Two things catch out more customers than anything else — and both are easily avoided if you know about them before you book.
Many people are surprised to learn that all exports from the UK must be formally declared to customs. Both the sender and the receiver must provide accurate information about:
Customs authorities use this information to determine whether duties, taxes, permits or additional inspections are required. Guessing a value, or writing “personal effects” and leaving it there, is how shipments get held.
One of the biggest misconceptions we deal with is that new items shipped as part of personal effects are automatically exempt from duties and taxes. Customers often buy new clothing, electronics or household goods shortly before shipping and assume there will be no customs charges on arrival. This is not always the case. Depending on the destination country, duties and taxes may still apply — and they are the importer’s responsibility.
Another common misunderstanding is that international shipping works like sending a parcel from London to Birmingham through Royal Mail or a domestic courier. It does not. International shipping involves customs procedures, security requirements, airline regulations, handling fees and destination charges that simply do not exist on a domestic delivery.
We would rather tell you this now than have you discover it at an airport cargo desk. On a door-to-airport service, the shipment is flown to the destination airport — from that point, the consignee takes over.
If you use a door-to-airport service, you or your consignee may be responsible for:
For airport collections, shipments generally need to be collected promptly after arrival to avoid storage fees, which accrue daily and are set by the handling agent, not by us.
Sea freight shipments may also incur additional charges at destination such as de-stuffing, terminal handling, customs processing and storage.
We explain these requirements in our quotations, our contracts, on this website and in our guidance to customers. We would rather over-explain than have you meet a charge you were not expecting. We believe in being upfront and transparent from the beginning — the service level, the potential costs, the responsibilities, and the process involved in moving personal effects internationally.
Honest answer: most delays are outside any shipping company’s control. But two of the biggest causes are entirely within yours.
Proper packing and accurate documentation are the two things that most reliably keep a shipment moving. That is why we are particular about both.
Customs is the part of international shipping that catches people out. This guide explains, in plain terms, what documents you need to export cargo from the UK, who is responsible for what, and the destination-specific paperwork that commonly applies. It covers air freight and sea freight for both commercial cargo and personal effects.
We handle your UK customs export entry — the declaration that allows your shipment to leave the UK. As the shipper, you are responsible for ensuring the correct export documentation is in place. At the destination, import clearance is handled by the importer (the consignee) or their appointed clearing agent, and any duties, taxes and local charges are their responsibility.
The HS (Harmonised System) code is an internationally standardised number that classifies your goods for customs worldwide. It determines the duty rate and flags any restrictions or licence requirements. Every commercial invoice should carry the correct HS code for each item — getting it wrong is one of the most common causes of customs delays.
Many African countries require an ECTN (Electronic Cargo Tracking Note) — also called a CTN, BSC or BESC depending on the country — before cargo arrives. It is primarily a sea-freight requirement and must be obtained before the goods ship. Over 25 African countries operate some form of it. Requirements and names vary by country and change from time to time, so always confirm the current position before you ship.
Our freight quotes cover the transport of your goods. They do not include duties, taxes, VAT, import customs clearance, or local terminal and handling charges at destination. These are determined locally and are the responsibility of the importer or consignee. For commercial goods, duty is calculated on the value and HS classification of the goods.
Requirements differ by destination. Explore the specifics for our main African air-cargo destinations:
Nigeria customs requirementsFull country customs guides
Australia customs guideCustoms rules change from time to time and depend on what you’re shipping. We’ll advise you on what your specific shipment needs, but always confirm the current rules before you ship.
We’ve shipped from the UK since 1998 and we’ll guide you through exactly what your shipment needs.
Get a quote“I have worked in this industry for more than 40 years, and safety has always been my highest priority. Our responsibility is to protect not only the shipper’s belongings, but also airline staff, carriers, customs authorities, and fellow passengers travelling on the aircraft carrying the shipment.”
Excess Luggage Co. comply with the UK aviation and maritime security act and regulations, we ship all dangerous goods under IATA and IMDG rules, and all our staff are trained in aviation & maritime security for shipping.