Customs Forms

A required customs form, printed from a computer, for a package being sent out of the U.S.

Packages sent to countries that follow European Union (EU) customs rules need more-detailed content descriptions for customs forms. Learn what you need to do.

Requirements for Packages to European Union (EU) Countries

Graphic demonstrating acceptable and unacceptable descriptions

Countries that follow European Union (EU) customs rules have new requirements for customs forms. If you’re sending packages to one of these countries, you must use more-detailed content descriptions on your customs forms. If you don’t, the customs officials in the receiving country may reject and return (or, in certain cases, may even destroy) your package.

Note: If you're mailing First-Class Mail International ® service envelopes containing only documents that don't require customs forms, these new rules don't apply to you.

Before you send your next package, here's what you need to know:

These rules apply to all international packages going to European countries that follow EU customs rules. This includes small personal gifts, ecommerce orders, and military and diplomatic mail (APO/DPO/FPO).
For each item in your package, you'll need to provide a more-detailed description on the customs form. You can't just name a general category; your description must be specific. For example, you can't just say "electronics"; you have to be specific about the type of electronics, like "computer", "mobile phone," or "television."

Guidance for Acceptable Descriptions

Unacceptable	Acceptable
Clothes	Men's shirts, girls' vest, boys' jackets
Appliances	Refrigerator, stove, microwave oven
Artwork	Oil painting, pencil sketch, bronze statue
Battery	Lithium batteries
Gifts	Scented candle, remote-controlled car, cashmere scarf
Medicine	Painkillers, antiviral spray
Health & Beauty Products	Detergent, toothbrush, towels
Vegetables	Eggplant, onions, broccoli

These descriptions will help determine the "HS (Harmonized System) Tariff Code" (or just "HS Code"), a 6-14 digit number, for every item in your package, which is used for customs, including to help calculate applicable duties and taxes.
TIP: If you give USPS a detailed description for each item you're sending, our tools (like Retail Postage Price Calculator or Global Shipping Software) will give you the HS Codes.
- USPS Tools may also ask for other types of information (like the Universal Product Code, known as "UPC Code," the brand name, etc.) to help give you the right HS Code for an item.
Harmonized System Tariff Codes are very complex. You can learn more about HS Tariff Codes here.