The Complete Guide to Customs Clearance — How to Avoid Delays, What You Need, and How to Minimize Costs

When importing goods into the country, you’re likely to encounter the task of customs clearance. As a first-time importer, this process can seem daunting. However, it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. The following guide will walk you through everything you need to know about customs clearance: how it works; what you need; and how you can save money.

broken image

1. What is customs clearance?

Customs clearance is the process of clearing goods through customs. It is also called customs declaration, customs entry or customs procedure. Customs clearance is typically required when importing goods into a country or exporting goods from a country.

In simplified terms, customs clearance deals with goods which have been classified as either non-essential or essential by the country where they were en route to your country. Goods are classified as non-essential when it’s impossible for the consignee — the person or company that imports the goods — to provide the required documentation proving their value. Otherwise, these goods could be prohibited goods and subjected to other import restrictions. Or, essential goods would not be permitted to leave the country without a valid permit from the customs authority. In general, non-essential goods can be subject to lower import duties and processing fees compared to essentials like food or prescription medicine. However, they are also at higher risk of being delayed or seized, which may be especially frustrating if you’re trying to get your goods to arrive on time.

Essential goods include those goods that are consumed in large amounts — like food and beverages — and require the company to demonstrate they are needed. I.e., foods like meat, grains, and dairy products, which contain more calories than equivalent amounts of sugar.

Furthermore, essential goods are subject to higher import duties and processing fees compared to non-essential goods. Depending on the import fees charged, a customs broker will take a cut of the transaction to help defray these expenses.

As a first-time importer or exporter, getting your goods cleared by customs is no small task. If it’s your first time importing, you could find yourself paying substantial amounts for import duties and fees. Also, remember to make a list of all the required documents before you leave the country. Before you leave, scan or take photographs of all required documents and keep them all in a safe place.

broken image

2. How does customs clearance work?

The first thing you should know about customs clearance is that you should never arrange your own customs clearance if you’re importing goods into your country. It’s a very complex process and requires a lot of paperwork, and you’re much better off leaving it to the professionals. 

It’s generally best to let the importer handle this entirely on their own. They’ll perform a comprehensive customs declaration and get you started. However, don’t discount the importance of having a trusted importer on the other side. The importer will hold the goods in custody until the country releases them from customs clearance. That way, you have complete control over how the goods will arrive and how long you’ll have them in your possession, which will ultimately save you money.

According to the Government of Oman, the average time it takes to clear customs for a single-item import is 17  business days. However, if you’re bringing in large items, like a large number of products or an animal, this time can extend to 36 business days. So, if you’re planning to import anything longer than one box, such as wood pallets or paper products, you probably need to hire a licensed import company to handle the customs process.

If you need help booking a package marking service, contact us today. We have warehouses in throughout the country and can handle all the necessary paperwork. To ensure maximum savings on end-of-import processing fees, avoid using importers directly and book your shipment through a trusted company instead.

When it comes to customs forms, you’ll need to collect them before leaving your country. The customs forms you’ll need to fill out at the customs office will vary depending on whether you’re bringing in new products, or simply updating existing inventory. With the exception of those forms that explicitly require the shipment to be declared, customs agents generally only require basic information you can find online. Official import forms can be found here.

broken image

3. What are the costs of customs clearance?

Before importing your goods, you should find out what the customs clearance process involves, and what the costs are. The costs associated with customs clearance are: Import duty  Import VAT Excise duty  Import clearance and handling fees 

Customs clearance is the process of clearing the goods from being imported into a foreign country to bring them to your doorstep. Goods arriving into your country at a port of entry must clear customs.

Cars and motorcycles are among the goods that must undergo customs clearance. Goods entering your country at a final port of entry must also clear customs. This is called transit goods and is different from goods that enter your country at one of several entry points. For example, goods coming into the Oman through the port of entry sohar port are subject to customs inspection.

During the customs clearance process, goods are classified into various types, or classes. Some goods that require customs clearance include:  raw materials  ores  animals & plant products  raw agricultural & manufactured products  plants and seeds (including biotechnology)  wooden structural components  live wildlife  human organs, cells & tissues Import duties can raise the price of goods at the border, so you will need to pay customs and import duties at the same time

Customs duties, called import duties or import levies, amount to 20% of the original imported price. Import duties are assessed at all ports of entry into the country, but the amount that’s assessed varies by region. Higher duties apply to:

Excise duties are charged for the illegal international transportation of goods. Excise duties are levied on:

Excise duties are levied on goods entering or leaving a country. Excise duties are assessed on imports and exports at the border.

broken image

4. What do you need to clear your goods through customs?

You need to have the following information: 

1.Your physical address and phone number. 

2.Your company’s business license number. 

3.A description of the goods you’re importing. 

4.The value of the goods you’re importing. 

5.The country the goods were made in. When these documents are submitted to customs, you’re required to provide their originals or certified copies. If the originals or certified copies aren’t available, you need to either write them yourself or get a duplicate certified copy.

When you’re sure everything is in order, you can begin the actual import process.

Before you begin any import process, it’s necessary to determine if you need any import permits. For two-way traffic, yes; for one-way traffic, no.

Import permits are issued by the Canadian Customs and Borders Protection office to anyone who is intending to import an item valued at over $1,200. These permits significantly improve your chances of getting your goods inspected and/or declared. The permit allows you to import, transport, and store most types of products from the following countries.

• Oman,Bolivia, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela.

If you’ve never had trouble obtaining an import permit, you’re ready to move forward. However, there are some restrictions to make sure you’re following the rules.

One of the restrictions is if you’re bringing in products for resale. For resale purposes, you need to have a legitimate resale license. For more information, visit the Oman Revenue Agency website.

You should also know that certain goods may require additional permits for import — if not already obtained.

broken image

5. How can you minimize the costs of customs clearance?

Importing goods into the country and exporting goods out of the country are both part of the customs clearance process. If you’re planning to import or export goods, there are steps you can take to minimize the costs of customs clearance. 

Consider purchasing all of your imported goods from reputable vendors. By avoiding the hassle (and your foreign currency shortage problem) of re-exporting your products, you can save time, money, and effort. Ultimately, you’ll be reducing your vulnerability in the face of sudden medical care rationing, supply disruptions, or job threats.

Before you ship anything, make sure you import the goods into the country correctly. Under Oman sanctions, certain goods that are connected to certain industries are subject to additional inspections and are subject to additional handling requirements. Importing goods into or exporting goods out of the country should never be done without first obtaining Oman authorization. Ultimately, if you’re involved in the import or export of goods and you don’t comply with the rules, you may face serious consequences.

If you are importing product in oman and you don't want any kind of hassle in customs clearance and you need a customs clearance service provider but you don't know which company is best for you then you should consider us We are the customs clearance service in oman is the best customs clearance service provider in Oman. We are the most reliable customs clearance service provider in oman. Thanks for reading this article