Why does one order clear customs faster than another?

It is true that the time a package spends at customs can vary significantly per order. Even if you order the same thing twice, the processing time can be different. This is due to various factors:

1. The type of product

This is the main reason. A package with clothing or leather accessories is often released faster because these products pose little to no safety risks.

• Swords and weapons: Are you ordering a sword or a dagger? Then we use the HS code 93070000. This code often triggers a manual check at customs. They want to ensure that the product complies with local weapons legislation, which takes extra time.

2. The workload at customs

Just like regular postal companies, customs have peak times.

• Holidays: Around Christmas, Black Friday, or national holidays in your country, distribution centers are full. The pile that needs to be checked is simply larger.
• Staffing levels: Holiday periods or strikes at customs can cause packages to remain on the shelf longer.

3. Random checks

Customs work with random checks. Sometimes you are lucky, and your package goes directly through the scan. Another time, your package may be selected for a thorough inspection where the box is opened to compare the invoice with the contents. This process often adds several days to a week to the waiting time.

4. Speed of payment (Import costs)

Customs only release the package to the delivery service once clearance is completed. Sometimes the speed depends on how quickly the digital connection between customs and the delivery service works for the invoicing of VAT and import duties. The faster you handle the payment link from the carrier, the sooner the package will be on the move again.

5. Accuracy of the documentation

We always ensure that invoices and HS codes (such as 93070000) are clearly on the package. However, a customs officer may have additional questions about the description or value. Exchanging this information between customs and our delivery service takes time.

What is the lesson?

Keep in mind an average clearance time of two weeks, but don't be surprised if it happens within three days or takes three weeks. Customs is a government agency over which we unfortunately have no influence.

Do you have a package that has been unchanged at 'In clearance' for more than three weeks? Then contact the delivery service to see if they need any information from you. Keep in mind that some periods are busier at customs than others, such as the summer holidays, around Thanksgiving, and between Black Friday and Christmas.