Export declaration for private individuals

When you send or bring goods outside the EU or to the EU territory but outside its fiscal territory, in certain situations you need to make an export declaration.

An export declarations is required for example when

  • you return goods to the seller, i.e. you cancel the purchase 
  • you send goods for repair, replacement or maintenance
  • you move abroad
  • you’re carrying goods owned by a business in your luggage
  • you’re sending or exporting goods from the Åland Islands to some other country than Finland.

Make the export declaration while the goods are still in Finland and can be inspected by Customs.

Submit the export declaration in the Customs Clearance Service. You can also authorise another person to submit the export declaration on your behalf or buy the service from a forwarding company.

First, make sure that you have the commodity code at a level of eight digits for the goods. If needed, ask for the commodity code from the Customer service for individuals or search for it in the Fintaric Service.

Log in to the Customs Clearance Service using Finnish online banking codes, a mobile certificate, a certificate card or the new identification token hightrust.id. Select “Export” and then “Original declaration”.

Ensure the correct procedure

Make sure that you are using the correct procedure. The selected procedure may affect whether customs duty and VAT must be paid if the goods return to Finland.

Select the procedure as follows:

  • Select procedure “10 – Final export”, if the goods are not intended to be re-imported. Use this procedure, e.g. when you return goods to an online store or if you move outside the EU or the fiscal territory of the EU.
  • Select procedure “23 ‒ Temporary export for return in the unaltered state”, if you send goods e.g. to an exhibition or a trade fair and the goods return to Finland in an unaltered state.
  • If you send the goods for maintenance, repair or some other form of processing, ensure the correct procedure. For example, the commodity code affects whether to use procedure “21 ‒ Outward processing” or 22 ‒ Temporary export other than…”.

Advice on declarations for private individuals helps you to select the correct procedure as well as to fill in the customs declaration. Furthermore, the Customs Clearance Service has instructions on how to fill in the different fields. Instructions are also available in the top right-hand corner of the page.

Go to the Customs Clearance Service

When Customs has accepted the export declaration, you receive a decision on release. Only then can you send the parcel.

If Posti or some other transport company transports the goods, print out the decision on release and attach it to the parcel so that the barcode is shown. If needed, ask the transport company for detailed information.

When Customs has accepted the export declaration, you receive a decision on release. Only then can you proceed with taking the goods abroad.

If you are travelling and you have an export declaration for the goods you have with you, present the export declaration, i.e. the decision on release or the MRN of the export declaration before you leave the EU territory or the EU fiscal territory. Present the export declaration to Customs in Finland, and abroad to the customs authority at the EU border customs office.

I am travelling by air

If you are travelling from Helsinki-Vantaa airport, present the export declaration at a Customs’ service point. Customs service points are located in the arrival hall before the security control, and after the security control at gate 29. The service points are open 24 hours a day.

If you are travelling from an airport other than Helsinki Airport, email the export declaration to spake.vienti(at)tulli.fi for exit confirmation. Attach to the email the decision on release and the MRN of the export declaration as well as a copy of the travel ticket.

When the export declaration has been presented to Customs, you will receive a decision on release with confirmation of exit as proof of the export of the goods outside the EU or the EU fiscal territory.

I am travelling in some other way

If you, for example, travel with your own car, present the export declaration to the customs authority at the border customs office before leaving the EU or the EU fiscal territory.

After this, you will receive from Finnish Customs a decision on release with confirmation of exit as proof of the export of the goods outside the EU or the EU fiscal territory.

I am exporting goods temporarily for an exhibition or a trade fair

If you are bringing goods with you temporarily, e.g. to an exhibition or a trade fair, make an export declaration for the goods before travelling. The export declaration is usually made in the Customs Clearance Service.

Save the decision on release with certification of exit or the MRN of the export declaration

When the goods have left the EU or the EU fiscal territory, you will receive the document “Decision on release with certification of exit” in the Customs Clearance Service. Save the decision and the MRN of the export declaration. With the decision or the MRN, you can prove if needed that the goods have been exported from Finland to the EU or outside the EU fiscal territory, or from Åland to some other country than Finland.

If the carrier has made the export declaration on your behalf, ask them for the decision on release with certification of exit or the MRN of the export declaration.