A customs hold is usually routine. Most items clear within 1-3 business days; holds that last longer normally mean customs is waiting for documents, payment or a declaration, not that the parcel was seized. Respond to any notice promptly and pay assessed duty to avoid storage fees or return.
Export customs and import customs are not the same thing
This single distinction resolves most confusion, because a tracking record may mention customs twice on one journey:
| Stage | Status wording | What is happening |
|---|---|---|
| Export (China) | “Held for export customs inspection” | Chinese customs is checking the item before it leaves China |
| Import (destination) | “Retained by customs”, “Presented to customs”, “Waiting for customs declaration” | The destination country is assessing the item, and may charge duty |
An export hold is a pre-departure check. An import hold is where money and paperwork usually appear. If your parcel has just left China, an import hold is still days away.
What the data shows
Customs was the fifth-largest topic in our analysis of 50,037 real China Post enquiries – 3,495 cases (7.0%). It ranked below “tracking not updating” (26.5%) and “delivered but not received” (16.7%), but it produced the longest average wait before people asked for help.
Destination countries raising customs questions most:
| Country | Mentions |
|---|---|
| United States | 287 |
| United Kingdom | 230 |
| Australia | 118 |
| Canada | 104 |
| Japan | 62 |
| France | 49 |
Chinese hubs named most often in customs-related records:
| Hub | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Guangzhou | 1,004 |
| Beijing | 459 |
| Shenzhen | 415 |
| Shanghai | 300 |
| Zhengzhou | 106 |
Guangzhou appearing three times more often than any other hub reflects its role as China’s largest southern export gateway – not a higher failure rate.
The words that dominate these enquiries are revealing: customs (5,123), stuck (1,525), held (1,182) and returned (625). “Returned” appearing 625 times shows that a meaningful share of holds end in return to sender – almost always because a notice went unanswered.
Reading this table correctly: the duration depends less on the parcel than on what customs is waiting for. A routine inspection resolves itself; a duty assessment resolves when someone pays; a document request resolves when someone replies. If a hold has lasted longer than the row suggests, it almost always means the next action belongs to a human – the recipient or the sender.
A signal worth watching: if tracking shifts to “returned to sender” after a hold, a notice was usually missed past its deadline. Acting within the first few days of any customs notice is the single most effective thing you can do.
Why a parcel gets held
- Routine inspection. Random or risk-based selection. Nothing is wrong; it just takes time.
- Duty or tax assessment. The destination country has decided the item is liable for duty, and will not release it until payment.
- Missing or unclear documents. An invoice, order confirmation or declaration is required before assessment can proceed.
- Vague declarations. “Gift” or “sample” with a low declared value is a classic trigger for closer inspection.
- Restricted or prohibited contents. Batteries, liquids, cosmetics, food or medicines may need permits – or may simply be refused.
- Import restrictions on the destination side. Many countries restrict specific categories (meat, dairy, seeds, plant material) regardless of the declared value.
How long should clearance take?
| Situation | Typical duration |
|---|---|
| Routine inspection | 1-3 business days |
| Awaiting documents | Until you respond |
| Awaiting duty payment | 1-2 days after payment |
| Restricted contents review | 1-4 weeks |
| Unclaimed item | Storage fees, then return after 7-30 days |
Duty, tax and the low-value threshold
Most countries apply duty and VAT/GST above a low-value threshold (often called the de minimis). Below it, imports are usually exempt; above it, the recipient normally pays.
Important 2025 change: the United States suspended its well-known $800 duty-free de minimis treatment – first for Chinese products, then for all countries from 29 August 2025. Low-value postal imports into the US are now subject to duty, assessed either as a percentage of value or as a fixed per-item amount.
Thresholds elsewhere differ widely and change frequently. Always check the destination customs authority’s current guidance before shipping rather than relying on older figures.
Who pays? Unless the sender ships DDP (duty paid by sender), the recipient pays duty and any clearance fee, usually collected by the post office or carrier before delivery.
Documents customs commonly asks for
- Commercial invoice or order confirmation
- Proof of payment (bank or card statement)
- A declaration stating contents and value
- Product specification or safety certificate (electronics, cosmetics, food)
- Import permit or licence (restricted categories)
- Proof of identity of the recipient (some countries)
Keep digital copies ready before you ship. When a notice arrives, speed matters more than completeness – most authorities accept partial documents and request the rest, but they will not wait indefinitely.
Seven steps to get a held parcel released
- Read the exact status. “Held for export inspection” and “retained by import customs” need different responses.
- Wait briefly for routine inspection. Allow 1-3 business days before assuming a problem.
- Watch for a notice. Customs and postal operators send letters, emails or SMS. Check spam folders – a missed notice is the main cause of returns.
- Supply documents promptly. Usually a commercial invoice, order confirmation or proof of value. Delays cost days.
- Pay the duty. Clearance is typically released on payment. Storage fees accrue if you wait.
- Contact the right party. After 5-7 days with no notice, contact the destination postal operator or customs with the tracking number.
- Act before the deadline. Unclaimed items are returned after a holding period – and the 625 “returned” mentions in our data show how often that happens.
How to reduce the chance of a hold next time
- Describe contents specifically. “Cotton T-shirt, 2 pieces” clears faster than “clothing” or “gift”.
- Declare an honest value. An implausibly low figure on a branded item is an invitation to inspect.
- Ship DDP if the buyer expects no fees. Ambiguity about who pays is the most common cause of abandoned parcels.
- Avoid mixed parcels. Combining unrelated categories in one box increases scrutiny.
- Check the destination’s restricted list before posting, not after a hold.
- Keep the invoice in the box, not only in your email.
DDP vs DDU: who pays the duty?
| Term | Who pays duty | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) | Sender | You want a frictionless delivery and will absorb the cost |
| DDU / DAP (duty unpaid) | Recipient | Most postal shipments by default |
If a seller promises “no customs fees”, confirm whether they ship DDP in writing. Under DDU, the recipient is legally liable regardless of what the listing said.
FAQ
Is my parcel seized if it is held at customs?
Almost never. “Held” or “retained” means it is awaiting inspection, documents or payment. Seizure is a separate action and is normally notified formally.
How long can customs hold a parcel before returning it?
Typically 7-30 days after notice, depending on the country. This is why responding to notices matters more than anything else.
Can the sender pay the customs fee instead of me?
Yes, if they ship DDP – but for an existing DDU shipment, the recipient usually has to pay and recover the cost from the seller separately.
Why is customs holding a low-value parcel?
Value is only one trigger. Contents, declaration wording, destination restrictions and random selection all cause holds.
Does using EMS avoid customs?
No. The service level does not change duty liability. EMS may clear faster operationally, but the same rules apply.
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