An update on our pre-departure customs clearance process

There are changes to when you’ll need to submit your manifest when sending items overseas.

From 1 August 2022, when sending any items overseas (not including Standard or Economy letters or articles which exclusively contain physical documents), you have been required to submit your manifest on or before lodgement.

And, from 1 March 2023, for items being sent to the EU, in addition to submitting your manifest on or before lodgement, you need to ensure that you provide full and complete customs declaration of your items to help us get pre-departure approval for your items to the EU.

We're introducing these changes to ensure our process better aligns with the customs requirements of international destinations.

These regulations require postal authorities to submit Electronic Advance Data (EAD) before items are sent overseas. These requirements are already in place in various jurisdictions, including the USA and the European Union. (EU). In the EU, current regulations require us to transmit EAD and receive approval from overseas customs authorities before items can be passed to an airline.

The changes to pre-departure customs clearance took effect as from 1 August 2022.  There is now an additional requirement from EU Customs for pre-departure approval of items inbound to a destination EU member state which will take effect on 1 March 2023.

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Republic of Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway¹
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Switzerland¹
• Sweden
  

We’re making these changes to help you meet the required pre-departure customs requirements when sending items overseas.

By submitting your customs data on or before lodgement, we can provide Electronic Advance Data (EAD) and receive pre-approval for outbound items, meeting the regulations of overseas destinations.

It will also help reduce the incidence of items being returned to you from overseas customs authorities due to incomplete data being received.

Pre-departure customs clearance applies to all customers who send items internationally (not including Standard or Economy letters or articles which exclusively contain physical documents). This includes customers who lodge over the counter at a Post Office, MyPost Business customers and international contract customers.

It also impacts customers who send parcels using our bulk mail lodgement (BLM) and electronic lodgement with a mailing statement or physical paper form provided by us.

If you send your items over the counter at a Post Office, you’ll need to ensure that your manifest is completed accurately and captured before or at the time you lodge your items.

If you use eParcel or Parcel Send, you must submit your manifest with the correct information before we collect the item from you.

When you are sending goods or Express documents overseas, you need to complete customs declaration of the items you are sending.  This includes providing a description of your goods and/or documents, the HS tariff code and value of your goods.

Visit this page for more guidance on completing your customs declaration.  View the European Commission’s guidelines on acceptable and unacceptable terms for the description of goods.

Your items will ultimately be sent back to you.

If you’re already submitting your manifest on or before lodgement, you don't need to do anything differently.

If you have a contract with us and use Parcel Send, eParcel or your own portal to manifest the data, after 1 March 2023, if you lodge items without a complete manifest, your items will be held for up to three business days¹, awaiting your manifest. If we don’t receive your manifest within three business days, your items will be returned to you.  A Unmanifested Fee may apply (subject to your service terms).

If your items have been returned to you, it could mean that you haven’t provided the appropriate shipping information when you sent the item. To re-send the item, ensure you submit a correct and complete manifest.

For more information:

• If you sent your item at a Post Office, call 1300 473 061 to discuss your options.
• If you sent your item with eParcel, Parcel Send or your own portal, contact your account manager for further details.

You may be eligible for a refund, depending on whether your items have left Australia and whether you have provided complete and accurate shipping information.

• If your item has left Australia, it means a manifest has been submitted and we’ve transmitted the Electronic Advance Data (EAD) to the relevant overseas customs authority (where applicable). If the item is returned to you from the international destination, no refund will be provided.
• If you’re an international contract customer, and if your items have not left Australia, and the items have not been manifested, you will not be billed so a refund is not required.
• If you’re a non-contract customer, and you’ve lodged your item at a Post Office or online, and your item has not left Australia, and the item has been manifested, you’ll have the option of a refund and the option to re-send your items.

As per our current policy, no refund will be provided if you send items that are prohibited or not compliant with our handling policies.

Otherwise, our existing refund policies will continue to apply.

Yes. If you’re sending documents (including letters) via International Express, from 1 August 2022 you’ll need to submit your manifest upon lodgement.

If you’re sending Standard or Economy letters which exclusively contain physical documents, you’re not required to submit a manifest, and can continue sending your international letters as you’re currently doing.

When you pay for overseas postage in MyPost Business, your items are manifested, so you’re not likely to be impacted by this change.

Many countries now require customs information before International Parcels and International Express letters are sent overseas.

Unfortunately, our mailing statement and physical documentation process doesn’t support sending customs information in advance electronically, so from 1 August 2022, you won’t be able to lodge International Parcels and International Express letters this way. Instead, you’ll need to lodge your items over the counter at a Post Office or prepare your items using accurate data captured electronically through one of our digital platforms:

• MyPost Business
• eParcel
• Parcel Send

There are a few options available to lodge International Parcels and International Express letters.

• You can prepare your International Parcels and International Express letters with accurate data electronically using MyPost Business. This will help avoid unnecessary delays or having your items returned.
• You can prepare your International Parcels in a non-digital format, which means your items must be lodged over the counter at a Post Office to ensure the required customs information is captured and sent electronically to the destination customs authority. You can complete the online customs form prior to lodging over the counter, otherwise our team can capture the details for you. Refer to our declaration guide for support.
   

If you send International Parcels and International Express letters with a postage meter, you can continue to do so, provided you include Electronic Advance Data (EAD). These items must be lodged over the counter at a Post Office to ensure the required customs information is captured and sent electronically to the destination customs authority. You’ll need to complete the online customs declaration form prior to lodging over the counter, otherwise our team can capture the details in-store for you. Refer to our declaration guide for support. 

There are a few options available to lodge International Parcels and International Express letters.

• You can prepare your International Parcels and International Express letters with accurate data electronically using MyPost Business. This will help avoid unnecessary delays or having your items returned.
• To continue preparing your International Parcels in a non-digital format, your items must be lodged over the counter at a Post Office to ensure the required customs information is captured and sent electronically to the destination customs authority. You’ll need to complete an online customs declaration form prior to lodging over the counter, otherwise our team can capture the details in-store for you. Refer to our declaration guide for support.

Yes, if you’ve lodged your International Parcels electronically and captured the required customs information, you can include these parcels with the domestic ones in your scheduled pickup at no extra cost.

Yes, you can continue to use BML for all other services, including:

• Letter and parcel services within Australia
• International Letters – Economy Air services
• Additional letter services, such as Registered Post and Extra Cover

Unfortunately, due to the requirement to capture customs information before International Parcels and International Express letters are sent overseas, from 1 August 2022 you'll no longer be able to send these using a mailing statement or physical paper form provided by us.

Using a digital lodgement system such as MyPost Business is the quickest way to send an item while meeting these new requirements.

If you want to prepare your International Parcels non-digitally, you can send them over the counter at a Post Office to ensure the customs information is captured and sent electronically to the destination customs authority. If you’re able to complete the online customs declaration form in advance, it will speed up your sending experience at the counter. Otherwise, our team can capture this information for you.

Yes, we’re working hard to update the mailing statements and distribute these to our Post Offices ahead of 1 August 2022. You can continue to use the current mailing statements for all other product types and services accepted via bulk mailing lodgement.

The updated mailing statements will have section 3 (International Parcels and International Express letters) removed to avoid any confusion.

You can continue to use the current mailing statements for all other product types and services accepted via bulk mailing lodgement past 1 August 2022. New stock will be issued with the updated mailing statement once current stock has been depleted.

You can also access the form (PDF 84kB) online.
 

Yes, you can pay for an International Parcel using postage stamps. You can complete the online customs declaration form before going to a Post Office and sending your item over the counter or a team member can enter the information and provide tracking information.

Like International Parcels, all International Express letters require customs data to be sent in the form of Electronic Advance Data (EAD) before an item can be sent overseas. To meet requirements enforced by various jurisdictions, International Express letters is part of this change.

Yes, you can continue to complete the handwritten customs declaration form, however you'll need to go into a Post Office to send your item over the counter. Our staff can capture and submit your information digitally.

To send your item using a non-digital method, you must lodge it at a Post Office. You cannot arrange for a pickup.

No. BML barcode stickers can no longer be used as the tracking numbers assigned at the point when the data is electronically captured are different from the barcoded numbers on the BML barcode sticker.