FAQs

The ideal time to contact a customs broker is before you sign any international trade, for the very fact that a qualified broker is highly equipped to guide you through the entire process and plan the customs clearances well in advance. They will advise you on what terms and conditions to keep in the agreement. If you are an importer, even if you choose to visit the international facility to administer your cargo, it is always preferable to keep your broker in the loop during the process.

Doing so mitigates the risk of your cargo running into any trouble at the customs station because of lack of documentation or other technicalities. Having a customs broker represent you or just by your side from the time of initiation of the contract pays off in the end.

1. Inward and outward processing of vessels and carriages. This means that a customs broker can undertake the clearance of conveyances, inwards and outwards entries of all the different types of carriers like ships, railway trains, and aircraft.
2. Import and Export of goods.
3. An audit of the same at any customs station that has endorsed the broker.

1. Domain Expertise: Here is the thing: No customs broker or CHA can claim that they have the perfect grasp of each domain and industry. You need to check whether the one representing you knows the ins and outs of your niche. Only then can you truly benefit from hiring them?
   For example: If your shipment consists of pharmaceutical APIs, you need to search for a broker who specializes in processing shipments carrying pharma and medicinal products. Not doing so may result in complications at the time of customs clearances.
2. Port Expanse/Coverage: If you are importing through several ports, you should hire a broker with their own offices in those ports. Your local one-office broker may give you great service in their homeport, but they will have to use sub-agents in other ports and thus will lose a great deal of control. By the same token, if you are only importing through one port, the smaller, one-port broker may be perfect for you since they can often give you much more personalized, hands-on service.
3. Business Reputation and References: Before hiring a broker’s service, invest some time in carrying out preliminary market research about them.
   Ask them about their previous projects and if they can provide you any references. Talk to multiple references, understand how the broker handled their shipments and if there were any hiccups. While it’s understandable that no broker will ever be able to have a 100% happy clientele, they should be able to get good reviews from most of them.
4. Competitive Pricing: While there is a standard range in which the brokers usually charge, you are still likely to find some cost variations if you inquire with multiple brokers. However, it isn’t always about who provides the cheapest services, but how can you get the right services at the cheapest prices.

1. Import Invoice.
2. Packing List
3. Bill of Lading / Airway bill.
4. Insurance and Freight certificate.
5. Purchase order/ Proforma Invoice
6. Technical write up, literature etc. for specific goods if any.
7. Industrial License if any.
8. Test report if any.
9. DEEC/DEPB /ECGC or any other documents for duty benefits.
10. GATT declaration.
11. Any other specific documents other than the above mentioned.

1. Export Invoice
2. Packing List
3. Tax Invoice
4. DBK Declaration
5. LUT Bond (if any)
6. Suppliers’ Tax Invoice (if any)
7. Purchase order/ Contract
8. Industrial License if any.
9. Other Agencies Licenses (if any)
10. Test report if any.
11. Any other specific documents other than the above mentioned.

1. EXW - Ex Works
2. FCA - Free Carrier
3. FAS - Free Alongside Ship
4. FOB - Free On Board
5. CFR - Cost & Freight
6. CIF - Cost, Insurance & Freight
7. CPT - Carriage Paid To
8. CIP - Carriage and Insurance Paid
9. DAF - Delivered at Frontier
10. DES - Delivered Ex-Ship
11. DEQ - Delivered Ex-Quay
12. DDU - Delivered Duty Unpaid
13. DDP - Delivered Duty Paid