International Shipping

Shipments to non-EU countries require a customs declaration at GLS. The GLS Connector creates this automatically when the necessary customs data is provided.

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When Are Customs Data Required?

The connector checks whether Customs Items exist for the shipping label. If so, the CustomsDetails are automatically included in the GLS request.

Destination	Customs Data?	Example
EU-27	❌ Generally not required	DE, AT, FR, NL, PL
Non-EU	✅ Required	CH, GB, US, NO, CN

Automatic Detection

The connector automatically adds customs data as soon as Customs Items are present on the shipping label. You do not need to manually activate the international mode.

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Prerequisites

1. Setup: Incoterm and Export Type

The following fields must be configured on the GLS Setup page:

Field	Description	Example
Incoterm Code	Default delivery terms	10 (DDP)
Default Export Type	Default export type	P (Permanent/Sale)

Incoterm Codes at GLS

Code	Meaning	Description
10	DDP — Delivered Duty Paid	Seller pays all costs including customs
20	DAP — Delivered at Place	Buyer pays import duties
30	EXW — Ex Works	Buyer bears all costs from the factory

Recommendation

For B2C shipments, DDP (10) is recommended so the end customer does not face unexpected customs charges.

Export Types

Code	Meaning	When to Use?
P	Permanent / Sale	Regular sale of goods (default)
T	Temporary	Temporary export (e.g., trade show exhibits)
R	Return	Return shipment (e.g., repair)

2. Customs Items

For each international shipment, Customs Items must be created. These describe the parcel contents for customs.

Field	Required	Description	Example
Item Description	✅	Goods description	Desktop Label Printer
Quantity	✅	Quantity	2
HS Code	✅	Customs tariff number (Statistical Number)	84433291
Country of Origin Code	✅	Country of origin ISO-2	CN
Net Weight (g)	✅	Net weight in grams	1500
Unit Price	✅	Unit price	149.50
Currency Code	Recommended	Currency	EUR

Weight Conversion

The weight is entered in grams and automatically converted to kilograms by the connector (÷ 1000).

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Workflow for an International Shipment

Step 1: Create Shipping Label

Create a regular shipping label with the international recipient address.

Step 2: Create Customs Items

Create a Customs Item entry for each article in the shipment:

Item 1:
  Description:       Desktop Label Printer
  HS Code:           84433291
  Origin:            CN
  Quantity:          2
  Unit Price:        149.50 EUR
  Net Weight:        1500 g

Item 2:
  Description:       Thermal Labels 100x50mm
  HS Code:           48211090
  Origin:            DE
  Quantity:          10
  Unit Price:        12.90 EUR
  Net Weight:        500 g

Step 3: Create Label

Click Create Label. The connector:

1. Automatically detects the Customs Items
2. Adds the CustomsDetails to the GLS request:
   • ExportType: P (from setup)
   • IncotermCode: 10 (from setup)
   • Article array: All Customs Items with HS code, quantity, weight (kg), price + currency
3. GLS creates the label with customs documents

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GLS CustomsDetails — JSON Structure

The connector automatically generates the following structure:

{
  "CustomsDetails": {
    "ExportType": "P",
    "Article": [
      {
        "Description": "Desktop Label Printer",
        "StatisticalNumber": "84433291",
        "CountryCodeOrigin": "CN",
        "Quantity": 2,
        "NetWeight": 1.500,
        "Amount": {
          "Amount": 149.50,
          "Currency": "EUR"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Additionally, the IncotermCode is transmitted at the shipment level.

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HS Codes (Customs Tariff Numbers)

The HS Code (Harmonized System) or Statistical Number is an internationally standardized goods number for customs.

Where Can I Find the HS Code?

• Chamber of Commerce tariff information: www.zolltarifnummern.de
• EU TARIC database: ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric
• GLS customer portal: Your GLS account manager can assist with classification

Example HS Codes

Goods	HS Code
Label printers	8443 32 91
Thermal labels	4821 10 90
Barcode scanners	8471 60 70
Ink ribbons	3215 19 00
Electronic scales	8423 81 50

Accuracy

Incorrect HS codes can lead to delays at customs, additional charges, or returns.

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Validation for International Shipments

The connector checks the following required fields for Customs Items:

Check	Error Message
Description missing	Customs item description is required
Quantity missing or = 0	Customs item quantity is required

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to provide customs data for shipments to Switzerland?

Yes. Switzerland (CH) is not an EU member. All shipments to Switzerland require complete Customs Items with HS codes, country of origin, quantity, and value.

What is the difference between ExportType P, T, and R?

• P (Permanent/Sale): Sale — the goods remain in the destination country
• T (Temporary): Temporary export — the goods will return (e.g., trade shows)
• R (Return): Return shipment — RMA, repair, etc.

Where do I enter the Incoterm?

The default Incoterm is configured in the GLS setup (field Incoterm Code). It applies to all international shipments.

Which product should I choose for international shipping?

Destination	Recommended Product
Neighboring EU countries	GLS Parcel
Non-EU Europe (CH, NO, GB)	GLS Parcel
Worldwide (USA, Asia)	GLS Express or GLS Parcel (depending on availability)

Do I need to convert country codes?

No. GLS uses ISO alpha-2 country codes (e.g., DE, AT, CH), just like Business Central. No conversion is needed — unlike DHL, which uses ISO alpha-3 (e.g., DEU).