Customs 101: Shipping Internationally with Shippy

Your first international order brings a few new questions: What goes on the customs form? Who pays the duties? What does EEL/PFC mean? You can work through those questions one field at a time, without learning every shipping term before you start.

Shippy by Dijy, the native HubSpot shipping label app, keeps the international shipping process inside your CRM. You'll start with addresses and packages, complete a customs declaration, then choose your service and generate the label. Here's what to prepare and what each step means.

Check Your Destination Before You Start

Shippy supports shipping to select countries worldwide. Before promising a delivery, check the supported countries list. That gives you a clear starting point before you begin creating the shipment.

If your destination is missing, ask Dijy to add it. Send the team the destination you need so we can help with the next step. You don't need to guess whether an unlisted destination will work.

Start With Addresses and Package Details

International shipment creation starts with the sender's address, the recipient's address, and your packages. Open the Shippy card on your HubSpot record and follow the shipment creation flow. Review any recipient information pulled from the record rather than assuming it's complete.

The sender is where the package leaves from; the recipient is where it needs to arrive. If an address doesn't populate, use the address search or enter it manually. Confirm the street, unit number, city, region, postal code, and country with your recipient.

Next, add your package dimensions and weight. You can reuse package presets for familiar boxes or enter custom measurements. Once your addresses and packages are ready, Shippy takes you to the Customs page.

Choose Your Contents Type and Who Pays

The contents type tells customs what kind of shipment you're sending. Shippy includes options such as Merchandise, Documents, Gifts, and more. Choose the category that accurately describes the shipment, rather than selecting one because it sounds simpler.

A customer purchase belongs in the appropriate sales category, while paperwork and genuine gifts serve different purposes. Keep your choice consistent with what you're sending and the item details you'll enter later.

The Incoterm explains who is responsible for duties and taxes. For this step, focus on a practical question: will your business pay those charges, or will your customer? Confirm the arrangement before choosing the term, so the customer understands their responsibility before the package arrives.

Understand the EEL/PFC Export Information Field

EEL/PFC is the field for export filing information or the applicable exemption or exclusion statement. EEL means Exemption and Exclusion Legend. PFC means Proof of Filing Citation, which identifies an export filing that has been completed.

For exports from the United States, pay particular attention when values exceed $2,500. The low-value exemption applies per Schedule B classification, the code used to group products for U.S. export reporting, rather than simply to the total package value. Other filing requirements and exemptions also apply.

Use the U.S. Census Bureau's export annotation guidance to understand the correct citation or legend. Don't guess at an exemption or treat entering this field as completing an export filing. Confirm what your shipment requires before you proceed.

Certify Your Customs Information

Shippy asks you to certify that the customs information you've provided is accurate. Select the certification checkbox after reviewing your entries, then enter the full name of the person certifying the declaration.

That name serves as the signature on the shipment declaration. Use the certifying person's full name, not a department label or a casual placeholder. This is the point to pause and resolve any details your team hasn't confirmed.

Add the Details for Every Product

Shippy collects item details for each product in your shipment. Have the following information ready so you can complete the customs form without stopping to find missing product data:

• Description: Clearly identify the product, rather than using a vague label such as “items.”
• Quantity: Enter how many units you're shipping.
• Weight: Provide the weight for the item entry.
• Value in USD: Enter the product's accurate value in U.S. dollars.
• HS tariff number: Provide the customs classification code for the product.
• Origin country: Identify where the product originated.
• SKU: Enter the product code or stock-keeping identifier.

If the package contains multiple products, select Add Item and repeat the details for each one. Don't replace the item list with a single general description of the box.

Review Your Shipment and Follow Its Progress

After customs, choose your international carrier service, review the shipment details, and generate the label. Compare available services by price or delivery time, then check your addresses, packages, and customs entries before finalizing.

When your selected carrier and service provide tracking, Shippy displays the tracking details and URL on the Shippy | View Packages card and the associated Order record. Your team can follow shipment progress inside HubSpot and share the tracking information with your recipient.

For repeat shipping, Shippy's workflow actions can auto-create international shipments with customs details. Configure the shipment, certification, signer, and item fields, then test the process before relying on automation. Automation reuses your inputs; it doesn't replace checking them.

Avoid Preventable Returns and Extra Fees

An incorrect address or incomplete customs documentation can lead to a return to sender. The carrier can also apply a return shipping fee, adding another cost after the original shipment.

Give your first shipment a careful review. Confirm the address with your customer, describe each product clearly, and resolve missing customs information before generating the label. Those checks help you address preventable problems before the package leaves.

Prepare Your First International Shipment With Shippy

Shippy brings the customs form and label creation into HubSpot, alongside the customer record you're already using. Start with a supported destination and complete each field with information you've checked.

This article is general information, not legal or customs advice. Consult a customs broker or qualified trade professional for advice about your shipment.

Ready to prepare your first cross-border shipment? Follow our Getting Started guide to install Shippy by Dijy and set up shipping inside HubSpot. We're here to help with Shippy questions along the way. Happy shipping!