Essential Import Documents: Your Checklist for Shipping from China to the UK

Missing or inconsistent paperwork is the single most common cause of customs delays on China-to-UK shipments. Here is the complete checklist of documents you need, what each one actually does, and the mismatches that most often trip up first-time importers.

TL;DR

• Six documents cover nearly every China-to-UK shipment: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading/air waybill, certificate of origin, your EORI number, and any product-specific certification.
• Every figure across your invoice, packing list, and bill of lading must match exactly — inconsistencies are the most common cause of customs delays.
• Product-specific certificates (UKCA marking, safety certifications) apply to specific categories, not all goods — check your product type before assuming you’re exempt.
• Your EORI number must be obtained before your first shipment arrives, not after.

Document	Who provides it	Needed for
Commercial invoice	Your Chinese supplier	Customs value assessment
Packing list	Your Chinese supplier	Verifying shipment contents
Bill of lading / air waybill	Carrier or forwarder	Claiming cargo at destination
EORI number	You (via gov.uk)	Any UK commercial import

The Core Document Checklist

Commercial Invoice

Issued by your Chinese supplier, this states the goods description, quantity, unit price, total value, and Incoterm (e.g. FOB, DDP). It’s the primary document HMRC uses to assess customs value.

Packing List

Details how the shipment is physically packed — carton count, weight, and dimensions per package. Customs uses this alongside the commercial invoice to verify what’s actually in the shipment.

Bill of Lading (sea) or Air Waybill (air)

The contract of carriage issued by the shipping line or airline, and proof that the carrier has received your goods for transport. You need this to claim your cargo at destination.

Certificate of Origin

Confirms the country where your goods were manufactured, which can affect duty rates and is sometimes required for specific product categories or trade agreement eligibility.

EORI Number

Your Economic Operator Registration and Identification number, required for all UK commercial imports. Apply via gov.uk before your first shipment — it typically takes a few days to process.

Product-Specific Certification

Applies to specific categories only — for example, UKCA marking for electronics and machinery sold in Great Britain, or specific safety certifications for children’s products, cosmetics, and food-contact materials.

Why Document Consistency Matters More Than Completeness

Having all six documents doesn’t help if the numbers don’t match across them. HMRC cross-references your commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading — a mismatch in quantity, weight, or value between documents is one of the most common triggers for a customs hold, even when every individual document is otherwise correctly filled out.

Common Mistake

Requesting a revised commercial invoice from your supplier after the packing list has already been finalised, without updating the packing list to match. Even a small discrepancy — a quantity off by a few units, or a rounding difference in declared value — can flag your shipment for a documentary review.

Documents Your Freight Forwarder Typically Handles

You don’t need to manage every document yourself. Your forwarder or customs broker will typically prepare:

• The customs declaration itself, filed through the Customs Declaration Service using your commercial invoice and packing list
• Any Import Security Filing equivalent documentation required for your specific carrier/route
• Duty and VAT calculation and payment coordination

What you or your supplier remain responsible for is ensuring the underlying commercial invoice, packing list, and any product certifications are accurate and consistent — your forwarder can’t correct information you or your supplier provided incorrectly.

Pro Tip

Ask your supplier to send you the commercial invoice and packing list before the goods ship, not after. Reviewing both against your original purchase order gives you a chance to catch discrepancies while they’re still easy to fix, rather than after your cargo is already at sea.

Do You Need an Import Licence?

Most general commercial goods don’t require a specific import licence into the UK. However, certain categories — including some food products, chemicals, and controlled goods — do require additional licensing or notification beyond the standard document set. Check your specific product category against gov.uk’s import controls guidance, or ask your forwarder directly whether your goods fall into a regulated category.

Good to Know

If you’re unsure whether your product needs a specific licence or certification, ask before your first order ships — not after your cargo has already arrived at a UK port. Retroactively sourcing a missing certificate while your container accrues storage fees is a far more expensive way to solve the same problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do I need to import from China to the UK?

At minimum: a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading or air waybill, certificate of origin, your EORI number, and any product-specific certification your goods category requires (such as UKCA marking).

What happens if my shipping documents don’t match?

Inconsistencies between your commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading are one of the most common causes of a customs hold, even when each document is individually correct. Always double-check figures match exactly before your goods ship.

Do I need a specific import licence to bring goods in from China?

Most general commercial goods don’t require a specific licence, but certain categories (some food products, chemicals, and controlled goods) do. Check your product category or ask your forwarder before your first shipment.