What “Pre Declaration of the Item has Been Received by Customs” Means
Have you ordered a package that seems to be stuck in limbo according to your PostNL parcel tracking? Specifically, does it show an alert stating “Pre Declaration of the Item has Been Received by Customs” as the latest tracking update? If so, you may be wondering:
What exactly does this customs status mean? Why would my PostNL delivery trigger pre-declaration in the first place? And will it delay my order – or worse, incur extra charges?
In short, this common tracking event simply indicates customs has received electronic paperwork for your international shipment before it physically arrives into the destination country. This data submission allows authorities to prepare for processing your item.
Unfortunately it does often lead to some temporary delivery delays as customs undertakes mandatory checks. Additional duties or taxes may apply too depending on your parcel’s contents and destination.
This guide will explain everything you need to know about the “Pre Declaration of the Item has Been Received by Customs” notice from PostNL, including:
- Where your package likely is when this update appears
- Reasons an order might get flagged for pre-declaration
- What happens now customs has your shipment details
- If import fees will be owed when it arrives
- What to do if your PostNL parcel seems excessively stuck
- How to avoid customs delays for future international orders
Let’s dive in…
Where is Your Package When the Pre-Declaration Tracking Update Appears?
Seeing the “Pre Declaration of the Item has Been Received by Customs” notice understandably leads to questions like:
- Has my order physically reached the destination border?
- Is it currently sitting awaiting customs inspection somewhere?
- Why haven’t I received further shipping updates?
However, this early customs tracking status doesn’t necessarily mean your PostNL parcel has arrived anywhere yet. In fact it is often still sitting in the shipper’s warehouse in China or elsewhere.
Here is the typical sequence of events:
- You place an order for an item on website like AliExpress, Banggood etc.
- Details of your order are registered in the PostNL system and a preliminary tracking number assigned to it. This triggers the “Item is pre-advised” status alert.
- Before your package gets dispatched for international transit, key data such as contents, descriptions and values needs to be sent to customs authorities overseas. This is called pre-declaration.
- Once submitted, the pre-declaration data generates the tracking status stating “Pre Declaration of the Item has Been Received by customs”. But at this stage your parcel likely hasn’t left the sender’s facility yet.
So in summary – at the point you receive this early customs tracking notice from PostNL, your order is essentially still in pre-transit administrative processing. The pre-declaration aspect allows border agencies abroad time to assess the shipment and prepare for its arrival.
Physically, it may be days or even weeks before consolidation into a bulk freight container heading overseas to trigger further updates. This lag is common with budget shipping lines often used for international orders from Asian retailers.
Patience is key!
Why Would a PostNL Delivery Get Flagged for Customs Pre-Declaration?
Before an international parcel gets dispatched, key details must be submitted electronically to border agencies in the destination country. This mandatory customs data allows them to:
- Assess if import duties or taxes are owed
- Check for prohibited items
- Decide if further inspection is required
For regular postal mail and smaller commercial volumes, this pre-declaration is often submitted in bulk rather than individually per item.
So you may be wondering – what made my particular PostNL order trigger this customs process?
There are quite a few reasons an international shipment might get flagged for pre-declaration, including:
Exceeding Duty-Free Thresholds
Most countries have a “de minimis” import threshold under which shipments can enter tax and duty-free – typically around $800 depending on destination. Orders valued higher require formal customs paperwork.
As such, if your PostNL parcel seems to cross this lower allowance, it will likely be flagged for pre-declaration. This allows border agencies to forecast potential revenue due on its contents.
Missing or Incomplete Paperwork
Customs declarations require certain key details on shipments like contents, values, origins etc. Any items with missing or suspicious looking paperwork get flagged for review.
PostNL’s automated screening checks for red flags like inaccurate descriptions or prices not aligning with parcel sizes. These trigger pre-declaration notices in the system.
Random Customs Audits
Many customs authorities also have random sampling or quota regimes. This is where they systematically select and inspect a percentage of all mail entering, regardless of contents.
So your PostNL order may have simply been unlucky enough to get picked for one of these surprise random verifications!
Suspicious Features or Appearance
These days parcels go through extensive technological screening – including x-ray, chemical residue tests and other advanced tools. Shipments flagged as potentially risky enter pre-declaration queues.
Perhaps something about your package, the route or patterns of trade for that product raised some border agency concerns. Hence the desire to inspect it closer.
Mandatory Receiver Pre-Clearance
Finally – some addressees listed by PostNL may be pre-approved for self-managing customs processes proactively before deliveries arrive.
These importers request everything to undergo pre-declaration first so they can self-arrange clearance payments.
What Happens Now Customs Has the Details for Your PostNL Shipment?
Once the early “Pre Declaration of the Item has Been Received by Customs” tracking status shows up – what happens next?
While the process varies slightly between countries, generally customs authorities follow these key steps after getting pre-declaration data:
📋 Further Assessment
They first scrutinize all paperwork filed for the shipment and may request additional information from the sender if anything seems unclear or incomplete.
Officers evaluate risk factors based on the declared contents, values, origins and more to determine if it warrants inspection.
👀 Physical Examination
Shipments flagged as higher risk get physically unboxed and examined once they arrive into the country. Officers verify that contents match what was pre-declared and ensure there are no illegal goods, wildlife products etc.
💰 Calculating Duties and Taxes
Customs will also formally determine what import duties, taxes, and administrative fees apply based on the shipment characteristics and values. Rates vary significantly depending on products and destination.
Some types of goods like clothing, shoes, and books attract lower tariffs – while high-value electronics, alcohol or perfume incur higher charges in many nations.
🚦 Making a Clearance Decision
Finally, all findings get assessed to decide whether customs officials approve your shipment for release into the country – or if some discrepancy warrants further delays before delivery.
Most legitimate purchases get successfully cleared at this post-inspection stage. But anything seeming suspect could see your PostNL order held for additional verification.
Clearance approval allowing packages into local postal transit usually takes somewhere between 1-5 days after arriving in country. But occasionally longer if contents require analysis.
Will Customs Charges or Import Fees Apply to Your Item?
One common concern seeing the “Pre Declaration of the Item has Been Received by Customs” tracking notice is:
Will I end up having to pay additional charges for border clearance or import fees now my shipment is undergoing customs processing?
In some cases yes – though whether duty and taxes ultimately apply mostly depends on:
📦 Your Shipment Value
Most nations have a “Customs Duty and VAT De Minimis Threshold” allowing shipments of lower values to enter free of border taxes. This threshold in Europe is $190 for example.
If your PostNL parcel value is accurately declared under this allowance, you’ll usually avoid any customs fees or VAT payments. Values over the threshold get assessed for applicable border taxes.
🖨️ Import Documentation
Having a commercial invoice clearly outlining contents is crucial so customs can accurately decide rates due. Invoice requirements vary but should feature full descriptions and itemized values.
Any missing shipment data that officers need to assess requires sourcing, which delays release.
🛍️ Product Category & Origin
Some goods inherently attract higher import duty rates no matter their value– like tobacco, alcohol, perfume etc. While lower sensitivity items like books or clothing tend to have smaller or zero taxes applied in many destinations.
And unique trade arrangements can mean origin countries face different tariffs. Research the import regulations specific to where your PostNL order is headed.
📝 Delivery Terms
If you used incoterms like “DDP – Delivered Duty Paid” it contractually shifts fiscal liability to the sender. This guarantees no border taxes or charges are ultimately due on arrival into the destination country.
Other arrangements like DDU instead see the recipient assuming responsibility for any import duties or taxes.
So check your purchase agreements as the fine print may state if border fees are accounted for in the pricing.
⏱️ How Long Does Customs Processing Take?
Roughly how long could you expect your PostNL delivery to be delayed during this customs clearance process after pre-declaration?
While it varies between locations and products, on average expect it takes:
- 1-3 days for a quick release of regular low-risk goods
- 3-5 days for physical inspection and documentary review
- 1-2 weeks if laboratory testing or expert import opinion is required
The majority of items complete assessment within a week as most personal purchases are legitimate.
But outliers could experience customs holds for multiple weeks if requiring quarantine, sample analysis, import licensing verification etc.
Just be prepared for at least some delay even if your order contents seem fairly ordinary.
My PostNL Parcel is Stuck at “Pre Declaration” Status – What Should I Do?
Seeing your PostNL tracking seemingly frozen for long periods on the “Pre Declaration of the Item has Been Received by Customs” notice can definitely be annoying.
While some delays are normal, what should you do if your package appears excessively stuck at this status?
📞 Contact PostNL – Get in touch with their customer service team directly via phone or social media channels like Twitter. As the parcel aggregator, they can contact border authorities to investigate status.
✉️ Message Seller – Notify the retailer you purchased from also. Sometimes officials need extra documentation from original shippers to clear items.
⌛ Wait – Unfortunately you’ll often ultimately still need persistence as bureaucracy grinds slowly. Unless inaccurate paperwork is holding shipment, it will likely process eventually.
🛑 Refuse Delivery – If you’ve truly had enough waiting, you can request PostNL return the parcel to sender. But don’t take this step lightly as it can be permanent.
💰 Pay Fees – If duties remain outstanding preventing customs release, you’ll need to cover them before progression to delivery. Verify accuracy first.
Stuck situations are frustrating but remember – genuine orders do successfully clear majority of the time.
How Can I Avoid Repeated Customs Delays for Future PostNL Orders?
Once you finally receive your long-awaited PostNL delivery, you probably want to avoid repetitive customs hassles holding up future shipments.
📦 Lower Declared Values – Research import thresholds for your destination country and keep parcel contents under that value. This allows you to skip most duties.
🔎 Request Invoices – Ask sellers to include a detailed commercial invoice declaring exactly what’s inside and its worth – this helps customs vet shipments faster.
🧾 Proper Product Categories – Check which types of goods have higher duty rates applicable in the nation you are importing into.
🏷️ Gift Label Carefully – Adding a “gift” label can bypass some commercial clearance requirements but makes checking contents easier.
❌ Split Orders – Single packages over thresholds get assessed as whole. Multiple smaller boxes can sometimes lower risk of inspection.
🛡️ Insure It – Paying extra for full tracking and delivery insurance gives more recourse if a customs delay does strike.
And as always – patience! While not failsafe, being an informed shopper helps minimize repetitive long holds.
Conclusion: Key Takeaways for PostNL Packages Stuck in Customs
Pre-declaration is mandatory process for customs to prepare assessment and verification of imports before their physical arrival across borders.
So if your PostNL parcel shows an alert stating: “Pre Declaration of the Item has Been Received by Customs”:
- Don’t panic, your item likely hasn’t arrived anywhere yet. This electronic data submission helps agencies get ready for its processing when it does land.
- Expect some inevitable delays beyond regular transit times as officials undertake compliance checks. But most legitimate goods do get approved after a few days or couple weeks at most.
- Note import fees may apply if your item value exceeds the Customs Duty and VAT De Minimis Threshold set by destination countries. Check regulations.
- Keep patient through the customs process! But contact PostNL or the retailer if you feel the delay has exceeded reasonable timeframes.
While irksome, remember customs practices ultimately aim to protect countries from risks. Once cleared, you can soon enjoy your long-awaited parcel!
Hopefully this guide has helped explain the key context around receiving a “Pre Declaration of the Item has Been Received by Customs” tracking status from PostNL during international delivery. Stay informed on the import process and you can breeze through should your packages ever get flagged for closer customs inspection.
