Export Documents FAQ

All shipments containing non-documents require an invoice. This document identifies the products being shipped, and it serves as the primary document for importation control, valuation, and duty assessment.

Note: For forms completed online, this application is designed for goods whose origin is the U.S. or Puerto Rico only. When shipping from the U.S., prepare one original and two copies of the invoice. When shipping from Puerto Rico, prepare one original and one copy.

Invoice should include:

• Complete name and address information for shipper and consignee
• Phone numbers for shipper and consignee
• Terms of Sale (Incoterm)
• Reason for Export
• A complete description of the item (e.g., What is the item, and what is it used for?)
• Harmonized Tariff Codes, if known
• Country of origin (where manufactured) for each commodity
• Number of units, unit value, and total value (purchase price) of each item
• Number of packages and total weight
• Shipper's signature and date
• A nominal or fair market value must be stated for items of no commercial value

Some destinations require a Certificate of Origin (CO) for certain commodities. The purpose of the CO is to authenticate the country of origin of the merchandise being shipped.

For those forms that are completed online, this application is designed for goods whose origin is the U.S. or Puerto Rico only.

The CO may be required to comply with international trade treaties, varying duty rates, and preferential duty treatment that are determined by the shipment's origin.

The CO verifies the country in which the goods were manufactured. The commodity being exported and its destination determine if the CO is required. Some nations restrict imports from certain countries; many countries limit the quantity of goods that are allowed to be imported, or give preference to goods manufactured in the U.S.

This form requires the authorized signature of the local Chamber of Commerce Secretary and the seal of that organization.

If the goods qualify as North American Origin, use the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) CO for shipments between Canada, Mexico, and the U.S., including Puerto Rico. (See NAFTA Certificate of Origin below.)

Note: The rules for when a CO is needed change often. Verify the current criteria requiring a CO before sending your shipment. The descriptions and amounts on the CO must be consistent with those entered on the Invoice.

The NAFTA Certificate of Origin is used by Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States to determine whether imported goods receive reduced or eliminated duty as specified by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

For forms completed online, this application is designed for goods whose origin is the U.S. or Puerto Rico only. The NAFTA Certificate of Origin is also available as a paperless document, which can be transmitted electronically as part of your Paperless Invoice package (where available). When shipping from the U.S. or Canada, prepare one original and two copies of the invoice. When shipping from Puerto Rico, prepare one original and one copy.

The NAFTA Certificate of Origin must be attached to an invoice if the shipment is valued at greater than:

• US$1,000 and is being sent to a Mexican destination from Canada or the U.S.
• $2,500CAD (Canadian dollars) and is being sent to a Canadian destination from Mexico or the U.S.
• US$2,500 and is being sent to a U.S. destination from Canada or Mexico.

Shipments valued at less than the above amounts do not require a NAFTA Certificate of Origin. Instead, the customer should type the following statement on the shipment's invoice:

"I hereby certify that the good covered by this shipment qualifies as an originating good for purposes of preferential tariff treatment under the NAFTA."

For purposes of obtaining preferential tariff treatment, this document must be completed legibly (print or type) and in full by the exporter, and be in the possession of the importer at the time the declaration is made. This document may also be completed voluntarily by the producer for use by the exporter.

Note: Applies only to shipments from the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

The Shipper´s Export Declaration (SED) is used by the U.S. Census Bureau to compile trade statistics and to help prevent illegal exports. The SED and instructions on how to fill it out are available from UPS CampusShip, UPS.com, and a variety of sources, including the U.S. Government Printing Office (202-512-0000) and the U.S. Census Bureau's home page (http://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/).

You can select from three filing options for your SED:

• Print a blank SED, fill it out manually, and attach it to your shipment.
• File your SED through UPS for a US$10 fee.
• File online using ACE. To use ACE, exporters must register with ACE (https://ace.cbp.dhs.gov/). See details below in "What is ACE?"

To obtain a blank SED form to complete and attach to your package, select the Resources tab, and then Export Documentation.

Note: SEDs are not required for UPS Letter shipments.

An SED is required when the value of a single Schedule B commodity is valued at more than US$2,500 or for which an export license or license exemption is required. It is also required when the destination is a controlled territory. A controlled territory can be a country experiencing strained relations with the U.S. (e.g., Cuba, Iraq, Iran, Libya, and North Korea).

For customers using UPS CampusShip for exporting, instructions for setting your SED Preferences are available from UPS CampusShip Help. You can access the instructions by selecting Help directly on the Shipper´s Export Declaration Preferences page. To access your SED preferences, select the My Settings tab and go to Edit Shipper's Export Declaration Preferences.

For customers using UPS CampusShip for exporting, instructions for filing a SED electronically are available from UPS CampusShip Help. You can access the instructions by selecting the Help directly on the Shipper's Export Declaration page.

UPS TradeAbility^TM offers a variety of forms for your international shipments. You can complete some forms online or browse the library of downloadable documents. Supply shipment information once and apply it to multiple forms as needed. The following forms can be completed online:

• Invoice
• U.S. Shipper's Export Declaration
• U.S. Certificate of Origin
• NAFTA Certificate of Origin

To access international forms, go to the CampusShip Resources tab and select Use International Tools. From this page, select Access International Forms. This link takes you to a page where you can download sample forms or complete forms online.

The U.S. Census Bureau uses the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) to capture and store U.S. export data electronically. The U.S. Census Bureau provides ACE free of charge to all exporters for electronic filing of Shipper's Export Declaration (SED) data via the ACE Web site.

UPS CampusShip can help you file your SEDs with ACE. To take advantage of this feature, you must register with ACE online at https://ace.cbp.dhs.gov/. ACE requires that you take a brief tutorial on filing SEDs, so allow adequate time for registering. For more information about ACE, call 1-877-715-4433.