The document is to be prepared when the exporter is ready to ship the goods. When is a Commercial Invoice required?Ī commercial invoice is required for any international shipment which carries a commercial value to fulfil all regulations under the export/import country’s customs regulation. So, if an exporter ships airfreight via FedEx or DHL, they must provide a FedEx commercial invoice or a DHL commercial invoice. It is mandatory for all sea freight, air freight and incoterms shipments. Why is a Commercial Invoice important?Ī commercial invoice is prepared with information regarding the shipment to the buyer, freight forwarder, customs broker, C & F agent, and bank. The buyer/importer can then use this invoice – and other shipping documents – to clear the shipment at customs in the country of export and import. It is a record that notifies the authorities that the invoice displayed is accurate and duly signed, offering parties with reliable terms. International trade is a very labourous and tiresome process and the commercial invoice along with the proforma invoice are some of the most important documents to establish the authenticity of an export transaction. It is issued by the seller after loading or after delivery and contains the exact quantities of the goods being shipped. A commercial invoice or a CI, is a document required by the customs department in international trade transactions as proof of sale of the given products between the buyer and the seller.

Commercial invoice template