Declaring on behalf of another person

Here is how you authorise someone else to declare your parcel for you in the Import Declaration Service for private persons or in the Customs Clearance Service.

1. Log in to the Suomi.fi portal using Finnish online banking codes, a mobile certificate, a certificate card or the hightrust.id identification token.
2. Choose “Personal mandates”.
3. Choose “Grant mandates”.
4. Choose “Add a person” and enter the first name, the last name and a personal identity code of the authorised person.
5. In the search field search and choose “Customs clearance”.
6. Specify a period of validity for the mandate. You can reduce the five-year default period of validity if necessary.
7. Confirm that the details in the summary are correct.

A mandate provided by you enters into force immediately, and the person you have authorised can declare goods during the whole period of the validity of the mandate.

The person you authorise can make corrections to the customs clearance or reply to requests for additional information from Customs. They can also see the customs clearance decisions and release decisions for their completed customs clearances for 90 days in the Import Declaration Service for private persons. Documents will stored in the Customs Clearance Service for six months.

If for example a friend or a family member asks you to declare a parcel, you can declare it on behalf of the recipient (consignee) in the Import Declaration Service for private persons.

To declare a parcel on behalf of the recipient, you need to have

• a mandate, i.e. a permission to declare a parcel on behalf of the recipient (oral, written or Suomi.fi mandate)
• Finnish online banking ID codes, a mobile certificate, a certificate card or a hightrust.id identification app (one of these is needed for identification)
• an arrival notification for the parcel and information given on it
• information on the contents and value of the parcel
• name and address details of the recipient
• the personal identity code of the recipient, if he or she is Finnish and a date of birth of the recipient, if the recipient is of a different nationality. However, you will not need them if you have a Suomi.fi mandate.

Customs can also separately request written information on the contents and value of the parcel (for example, a receipt or an order confirmation). You should request this information from the recipient of the parcel.

Please note: You cannot use the Finnish Authenticator app for foreign citizens for logging in to the Import Declaration Service for private persons.

How do I obtain an authorisation, i.e. permission to declare on behalf of another person?

You have three alternatives to obtain an authorisation: orally, by a free-form document or in the Suomi.fi service.

How to declare on behalf of another person in the Import Declaration Service for private persons

When you declare on behalf of another person without a Suomi.fi mandate, or you declare a parcel on behalf of your underage child or a dependant

If you have not received a Suomi.fi mandate or you are declaring a parcel on behalf of your underage child or a dependant, choose “Myself” as the method of transaction (Whom are you acting on behalf of?).

On page 1 “Start page” select “Another person” as the consignee (recipient) of the consignment. After that fill in the details of the person on whose behalf you are acting. Write his or her name and select a nationality of the consignee. Enter his or her personal ID, or date of birth (dd.mm.yyyy) as well as the Finnish address of the foreign person. If the recipient of the parcel has a non-disclosure for personal safety, read the instructions for submitting an address in the Import Declaration Service for private persons while you are filling in the declaration.

On page 5 for contact information, provide an email address that Customs can contact if needed. If you have consented to electronic notifications when declaring your goods and you use Suomi.fi messages, you will be notified for example about requests for additional information or corrections by Suomi.fi message.

If you have consented to electronic notifications when declaring your goods, but you do not use Suomi.fi messages, we will send messages to the email address you provide.

Please note that on request, you must be able to prove to Customs that you have a permission to declare on behalf of another person.

When declaring goods on behalf of another person based on a Suomi.fi mandate

If you are declaring a consignment in the Import Declaration Service for private persons on behalf of another person using a Suomi.fi mandate, select (Whom are you acting on behalf of?) “On behalf of another person based on Suomi.fi mandates”. Then select a person on whose behalf you are declaring a consignment. 
On page 1 “Start page” enter the details of the consignee.
On page 5 for contact information, provide an email address that Customs can contact if needed.

Who is responsible if I am declaring a parcel on behalf of another person?

The person on whose behalf you are declaring goods is responsible for paying the customs duties and taxes, as well as for paying any charges that may be payable retrospectively due to errors.

If you are aware or you should have been aware of the incorrectness of information provided in your declaration, it means that you are also responsible. You are responsible for

• providing complete and accurate information in your declaration
• providing authentic attachments to your declaration that contain correct information.

You should therefore ask the person on whose behalf you are declaring goods to provide correct, sufficient and authentic information and documentation.

Transport operator delivers a parcel to a recipient provided by the sender

Even if you declare the consignment on behalf of someone, Posti will deliver the postal consignment to the recipient stated on the consignment or to a pick-up point. Other transport companies deliver the consignments to the recipient as agreed. Customs can’t change the delivery address of the parcel. If you want to change the delivery address of the parcel, contact the transport company.

Go to Import Declaration Service for private persons

You can ask another person to declare a parcel on your behalf in the Import Declaration Service for private persons. Such a person may be e.g. a family member, friend, colleague or fellow student. The person declaring the parcel on your behalf must be able to use his or her personal identification details when logging in to the electronic service.

The other person may declare a parcel on your behalf in the Import Declaration Service for private persons, provided that he or she has

• a mandate, i.e. a permission to declare a parcel on your behalf (oral, written or Suomi.fi mandate)
• Finnish online banking ID codes, a mobile certificate, a certificate card or a hightrust.id identification app (one of these is needed for identification)
• an arrival notification for the parcel and information given on it
• information on the contents and value of the parcel
• your name and address
• your personal identity code, if you are Finnish or your date of birth, if you are of a different nationality. However, the declarant does not need them if you have authorised them in the Suomi.fi portal.

Customs can also separately request written information on the contents and value of the parcel (for example, a receipt or an order confirmation). You should pass this information on to the person who declares on your behalf.

Please note: The declarant of the parcel cannot use the Finnish Authenticator app for foreign citizens to provide identification details when logging in to the Import Declaration Service.

How can I authorise another person to declare a parcel on my behalf?

You have three alternatives for authorising, i.e. giving another person permission to declare on your behalf: orally, by a free-form document or in the service Suomi.fi. Read about how to authorise another person in the Suomi.fi portal.

Who is responsible if another person is declaring a parcel on my behalf?

You are personally responsible for paying the customs duties and taxes, as well as for paying any charges that may be payable retrospectively due to errors.

If another person who declares your goods on your behalf is aware or should have been aware that information provided in the declaration is incorrect, that person is responsible too. The person declaring goods on your behalf is also responsible for

• providing complete and accurate information in your declaration
• providing authentic attachments to your declaration that contain correct information.

You should therefore provide the person who declares goods on your behalf with correct, sufficient and authentic information and documentation.

Transport operator delivers a parcel to a recipient provided by the sender

Even if a consignment is declared by somebody else, Posti will deliver the postal consignment to the recipient stated on the consignment or to a pick-up point. Other transport companies deliver the consignments to the recipient as agreed. Customs can’t change the delivery address of the parcel. If you want to change the delivery address of the parcel, contact the transport company.

How am I notified of declarations submitted on my behalf?

Note that when another person declares goods on your behalf, Customs will send messages relating to the customs clearance, such as requests for additional information, to that person.

If another person is declaring goods on your behalf, they are responsible for informing you about the declarations that they have submitted on your behalf. Ask the party that has declared the goods on your behalf for the declaration reference, i.e. the MRN or documentation. After that, you can check your declaration details in the Customs Clearance Service.

If you do not receive the MRN of your declaration from the person who declared goods on your behalf, contact the Customs Information Service for the MRN.

Go to Import Declaration Service for private persons