Knowing the details of this process, from required documents to coordination with customs authorities, not only speeds up product clearance, but also minimizes costs.
Duties of the labor clearance company
The Customs Clearance Company is responsible for carrying out all processes related to customs clearance of products in a professional and efficient manner for importers and exporters. These duties include preparing, completing, and accurately presenting the required documents, timely payment of customs duties and taxes, continuous communication with relevant departments and institutions, following up on administrative procedures, and ensuring full compliance with commercial laws and regulations.
Also, the clearance company is committed to preventing any delays through careful time management and ensuring that the goods reach their final destination as quickly as possible and at the lowest cost.
Customs clearance procedures
The customs clearance process involves several steps that must be followed carefully so that the goods are properly released from customs and enter the market. These steps include:
- Obtaining a pro forma invoice from the employer
To begin the process of clearing products from customs, the first step is to obtain a pro forma invoice. Before finalizing the purchase and registering the official invoice, you can obtain the pro forma invoice by providing information about the goods from the seller’s company.
This document includes details such as payment method, responsibilities of both parties, and Incoterms issues and can be reviewed by you and the owner of the goods. In fact, a pro forma invoice is issued to assess and confirm the entry of goods into the country.
- Action to receive NTSW order registration
One of the requirements for product clearance is to receive an order registration before starting the clearance process. To do this in the Comprehensive Trade System of Iran (NTSW), a commercial card will be necessary. During the order registration process, by uploading a pro forma invoice to this system, your product is evaluated for compliance with import laws such as import permit, non-production in the country, non-prohibition of import, and prioritization of goods. After these reviews, a license for order registration, goods clearance, and import is issued.
- Obtaining permission from the Central Bank
After obtaining permission to place an order, you need to prepare a foreign currency transfer for the goods. To do this, go to the bank branch that you have introduced to the Commercial Department in your proforma and send a request for foreign currency allocation to the Central Bank from that bank.
- Purchase order for goods in customs clearance
After receiving the foreign exchange and obtaining approval from the Central Bank, you can pay the seller the purchase price of your goods at a high rate by going to the agent bank. Depending on the amount of foreign exchange allocated to you, you will need to deposit 35% of that amount with the agent bank as a guarantee to ensure the arrival of the goods. This amount will be refundable after the goods are imported and documents confirming the accuracy of the registered information are presented.
- Registering goods in the EPL system
The next step in the clearance process is to upload the documents to the system (Cross-Border Trade Unit window). After entering the code, your product details are transferred to the EPL system, which is known as an electronic clearance. At this stage, all shipping information is connected and synchronized with the order registration information in the EPL system.
- Get a cottage
After uploading the documents to the EPL system, an eight-digit code is generated for your goods. The system locks your goods declaration and sends it to customs. This process is called quoting. If you use the quoting for export, it will be an export quoting and if it is for import, it will be an import quoting.
Also note that after completing this process, your access to information about the shipment will cease and you will have to pay a fine if an error occurs.
- Control and evaluation of goods
This stage involves the physical examination of the goods to ensure that they comply with the documentation provided. Control and evaluation involves checking the quality, quantity and technical specifications of the goods to ensure that the goods comply with the prescribed conditions and criteria.
- Obtaining the required permits
Before goods enter the country, there are various permits that need to be obtained. These permits include standard approvals from relevant organizations, necessary tests from laboratories, and other legal permits. This step is done to ensure the safety, quality, and compliance of the goods with national and international regulations. After that, a clearance service order is issued.
- Bachelor’s degree (Tariff and declaration value review)
At this stage, customs experts review the customs tariffs and value of the goods based on the documentation provided. This is done to determine customs duties and taxes and to ensure that the information provided matches the actual value of the goods.
- Cashier’s office and payment of customs duties and taxes
Once the information is confirmed, a stage called checkout begins where the customs duties and taxes related to the goods must be paid. This payment may include import duties, taxes, and other related fees. Timely payment of these fees is essential for the clearance of the products.
- Stage of loading and delivery of goods from the customs warehouse
After payment of duties and taxes, the goods are prepared for loading from the customs warehouse. At this stage, the goods will be loaded and customs officials will issue the necessary documents for delivery of the goods to their owners. This stage includes a final inspection of the goods and their compliance with the documentation.
- Goods exit stage
In the last stage, after final approval, the goods are cleared through customs. Also, at this stage, all relevant documentation and permits must be fully reviewed and approved so that the goods can be legally exported from the country. This stage can include handing over the goods to the intended carrier and initiating the distribution process.
Documents required for clearance of goods
The documents required for customs goods clearance may vary depending on the type of goods, country of origin, and different destinations, but generally include the following:
- proforma
One of the essential documents for clearing products from the country’s customs is the proforma invoice or proforma invoice. This document contains information about the product, its specifications and the exact price. The proforma invoice is the first document received from the seller when purchasing goods. It is necessary that this document be stamped and signed by the seller’s company.
- Factor
An invoice is one of the necessary documents for the product clearance process. This document, issued by the seller, belongs to the buyer and provides proof of purchase of the goods from the seller. The invoice must be presented on paper with a trademark and the date of issue.
- packing list
A packing list is one of the documents that must be submitted to customs along with the invoice. This document contains details of all the goods in the shipment and provides information such as weight, volume and number of each item. By referring to this document, one can find out the characteristics of the goods in the shipment or container that is sent to the destination customs.
- Certificate of Origin
A certificate of origin is a document that helps identify the country of origin of the goods and is therefore of great importance. This document is considered one of the mandatory documents for the goods clearance process and must be presented to customs. Without this certificate, complete clearance will not be possible, so it is essential to present it during customs procedures.
- clearance
By issuing a clearance document, the shipping company confirms that it has given the necessary consent to carry out customs procedures and deliver the goods to their owner. It should also be noted that this clearance is transferable to another person and this transfer is recorded in the customs cross-border trade system.
- Customs warehouse receipt
Warehouse receipt and warehouse delivery receipt are other necessary documents to be submitted to customs. These receipts serve as confirmation of the delivery of the desired goods to the warehouse and play an important role in proving the ownership of the goods in the customs warehouse. According to customs laws, each item must be transferred to the customs warehouse at the entry and exit points, and after completing customs formalities, the goods must be cleared.
- bill of lading
A bill of lading is a document issued by a shipping company that certifies the legality of the movement of goods from origin to destination. This document, known as a bill of lading, contains information that includes details of the goods, names of the sender and receiver, commission fees, and other relevant details. It is also issued for all types of transportation methods, including land, air, and sea transportation.
- Authorization to place an order
In order for any importer to be able to import their goods into the country, they must first go through the order registration process. To do this, it is necessary to visit the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade. Also, when clearing the products from customs, it will be necessary to present an order registration permit.
- Policy
To protect the goods against possible risks, it is necessary to insure them. If there is an insurance policy, this document must be submitted to customs when the products are cleared. The date of the insurance policy must coincide with or precede the date of shipment. Also, the amount of the insurance policy must be at least equal to the safe value of the goods.
Rules and conditions of clearance of goods
Clearance of goods means the legal process of goods leaving customs after entering the country. This process has precise rules and conditions that importers must comply with. To avoid potential problems and ensure the legal entry of goods into the country, it is essential to be fully aware of these rules and conditions. The most important steps and rules related to product clearance are described in more detail below:
Placing an order and obtaining the necessary permits
The first step in importing goods is to register an order in the relevant system through the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade. Any import without an order registration is considered illegal. Order registration permits are presented to customs as the main documents in the clearance process, and without them, the goods will not be allowed to clear.
Preparing and submitting necessary documents
The importer must submit various documents to customs. These documents include a commercial invoice (proforma), bill of lading, insurance policy, certificate of origin, packing list, standard permits, and health certificate (for certain goods). The absence of any of these documents can delay or even stop the clearance process.
Payment of customs duties and taxes
To clear goods, it is necessary to pay customs duties and taxes. These amounts are calculated based on the value of the goods, customs tariffs and other related costs. Duties include things like port fees, freight and taxes. The importer needs to ensure that payments are made correctly and on time to ensure a smooth clearance process.
Inspection and control of goods by customs
After the documents are presented and the duties are paid, the customs are authorized to physically and legally inspect the goods. This inspection is carried out to ensure that the documents presented are correct and that they correspond to the actual goods. Also, if the goods require health or standard inspection, these are also reviewed by the relevant organizations.
Valuation of goods by customs
Customs is required to carefully verify and confirm the value of imported goods. This valuation must be based on the CIF value (cost, insurance and freight). Any discrepancy in valuation may result in a revision of the calculation of duties and even delays in customs clearance services.
Compliance with import laws and prohibitions
Some goods may be subject to import restrictions or prohibitions. For example, the import of some goods requires obtaining special permits from various authorities, or some goods are prohibited due to security, cultural or environmental issues. The importer must ensure that the imported goods comply with the country’s import regulations.
Duration of goods in customs
In order for your imported and exported goods to be able to leave customs, they need to remain at customs for a period of time during the process of preparing and reviewing documents and completing legal procedures. After registering a customs declaration, the maximum period for which goods can be stored in customs warehouses is approximately 4 months.
Of course, at airports this period is reduced to 2 months. Another important point is that from the moment the goods enter the customs warehouses, the costs associated with their storage are borne by the owner of the goods. As a result, if the goods are stored in a container, after the free time period ends, the demurrage fee will be added to it.
Dear traders, please note that within the specified period, all customs formalities and related duties must be carried out correctly and on time. If these matters are not carried out correctly, the goods will be recognized as abandoned, and after the issuance of the goods clearance document, if the goods are not removed from the warehouse, they will be subject to the laws related to abandoned goods.
Clearance services
Goods clearance services are a vital part of the import and export process, helping companies and merchants to quickly and legally clear their goods through customs. gosil kalaye sharghTrading Company facilitates the clearance process by providing professional and efficient product clearance services.
Among the benefits of this site are the acceleration of customs clearance, access to up-to-date information, and expert advice on customs documentation and laws. By collaborating with East Cargo, customers can continue their international trade with greater confidence and avoid wasting time and additional costs.
final word
Clearance of goods, as one of the key steps in the import and export process, requires sufficient knowledge and experience in the field of customs laws and regulations. By entrusting these matters to specialized clearance companies, you can avoid the complexity of administrative work, possible delays, and additional costs. At the end of the page, if you have any doubts or questions, you can leave a comment. In this case, the site experts will respond to you as soon as possible.
