# Customs clearance certificate

*Last updated: 2026-06-22*

> When a customs authority accepts a shipment declaration and all applicable duties have been settled, it issues the customs clearance certificate as formal confirmation that every regulatory formality is complete.

When a customs authority accepts a shipment declaration and all applicable duties have been settled, it issues the customs clearance certificate as formal confirmation that every regulatory formality is complete. The document serves the consignee as an accounting record, a compliance proof towards trading partners, and often as a prerequisite for downstream processes such as import VAT recovery. Its exact form depends on the applicable procedure—free circulation, transit, or temporary admission—and on whether the national system is paper-based or fully electronic. In EU member states, the electronic release notification generated within systems such as ATLAS or national import-control portals fulfils this role. It should not be confused with a certificate of origin or a customs valuation decision, both of which serve entirely distinct purposes.

**Source:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customs_clearance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customs_clearance)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Customs clearance certificate |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 124 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-22 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customs_clearance |

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