Customs Guides
How to Prepare a Packing List and Commercial Invoice
Invoice and packing list must match piece count and weight before cargo leaves Dubai. WhatsApp drafts to +971 54 706 0040.
This is a document template guide. For us to file the declaration, open customs clearance in Dubai. For a specific country, use that route page.
Two papers stop most shipments: a commercial invoice and a packing list. If they disagree, brokers ask questions and cargo sits.
Commercial invoice fields
Seller and buyer legal names, addresses, invoice number and date, currency, unit prices, totals, Incoterm, and a description a customs officer can classify. Add HS codes when you know them.
Packing list fields
Package marks, piece count, net and gross weight, dimensions or CBM, and the same descriptions as the invoice. Number cartons the same way they are labelled on the pallet.
What to attach
Certificate of origin when the destination asks. Health or NTRA papers for food and phones. Consignee ID for personal cargo. Do not invent values — undervaluation delays more than it saves.
Before cargo leaves Dubai
Elite Cargo checks that invoice, packing list, and AWB or B/L tell the same story. We will not book restricted goods without the right licence.
WhatsApp +971 54 706 0040 with draft invoice and packing list photos. We correct gaps before pickup.
Related services and routes
Frequently Asked Questions
Must the packing list match the invoice?
Yes. Piece count, weights, and descriptions must match. A mismatch is a common hold in Egypt, Jordan, and Algeria.
Can I use a proforma invoice for export?
A proforma is for quoting. Export and import clearance usually need a final commercial invoice with values and currency.
Do I need HS codes on the invoice?
Recommended. HS codes speed duty assessment and reduce queries. We confirm codes when we file Dubai declarations.
What language should destination invoices use?
English works for most UAE files. Algeria often wants French or Arabic. Egypt accepts English with a clear Arabic consignee.