Overview

Amazon sellers expanding into international markets must clear customs both when exporting goods and when importing them into the destination country. Errors in paperwork or in the clearance process can cause inventory to be held, delayed for weeks, or even seized, leading to extra storage fees and lost sales. Understanding the required documents and the sequence of steps is essential for keeping cross‑border FBA shipments moving smoothly.

Key Points

• Export declaration required — Every shipment leaving the seller’s home country must be filed with the local customs authority, regardless of whether the carrier is air, ocean, or ground.
• Import clearance mandatory — The destination country’s customs must approve the goods before Amazon can receive them at its fulfillment center.
• Four core export documents — A customs declaration, packing list, commercial invoice, and power of attorney are needed for all routes.
• Air‑freight adds paperwork — Shipper letterhead, social credit information, bond letters, and an air waybill are among the extra forms required for air shipments.
• Product‑specific certificates — Wooden items need fumigation certificates; hazardous materials require transport guarantees, safety data sheets, and, where applicable, FDA registration numbers.
• Tax IDs are critical — An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is needed for export clearance, and a VAT number is required for shipments into the European Union.

How Cross‑Border Customs Works

1. Create the fulfillment order — The seller generates a cross‑border FBA shipment in Seller Central, selecting the destination Amazon warehouse and the preferred carrier (e.g., air freight from Shenzhen to the Dallas fulfillment center).
2. File the export customs declaration — The seller (or their broker) submits a government‑approved declaration that matches the chosen transit mode; for air freight, this includes an electronic Air Waybill and a shipper’s letterhead.
3. Assemble export paperwork — The seller prepares a detailed packing list, a commercial invoice showing unit prices and total value, and a power of attorney that authorizes the broker to act on their behalf.