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How can I do customs transactions

You can see to almost all customs transactions using our e-services

If you cannot find any online service relevant to your topic, you can check this page for other ways of conducting your business. See instructions for transactions below.

If our e-services are unavailable due to a disruption, read the instructions for using a fallback procedure.

Export declarations should be submitted electronically. In certain cases, the declaration may also be lodged orally.

If the business submits an electronic export declaration as a message or as an identified declarant in the Export Declaration Service, the business only has to visit a customs office in exceptional circumstances.

Read more about lodging an export declaration. 

Oral declaration

 

An export declaration can be given orally instead of electronically in instances concerning:

  • an export consignment of a maximum value of 1 000 euros and a maximum net weight of 1 000 kilograms 
  • a consignment worth no more than 1 000 euros which is sent by post for final export and not under any export restrictions
  • a tax-free export consignment transported to a vessel in international traffic (ship supplies) worth a maximum of 1 000 euros and with a net weight of no more than 1 000 kilograms. 

An oral declaration can only be given at the last customs office before the goods exit the EU. A trade invoice must be presented to Finnish Customs as a supporting document to the oral declaration.

Read more about oral declaration.


Any possible separate T2L documents for proving the Union status of goods can be confirmed by any customs office. The business can also apply for authorised consignor status for T2L which gives the business the right to confirm T2L documents.

T2L documents on exiting goods

The Union status of the goods is mainly proved with a paper document, until the joint electronic system Proof of Union Status (PoUS) for establishing Union status is introduced within the EU.

The Union status may be proved, for example, with the following documents:

  • the T2L or T2LF document filled in on page 4 of the SAD form or
  • other document accepted in the Union customs legislation such as an invoice or shipping company’s goods manifest.

The document has to be confirmed by Customs. If a customs office does not provide customer service, you can book an appointment with the customs office for confirming your document. See the contact details of customs offices that provide customer service.

A Customs confirmation is not required when

  • the total value of Union goods on an invoice or transport document is no more than 15 000 euros 
  • the trader is authorised as an authorised issuer.

T2L documents on arriving goods

If Union good are not declared as Union goods with an entry summary declaration or a temporary storage declaration, a document or copy of a document proving Union status must be submitted to the temporary storage operator receiving the goods. The storage operator releases the goods in exchange for the document and removes the goods from temporary storage records. The temporary storage operator must add to their records the document that proves the Union status of the goods.

The following must be added to the document establishing Union status that is to be submitted to the temporary storage facility: the reference number (MRN) of the entry summary declaration submitted for the goods, as well as the goods items numbers or the temporary storage reference number (MRN), the reference of the house level transport document, and the goods item numbers.

After an arrival notification and presentation has been submitted, the storage operator must send to Customs the documents they have received proving the Union status.  Send the scanned documents as email attachments to Customs’ email address: unioniasema(at)tulli.fi. Documents covering, for example, one week can be sent at the same time, however, no more than for one calendar month. If goods are not unloaded in a temporary storage facility, the documents verifying Union status must be submitted to Customs within three days of presenting the goods.


Certificates of origin such as EUR.1 movement certificates and A.TR movement certificates can be confirmed at any customs office.

The exporter can apply for the authorised exporter status in accordance with the rules of origin. With the status, the exporter can draw up invoice declarations or declarations of origin regardless of value limits and confirm A.TR movement certificates.

An exporter who does not have the authorised exporter status can submit a standard-form invoice declaration or declaration of origin for consignments worth less than 6 000 euros.


A TIR transit procedure can be started in Finland at any customs office that provides customer service.

A Union transit procedure, i.e. a T1 or T2 transit, can be started at any customs office in Finland. In that case, the operation holder such as the storage operator is responsible for the transfer to the customs office. An authorised consignor can place the goods under the transit procedure without visiting a customs office.

Discharging the TIR transit

When discharging the TIR procedure, the goods, the vehicle and the transit documents have to be presented at a customs office providing customer service in order to obtain an unloading permission. A trader operating as an authorised consignee for the TIR procedure can present the goods to Customs electronically without visiting a customs office. After unloading, the TIR Carnet booklet must be presented to Customs for the TIR procedure to be discharged.

Discharging the T transit

If customs services are not provided at the intended destination of the goods, the unloading permission for the discharge of the T1 or T2 transit should be requested at a customs office with customer service located along the trader’s route. The unloading permission can also be issued by the customs office that released the goods for the transit procedure. In specific cases, the Customs Electronic Service Centre (SPAKE) can also issue the unloading permission. 

The unloading result must be given to a customs office in Finland no later than on the day after the unloading. More detailed instructions on discharging transit


Import declarations (also declarations submitted in advance) are submitted electronically either through the Customs Clearance Service or in message format.

A consignee who is authorised for customs clearance with an entry in the records (EIR authorisation) and who has authorised consignee status (ACE) can receive consignments under the T1 procedure.

Read more about submitting a customs declaration



You can also visit one of our customs offices. Some of the customs offices offer services only by prior appointment.