual customs clearance event associated with your shipment.
For example, if a paperwork check is required, you will see a message stating “Further clearance processing required”.
From there, you can click the “Next” section of the tracking screen to get information about what you want.
Typically, this screen will display something like “If additional requirements are required, the DHL representative should attempt to contact the importer or shipper”.
This section will also advise recipients or shippers to contact DHL if a company representative cannot be reached.
In other words, if a customs clearance event pops up due to missing or incomplete customs documents or paperwork, DHL will contact you.
If not, the sender or recipient should call DHL.
If you received this update due to unpaid duties, the “More Details” tab will mention this fact. However, this screen doesn’t tell you how much you should pay or what you need to pay.
Instead, the Next Steps section will state that a DHL representative will contact you.
If you click the “More Details” tab and nothing else shows up, you’re in luck!
This means that the package is going through the standard customs clearance process and so far no issues have occurred.
What if the update is stuck on “DHL Customs Clearance”?
If your tracking information shows a “clearance event” for more than 48 hours, then you should follow the advice given above.
This includes checking the “More Details” tab in your tracking information to see what the problem is and contacting DHL directly.
What does DHL’s “uncontrollable customs clearance delay” mean?
“Uncontrollable customs clearance delays” are updates related to customs clearance events.
Seeing this update means more complex issues in the customs clearance process.
When you click the “More Details” tab, you may see a note that says “This shipment requires clearance in addition to standard customs entry.”
Likewise, the “Next Steps” section may indicate that further processing will take place.
Additionally, a DHL representative will contact the shipper or recipient if more information is required.
If you see this update, you can either wait for DHL to contact you, or contact DHL proactively to see what needs to be done.
What happens after a DHL customs clearance event?
The next tracking update you may receive after a customs clearance event is “DHL Customs Status Updated”.
This update is usually accompanied by a note in the “More Details” section, indicating that the shipment has been released by customs.
Essentially, this means that your package has cleared customs and is on its way to its final destination.
To learn more, you can also read our post on DHL Ecommerce to find out what DHL means, and the delays in DHL delivery.
in conclusion
Seeing “Clearance Events” tracking updates is a normal part of sending or receiving international packages. In most cases, your package will clear customs within 2 to 3 days before continuing the journey.
However, in some cases additional paperwork or fees are required. If your tracking information indicates this, then you can contact DHL or wait for a representative to contact you.
