Bookairfreight: International Freight Shipping Documents

Just like you need to have a boarding pass, passport or visa to board an airplane, similar documents will be required for shipping cargo. We compiled all of these together for you in one place!

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Here's Everything You'll Need

✊Must-Have Documents

Commercial Invoice

A legal document describing the entire export transaction and shipping terms - the prices, value of the goods, payment terms, and total invoice value.

Packing List

An itemized list containing product details, as well as the weight dimensions in kilograms (KG) or cubic meters (CBM).

🚢Ocean Freight

Fumigation Certificate (if applicable)

Also known as pest-control certification, this document confirms that any wooden packing materials used in shipping, such as pallets, have been fumigated.

Certificate of Origin

A Certificate of Origin contains information on where the export shipment was manufactured or processed.

Shipper’s Letter of Instruction

An SLI is a note from the exporter to the freight forwarder containing information about how and where the shipment is going.

Bill of Lading

Also commonly referred to as BOL or B/L, it’s a negotiable contract of carriage that states the carrier has received the goods for the shipment.

Customs Bond Application Form (US only)

A Customs Bond acts as contract between the importer, Customs, and a third party and aims to ensure that all duties are paid to Customs.

🛫Air Freight

Power of Attorney (more commonly used in US)

Power of Attorney is a legal document that allows for the transfer of certain powers, such as decision making, to another party.

Certificate of Origin

A Certificate of Origin contains information on where the export shipment was manufactured or processed.

Shipper’s Letter of Instruction

An SLI is a note from the exporter to the freight forwarder containing information about how and where the shipment is going.

Air Waybill (AWB)

AWB is the final receipt issued by the air cargo carrier for a shipment, and contains all the important information related to the shipment.

Customs Bond Application Form (US only)

A Customs Bond acts as contract between the importer, Customs, and a third party and aims to ensure that all duties are paid to Customs.

🎮Electronic Products

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

The MSDS is a document which contains information about the hazardous materials in a shipment. It also contains the UN Number – a four-digit number used in identifying dangerous goods.

Dangerous Good Note

Also referred to as Dangerous Goods Declaration (DGD), a document that outlines what the dangers of the transported goods are, how to best handle and transport the goods, especially so in the case of an emergency.

Battery Products UN Label

Battery Products UN Labels are required on all packages carrying lithium batteries that are being shipped via air, due to the designated Dangerous Goods status of these products.