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Import Documentation | Freight-Academy™

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GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 24, 2026

Import Documentation

Customs brokers and freight forwarders are responsible for assembling and reviewing the import documentation package before a shipment is presented for clearance – incomplete paperwork means the goods will not move.

Quick Answer

Customs brokers and freight forwarders are responsible for assembling and reviewing the import documentation package before a shipment is presented for clearance – incomplete paperwork means the…

The standard set comprises the commercial invoice, packing list, transport document (bill of lading, air waybill, or CMR consignment note), and a certificate of origin.

Depending on the commodity, further documents may be required: veterinary or phytosanitary certificates, declarations of conformity, or import licences.

Last updated: 24 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://www.tradeready.ca/2015/global-business/import-documentation/

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Import Documentation

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Definition & Explanation

Customs brokers and freight forwarders are responsible for assembling and reviewing the import documentation package before a shipment is presented for clearance – incomplete paperwork means the goods will not move. The standard set comprises the commercial invoice, packing list, transport document (bill of lading, air waybill, or CMR consignment note), and a certificate of origin. Depending on the commodity, further documents may be required: veterinary or phytosanitary certificates, declarations of conformity, or import licences. The import declaration is prepared on the basis of these records and must be consistent with each one of them. Discrepancies – for instance, differing quantities between the invoice and the packing list – rank among the most common triggers for customs examinations and port holds, which is why seasoned forwarders carry out a full document check at origin before the shipment departs.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Import Documentation (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/import-documentation), accessed 2026-09-12
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). Import Documentation. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/import-documentation
BibTeX: @misc{importdocumentation2025, title = {Import Documentation}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/import-documentation}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-12} }

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