International Shipments
Shipments to non-EU countries (e.g., Switzerland, UK, USA, China) require a customs declaration (Commercial Invoice). The UPS Connector creates this automatically when the necessary data is provided.
When Is a Customs Declaration Required?
The connector automatically checks whether the destination country is inside or outside the EU:
| Destination | Customs Declaration? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| EU-27 | β Not required | DE, AT, FR, NL, PL, IT, ES, ... |
| Non-EU | β Required | CH, GB, US, NO, CN, JP, AU, ... |
Recognized EU Member States
The following 27 EU countries are stored as customs-free:
AT, BE, BG, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, HU, IE, IT, LT, LU, LV, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK
All other country codes are treated as non-EU and require customs data.
Note: UK (United Kingdom)
Since Brexit, the United Kingdom (GB) is no longer included in the EU list. Shipments to GB therefore require a complete customs declaration.
Prerequisites
Before you can create international shipments, you need:
1. Setup: Tax ID and Export Reason
The following fields must be filled in on the UPS Setup page:
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Shipper Tax ID | Your EORI number or VAT ID | DE123456789012 |
| Default Reason for Export | Default export reason | SALE |
The Shipper Tax ID is transmitted as TaxIdentificationNumber (Type: EIN) in the customs declaration. You can enter your EORI number or VAT ID here.
Export Reasons
| Value | Description | When to Use? |
|---|---|---|
SALE |
Sale (default) | Regular sale of goods |
GIFT |
Gift | Gratuitous shipments |
SAMPLE |
Sample | Product samples for customers |
RETURN |
Return | Repair return |
REPAIR |
Repair | Goods for repair |
2. Customs Items
For each international shipment, customs items must be created. These describe the package contents for customs.
| Field | Required | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item No. | β | Article number | PRINT-5410G |
| Item Description | β | Goods description (max. 35 characters for UPS) | Desktop Label Printer |
| Country of Origin Code | β | Country of origin ISO-2 | CN |
| HS Code | β | Customs tariff number (Harmonized System) | 84433291 |
| Quantity | β | Quantity | 2 |
| Unit Price | β | Unit price | 149.50 |
| Net Weight (g) | β | Net weight in grams | 1500 |
| Currency Code | Recommended | Currency | EUR |
| Gross Weight (g) | Optional | Gross weight (fallback for Net Weight) | 1800 |
Weight Calculation
The weight is transmitted to UPS in kilograms (grams Γ· 1000). Minimum weight per item: 0.1 kg. If no Net Weight is specified, the Gross Weight is used as a fallback.
3. Shipment Customs Data
The following fields must be filled in on the Shipment Label itself for international shipments:
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Invoice No. | Invoice number | RE-2024-00123 |
| Customs Invoice Date | Invoice date | 01/15/2025 |
| Customs Currency Code | Currency for customs values (default: EUR) | EUR |
| Incoterm Code | Delivery terms | DAP |
Incoterms (Delivery Terms)
Incoterms define who bears the costs and risks of transport and customs clearance:
| Code | Name | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| EXW | Ex Works | Buyer bears all costs from the seller's premises |
| DAP | Delivered at Place | Seller bears transport to destination, buyer pays import duties |
| DDP | Delivered Duty Paid | Seller bears all costs including import duties |
Recommendation
For B2C shipments, DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is recommended so the end customer does not face unexpected customs charges. For B2B shipments, DAP is common.
Process of an International Shipment
Step 1: Prepare the Shipment
- Create a new shipping label as usual
- Select an appropriate service (e.g., UPS Express (07) for fast international shipping or UPS Expedited (08) for economy shipping)
- Enter the international recipient address
Step 2: Enter Customs Data
- Fill in the customs fields on the shipping label:
- Customs Invoice No.
- Customs Invoice Date
- Customs Currency Code
- Incoterm Code
- Create the customs items
Step 3: Create Customs Items
Create a customs item for each article in the shipment:
Item 1:
Article No.: PRINT-5410G
Description: Desktop Label Printer
Origin: CN
HS Code: 84433291
Quantity: 2
Unit Price: 149.50 EUR
Net Weight: 1500 g
Item 2:
Article No.: LABEL-100x50
Description: Thermal Labels 100x50mm
Origin: DE
HS Code: 48211090
Quantity: 10
Unit Price: 12.90 EUR
Net Weight: 500 g
Step 4: Create the Label
Click Create Label. The connector:
- Validates all customs data (at least one customs item must be present)
- Builds the Commercial Invoice (FormType
01) into the API request - Adds your Shipper Tax ID
- Sends the request to the UPS API
- The UPS API creates the label and the customs documents
Step 5: Include the Documents
UPS creates the customs documents automatically. Print the label and include it with the package.
Commercial Invoice
The UPS API creates a Commercial Invoice (FormType 01) with the following data:
| Field | Source |
|---|---|
| Invoice Number | Shipment Label β Customs Invoice No. |
| Invoice Date | Shipment Label β Customs Invoice Date (format: YYYYMMDD) |
| Reason for Export | Setup β Default Reason for Export (fallback: SALE) |
| Currency Code | Shipment Label β Customs Currency Code (fallback: EUR) |
| Terms of Shipment | Shipment Label β Incoterm Code |
| Freight Charges | Automatically 0.00 |
| Products | From Customs Items (see above) |
| Sold To | Recipient address from Shipment Label |
| Shipper Tax ID | Setup β Shipper Tax ID (Type: EIN) |
HS Codes (Customs Tariff Numbers)
The HS Code (Harmonized System) is an internationally standardized commodity number that enables customs to classify the goods.
Where Do I Find the HS Code?
- German Customs Tariff Information: www.zolltarifnummern.de
- EU TARIC Database: ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/dds2/taric
- UPS Trade Ability: www.ups.com/us/en/support/shipping-support/international-tool.page
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 customs delays, additional fees, or returns. Check HS codes carefully.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to create a customs declaration for shipments to Switzerland?
Yes. Switzerland (CH) is not in the EU. All shipments to Switzerland require complete customs data with Customs Items, Invoice, and HS codes.
Do I need an EORI number?
Yes, for commercial exports from the EU you need an EORI number (Economic Operators Registration and Identification). Apply for one at customs: www.zoll.de/DE/Fachthemen/Zoelle/EORI-Nummer.
What happens if customs items are missing?
The connector returns a validation error: "Missing customs items for international shipment". You must create at least one customs item.
Can I change the export reason per shipment?
The default export reason is taken from the UPS Setup. If you frequently need different reasons (e.g., SALE and SAMPLE), change the value in the setup before the respective shipment, or contact your administrator regarding a customization.
What is the difference between Net Weight and Gross Weight?
- Net Weight: Weight of the goods without packaging
- Gross Weight: Weight of the goods including packaging
The UPS Connector preferably uses Net Weight. If no Net Weight is specified, Gross Weight is used as a fallback. Minimum weight: 0.1 kg (100 g).
Which service should I choose for international shipping?
| Destination | Recommended Service |
|---|---|
| Europe (Non-EU: CH, NO, GB) | UPS Standard (11) or Express Saver (65) |
| USA / Canada | UPS Express (07) or Expedited (08) |
| Asia / Oceania | UPS Express (07) |
| Other | UPS Express (07) |