A UAE import is decided largely by paperwork that has to be right before the goods arrive. The declaration is submitted electronically, and the documents behind it are checked against it, so a document that does not match the declaration stops the movement at the port rather than at origin.
Who submits the declaration
A company holding a customs business code can submit the customs declaration for clearance. A clearing and forwarding agent holding a licence may clear cargo on behalf of a consignee, provided the agent holds a business code and has authorisation from the owner of the goods to submit the declaration. If the consignee holds no business code, an agent is not optional.
The document set
- Commercial invoice, showing the goods and their values.
- Packing list, matching the invoice.
- Bill of lading or air waybill.
- Certificate of origin, where origin affects the treatment of the goods.
- Any certificate or approval the goods require before they can be entered.
Where the goods are entered under a particular procedure, the documents have to support that procedure and not merely describe the goods. A re-export or a free-zone movement needs documentation that establishes the link to the earlier declaration, not only the consignment in front of the officer.
What to settle before the goods move
- Whether the consignee holds a customs business code, and if not, who is declaring on its behalf.
- Which emirate and port the goods are entering through.
- Whether the goods are entering for local use, into a free zone, or for re-export.
- Whether any product approval applies to the goods.
Where TCSA fits
TCSA reviews the requirement and confirms what is possible, who would carry it out and at what rate before anything is commissioned. Coverage for the Emirates is confirmed with your enquiry rather than assumed. The requirements themselves are administered by the customs authority of the emirate concerned, and nothing on this page is a ruling on your consignment.