The ABC of import
Imported goods must be declared before you can start using them or resell them Customs duties, taxes and other charges will be levied on the goods.
Read about the basics of import on this page if
- you import goods from outside the customs and fiscal territory of the EU (e.g. from the USA)
- you import goods from outside the fiscal territory of the EU (e.g. from the Åland Islands or from the Canary Islands).
A. Prepare for import
Find out the commodity code of the goods before ordering the goods. The customs code indicates what charges must be paid for the goods, whether they are subject to import restrictions and whether you need an import licence.
Goods imported from outside the EU are usually subject to customs duty and VAT. Other customs duties, such as anti-dumping duties, may also have to be paid. Reduced customs duty rates may be granted e.g. based on the origin of the goods. The country of dispatch also affects the import costs.
Check the customs duties and taxes and how to estimate them in advance.
You need a licence for importing certain goods, and the import of certain goods is entirely prohibited. Find out from which authority you can apply for an import licence before importing the goods.
Check whether your import goods are subject to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
You can handle the customs transactions yourself. However, many companies use the services of a forwarding agency or another representative to facilitate the customs transactions.
If you use a representative, remember to authorise representative to act on your behalf. Even if the representative submits a declaration on your behalf, you are nevertheless responsible for submitting the declaration.
You can submit an import declaration in Customs’ free-of-charge online service, the Customs Clearance Service.
If your company submits a large number of import declarations, message exchange could be an alternative transaction channel. Message exchange requires investments by the company, an authorisation granted by Customs and system testing.
Obtain a business identifier, an EORI number, for your company from Customs. Your company must have a valid EORI number in order to submit customs declarations. EORI number.
Your company must grant employees a mandate to submit customs declarations. If you use a representative, the representative must also be granted a mandate.
If your company regularly imports goods to Finland, you should apply for authorisations from Customs to facilitate the import transactions.
As the importer, you need to make sure that the imported products are safe and that their packages are appropriately labelled. For example, if cosmetic products have insufficient package labels.
You can contact the market surveillance authority to check that the products are in compliance with the requirements.
If you do not want to or cannot declare the goods as soon as they arrive in Finland, you can store the goods in a warehouse or another location approved by Customs.
You can transport goods under the transit procedure within or through the territory of the EU without having to pay customs duty or tax.
You can buy both services e.g. from a forwarding agency.
B. The goods arrive in Finland
When goods are imported from outside the EU, they must be presented to Customs. If a carrier transports the goods on your behalf, it will present the goods in connection with border crossing.
Certain goods, such as live animals, can only be imported to Finland through certain border crossing points.
Customs supervises imports of some of foodstuffs and consumer goods. You can make an advance inquiry, that is, ask Customs in advance whether samples will be taken of the consignment. In this way you can speed up the movement of your consignment.
An advance notification must be submitted for certain goods.
Customs can, if necessary
- examine goods, packaging materials and markings
- request to see documents
- inspect means of transport
- take samples of foodstuffs to be analysed at the Customs Laboratory.
Some of the examinations by Customs are subject to a charge, e.g. examining a sample at the Customs Laboratory.
C. Submit the customs declaration and pay the customs invoice
Once the warehouse keeper or the carrier has notified you of the arrival of the goods or given you the MRN of the previous document, you can submit the customs declaration for the goods in the Customs Clearance Service. The goods are placed under a customs procedure with the customs declaration. The most common import customs procedure is release for free circulation
If you use a representative, the representative will submit the customs declaration on your behalf.
If you have a comprehensive guarantee authorisation and a payment deferment authorisation, you will receive a decision on release, a customs clearance decision and a customs invoice from Customs when the customs declaration has been processed. You will receive the goods against the decision on release before paying the customs invoice.
If you do not have a comprehensive guarantee authorisation and a payment deferment authorisation, that is, if you are a so-called cash customer, you will receive a customs clearance decision and a customs invoice. When you pay the customs invoice in the Customs Clearance Service, you will receive a decision on release, after which the goods will be released to you.
If your company is registered for VAT, you must file the VAT on your imports in the Finnish Tax Administration’s MyTax service. In other cases, the VAT is paid with the customs invoice.
D. After submitting the customs declaration
If you notice an error in a customs declaration for which there is already a customs clearance decision, you can request administrative review (amendment) or invalidation from Customs by submitting a request for administrative review (amendment).
You must archive all the original documents relating to customs clearance, such as invoices, transport documents and certificates of origin. Customs can carry out post-clearance audits of companies, where it examines customs documents and records.