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Declaring a gift at a customs office or with a form

You can usually declare the gift in the Import Declaration Service for private persons. In some cases, you may have to declare the gift for example at a customs office or with a form.

If you cannot declare a gift in the Import Declaration Service for private persons, buy the clearance service from Posti or some other transport company, or declare you gift at a customs office or with a form. Read about which gifts cannot be declared in the Import Declaration Service for private persons.

Buying the clearance service from Posti or some other transport company is quicker than declaring at a customs office or with a form. Please note that clearing goods through customs with a form, takes considerably longer than the other ways of declaring.

Declaring a gift at a customs office

You can declare a gift from a private individual on weekdays 8–16.15 at a customs office that offers customer service. Read what kind of item is a gift. Check the contact information for customs offices and, if needed, ask if you can declare a gift there:

Please bring the following documents:

  • driver’s licence, passport or ID card
  • notice of arrival of a gift consignment
  • a written account of the contents of the gift and its value (e.g. a receipt or free form account from the sender).

At the customs office, you may be asked to fill in a customs form (1143e)

Declaring a gift with a form

If you receive a notification in the Import Declaration Service for private persons, saying that you cannot declare the gift in the service, you can declare it by sending a form (1143e) to Customs. Check the instructions on how to fill in the form (1143e).

Send the form to Customs 

  • primarily by email to the address mentioned in the form. To send the form, use the secure mail service.
  • alternatively, you can send the form to the following address: Airport Customs/Declaring with a form, PO Box 512, FI-00101 Helsinki. 

Enclose the following documents:

  • notice of arrival of a gift consignment
  • a written account of the contents of the consignment and its value (e.g. a receipt or free form account from the sender).

If you cannot send the form by email or post, you can bring in the form to a customs office.

Customs aims to reply within one working day. Please note that you may receive a request for additional information regarding the declaration.

Handling fee to Posti or decision on release to some other transport company 

If the gift is delivered by Posti and if you paid import duties or taxes in connection with the declaration, you must also pay Posti’s handling fee. If you didn’t pay any import duties or taxes in connection with the declaration, you don’t need to pay Posti’s handling fee.

If the gift is delivered by some other transport company, check the notice of arrival to see if the transport company requires the decision on release.


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Any questions?

Contact Customs Information Mon–Fri 8 am–4.15 pm

Please have a look at the frequently asked questions.

If you have a question about the arrival of parcels, its contents or the handling fee, please contact Posti.

Customs Information Service