A shipment can arrive on time and still sit at the port for days because one paper is missing. These five documents cover most imports.
1. A signed commercial invoice with a clear description and value for each item. 2. A packing list that matches the invoice. 3. The bill of lading or air waybill. 4. A certificate of origin, which can lower duties under trade agreements. 5. Any permit your goods need, such as for food, medicine or electronics.
The most common problem is a mismatch: the invoice says one quantity and the packing list another. Check both before the goods leave the supplier. Our document checklist on the Resources page lets you tick off what you already have.
Sample article written for the preview. Real posts come from the client or are written together.