Ans.:
As reminded by the postal administrations of the above destinations, all categories of mail containing goods which do not come with accurate electronic customs information may be subject to delay during customs clearance, or may not be processed and be returned. To comply with the above requirement, senders shall submit electronic customs declaration via Hongkong Post’s dedicated online platforms or facilities before posting any mail items from Hong Kong to the abovementioned destinations.
At present, senders have already been required to submit electronic customs declaration for mail items containing goods destined to the EU and Switzerland. Starting from March 1, the same requirement is also applicable to the mail items containing goods sent to Norway. Under the new programme, aforesaid overseas customs authorities will conduct preliminary assessment at the origin of posting prior to the departure of air mail items containing goods sent to/ transited via those destinations. Senders should provide the return address and a local mobile phone number that can receive SMS. Items returned without sender’s information will be destroyed without postage refund.
Hongkong Post has made available various channels, including online platforms (Easy Pre-Customs, EC-Ship, My Speedpost and Post Now), the Hongkong Post mobile App and the kiosk or tablet in all post offices, for senders to submit their electronic customs declaration.
Ans.:
Ans.:
If a mail item containing goods without eCustoms data is found during acceptance at counter office, we will not accept the mail and will ask the sender to use the "Easy PreCustoms" online platform or Hongkong Post Mobile App to enter the eCustoms data. If it is found that electronic customs information is not available on the mail items containing goods during the handling process, and there are ways to contact the sender. Before further processing the item, Hongkong Post will request the sender to re-submit the required information, or will return such item to the sender. No postage refund will be entertained for returned items not providing supplementary electronic customs information within a specified timeframe. Hence, sender should input eCustoms data in the relevant platforms before posting mail items to abovementioned destinations. If it is not possible to contact the sender, the mail item will be destroyed without further notification, and the postage will not be refunded.
Ans.:
Yes. Apart from the United States of America, it is necessary to provide electronic customs data for sending mail items containing goods to overseas territories of the United States of America, including Caroline Islands, Guam, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Marina Islands (Northern), Palau, Puerto Rico, Samoa (the United States of America Territory), Virgin Islands of the United States of America and Wake Island.
Ans.:
Senders are required to submit eCustoms data before posting mail items containing goods (non-document items). For Speedpost item posted via pick-up service, the eCustoms data shall be provided before collection by postman. For senders who prepare their posting form at any of HKP’s online platforms, completion of online posting preparation will provide the necessary posting information for eCustoms.
Ans.:
Hongkong Post has provided multiple online platforms and facilities for senders to provide the electronic customs information. Customers can make use of Hongkong Post “Easy PreCustoms”, “Post Now”, “EC-Ship” or “My Speedpost” online platforms to prepare posting form and provide electronic customs information in one-go before posting the mail items. The customs information collected by Hongkong Post will be transmitted electronically to overseas customs authorities for pre-clearance through their respective postal administrations. “EC-Ship” or “My Speedpost” online platforms require pre-registration, while “Easy PreCustoms” and “Post Now” online platforms do not require pre-registration. In addition, kiosks or tablets have been readily available in all post offices for added convenience to senders.
All the customs information (including sender’s information) shall be provided in English or local language.
Senders can download “Hongkong Post Mobile App” for inputting electronic customs information in an easy way.
Hongkong Post Mobile App”(iOS)
Hongkong Post Mobile App”(Android)
Ans.:
Since the information contains personal and customs information, it shall be entered by the customers themselves. Staff of Hongkong Post could not enter the information for any customers.
Ans.:
Senders can make use of “Easy PreCustoms” or “Post Now” online platform to prepare a posting form and provide electronic customs information in one go, and then print out and stick the posting form on the mail for posting. Alternatively, senders can collect barcode labels, which are available at all post offices, for submitting electronic customs information on “Easy PreCustoms” before posting Registered and Ordinary mail by the following steps:
For Ordinary Mail, sender can collect customs declaration form with Prefix “U” barcode label (CN22) from post offices and stick it on the mail for posting preparation. After inputting the mail barcodes and customs information in “Easy PreCustoms”, the item can be posted.
For Registered Mail, if senders use “EC-Ship” or “Post Now” online platform to prepare posting form, no additional electronic customs information is required. If senders choose not to use online platforms for posting preparation, they can provide electronic customs information by obtaining at a post office:
After that, input the registered mail barcode and the customs information on “Easy PreCustoms” for posting the item.
Ans.:
Yes. Senders can simply input customs information, including senders details (e.g. address, telephone no.,etc.), addressee information (e.g. address, telephone no., etc.), and the content information, on one of our online platforms. Since the eCustoms information of e-Express items should have been provided during posting preparation on "EC-Ship" and “Post Now”, senders do not need to provide eCustoms data separately.
Ans.:
The eCustoms data is not required to be completed in “Easy PreCustoms” if customers prepare their mail on "EC-Ship", “Post Now” or "My Speedpost" online plaform for services of Speedpost, e-Express, registered mail, parcel or ordinary mail (posting of 100 items or above).
Ans.:
After submitting the eCustoms data, the sender will receive an email notification. If the sender wishes to amend the eCustoms data, the sender can click the relevant link in the confirmation email to log on the system again for any amendment before posting. The posting information cannot be edited any more if the mail item has been posted as the data has been submitted to the overseas postal administration.
Ans.:
Document items.
Ans.:
If mail item containing goods (non-document item) is posted, the Customs declaration form (CN22) shall be affixed regardless of the size of the mail item. (if online posting form is prepared, it is not necessary to fill in the Customs declaration form, which has been contained in the online posting form already). For details, please refers to Post Office Guide, Section 9.9.
Ans.:
The only new measures is to provide the eCustoms information for all the mail items containing goods (non-document items), while other operation and requirements remain unchanged. The newly developed online platforms or facilities is to facilitate customers to provide the data in different scenario conveniently. Since it is necessary to link the eCustoms information with the barcode, all customers have to collect the mail barcode label in advance (See Q8). If an online posting form is prepared, it is not necessary to do so since the online posting form has already contained the barcode label.
There is no difference for the customer in preparing the Registered or Ordinary mails. If mail item containing goods (non-document item) is posted, the Customs declaration form (CN22) shall be affixed regardless of the size of the mail item. (if online posting form is prepared, it is not necessary to fill in the Customs declaration form, which has been contained in the online posting form already). For details, please refers to Post Office Guide, Section 9.9. However, the requirement for provision of eCustoms data is only applicable to all the mail items containing goods (non-document items).
Remark: if senders are willing to provide the eCustoms information for document items, we will also transmit the information to the United States Postal Services for purpose of customs clearance.
Ans.:
The mail items that may allow bulk posting include Speedpost, Ordinary or Registered mails. At present, the online platforms can provide the function of “Upload electronic customs data for bulk posting”. Customer can simply base on the instruction to load the eCustoms information into an “Excel” file which shall then be uploaded in the system. Customer can use “My Speedpost” online platform to upload eCustoms information of Speedpost items, or use “EC Ship” online platform to upload the eCustoms information of Registered or Ordinary mails. For details (EC Ship), please take reference from the link below:
“EC-Ship” or
“My Speedpost” online platforms
Ans.:
Yes. Since there is a growing trend for postal items to provide eCustoms information, we encourage customers to adapt, as soon as possible, to making use of the online platforms to submit eCustoms information or prepare the posting forms.
Ans.:
The Customs declaration form with Prefix “U” barcode label is provided for the purpose of electronic customs declaration and is applicable to all outward ordinary mail.
Ans.:
When senders call the pick-up services, the customer service will remind the customer to input the data. Upon pick-up, the postman will check whether eCustoms information has been submitted by scanning the barcode. If there is no information shown on the system, customers are required to provide the proof for provision of the e-Customs information in order to ensure that the Speedpost item containing goods (non-document item) has contained the information.
Ans.:
If a sender posts an ordinary mail containing goods (non-document item) to abovementioned destinations via the posting box, electronic customs information shall be submitted before posting. If it is found that electronic customs information is not available on the mail items containing goods during the handling process, the mail items will be returned to a designated post office and a notification letter will be issued based on the return address to inform sender to re-submit the required information at the designated post office. If supplementary electronic customs information is not provided within a specified timeframe, such items will be returned to sender and postage will not be refunded. If no return address is provided on the mail item and the sender cannot be contacted, the mail item will be destroyed, and no postage refund will be entertained.
Ans.:
When posting mail containing goods to the abovementioned destinations via iPostal Kiosk, if the posting label and electronic customs information have not yet been prepared on online platforms, senders may directly entre the electronic customs information when preparing the posting label at iPostal Kiosk. If it is found that electronic customs information is not available on the mail items during the handling process, the sender will be contacted and requested to re-submit the required information at a designated post office. If supplementary electronic customs information is not provided within a specified timeframe, such item will be returned to sender and postage will not be refunded. If no return address is provided on the mail item and the sender cannot be contacted, the mail item will be destroyed, and no postage refund will be entertained.
Ans.:
The postal operators of the above destinations request that any mail items containing goods (non-document items) without eCustoms data shall not been posted to the abovementioned destinations. As no sender address is available for returning the item, it will be disposed of while the postage paid will not be refunded. Hence, senders shall provide eCustoms data before posting their mail items.
Ans.:
Mail item containing goods (non-document items) which does not contain eCustoms data cannot be accepted by Hongkong Post. If a mail item has contained eCustoms data, the delivery standard will be counted from the date of providing the eCustoms data or date of posting, while the latest date among both dates shall be the basis. To remind, time for customs clearance will not be counted in the delivery standard.
Ans.:
Since the sender fails to provide eCustoms data in accordance with the requirement and Hongkong Post has processed the mail item, the postage cannot be refunded.
Ans.: The key purpose of requiring the eCustoms data by the overseas customs authorities is to facilitate the customs clearance process. For enquiries on the tax / duties imposed at the destination, please contact the destination customs authority.
Ans.:
Please check with the overseas customs authorities.