GlossaryCustoms and trade
Customs declaration (CN22 / CN23)
The form describing the contents and value of an international postal shipment, using CN22 for low values and CN23 for higher values.
A customs declaration tells the destination country what is inside an international parcel. Postal operators use the Universal Postal Union forms CN22, for lower-value items, and CN23, for higher-value items or when more detail is needed.
The declaration lists each item's description, quantity, weight, value, HS code and country of origin, plus the reason for export, such as sale of goods, gift or return. Most postal services now take this data electronically and print it with the label.
Express carriers use a commercial invoice instead of CN forms, but the information required is very similar.
Learn more in our Cross-border shipping articles.
Buy, print and track shipping labels and customs documents across carriers from one place.