Mandatory import and export documents

Customs declaration

Bill of Lading (transportation document)

Commercial contract

Commercial invoice

Goods packing slip

Customs import and export documents

Proforma Invoice

Letter of Credit (Letter of Credit or L/C)

Proof of transport insurance (Insurance)

Certificate of Origin (Certificate of Origin)

Certificate of specialized examination

Import and export license

Quality certification

And other additional import and export documents, if applied

Bill of lading (B/L), or Bill in short, is considered a certificate of the carrier confirming the receiving goods for transportation and is a document for obtaining goods at the destination port, especially in sea transportation.

Bill includes 3 main functions:

1. As a receipt from the carrier confirming that they have received the goods for carriage

2. As proof of shipment regulations, terms and contracts for carriers and clients

3. As a certificate of goods ownership (most notably - a bill of lading can be bought, sold and transferred)

There are many types of Bills with different advantages and disadvantages, so don't hesitate to contact us for the most specific advice.

In fact, both are Bill of Lading (Bill of Lading) but are issued by different entities. The shipper and consignee on each of these types, therefore, have certain differences:

Master Bill of Lading is a Bill of Lading issued by a shipping line and is often abbreviated as MBL or MB/L. On a Master Bill, the consignor is the freight forwarder in the exporting country (not the exporting company), and the consignee is the freight forwarder in the importing country.

House Bill of Lading, on the other hand, is a bill issued by a freight forwarder, often abbreviated as HBL, HB/L, or House Bill.

Definition: C/O (certificate of origin) is an essential document in import and export. C/O indicates the origin of goods produced in which territory or country. The term in English is Certificate of Origin, often abbreviated as C/O (from the Law Library).

Processes and documents required to apply for C/O:

1. Application for issuance of C/O

2. C/O form (Depending on the product type and the exporting country, the C/O officer will advise the enterprise which C/O form to buy).

- The declared C/O includes 1 original and at least 2 copies of the C/O for the C/O issuing organization, and the exporter to keep one copy each.

3. Commercial Invoice (Commercial Invoice): 1 original issued by the enterprise.

4. Customs declaration of export goods: customs procedures have been completed (1 copy with red seal, the signature of the authorized person, and stamp of "Copy of original")

5. Packing List: 1 original of DN

6. Bill of Lading (Bill of Lading): 1 copy with red seal, the signature of authorized person of enterprise and a mark of "Copy of original"

7. Import customs declaration (1 copy): if the enterprise imports raw materials and auxiliary materials from abroad; or Value-added invoice for domestic purchase and sale of raw materials: if the enterprise purchases domestic materials

8. Explanatory table of the production process: For enterprises applying for C/O for the first time or for goods applying for C/O for the first time, enterprises must explain the production steps into final products.

9. Other papers: such as Export License; Sale contract; Samples of raw materials, auxiliary materials or exported products; or other documents to prove the product's origin.

Demurrage (DEM): Fee for storing containers at the port's yard, this fee will be directly charged by shipping lines

Detention (DET): Container storage fee at the customer's own warehouse, this fee will be directly charged by the shipping line

Storage: the port's storage fee, this fee will be collected directly by the port or the shipping company will collect it for you

Free time: is the time when shipping lines give customers free DEM, DET and Storage

DEM and DET free periods usually include Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. Only in exceptional cases is there flexibility for customers.

Packing at the warehouse will not incur a DET fee.

DEM/DET include and are subject to different fees depending on each shipping line.

DEM/DET/Storage fee is charged depending on the number of days of delay, type and size of the container. Usually, refrigerated container fees will be significantly higher than other containers.

You can apply for a free extension with DEM and DET fees if: Carrier policy applies, customer strength such as monthly volume, relationship with the carrier, etc.

Pay attention to the booking of goods, no matter which contracts you make in the incoterm, you should also ask for the free time fee DEM and DET at the port of loading and the port of discharge.

Cargo insurance is an indemnity commitment in which the insurer will indemnify the insured in the event of loss of or damage to the transported goods due to perils (these risks are specified in an insurance contract). To get insurance, you have to pay a fee called a premium.

No one can predict the risks, so cargo insurance will help protect and minimize the damage caused by damaged goods, fire, storm, flood, whirlwind, cargo crashing into another object, etc. Cargo insurance must be done before the risks occur, possibly before the goods are shipped. Insurance cannot prevent risks but only minimize losses when an incident occurs.

Type A / B / C Insurance

The insurance terms stipulate the extent of the insurer's liability for the risks of loss of the subject-matter insured. Therefore, the insurer's liability scope depends on the cargo insurance conditions agreed upon by the parties in the contract.

The Ministry of Finance has issued insurance for import and export goods in our country. It is evident that according to the "General rules on insurance of import and export goods transported by sea 1990". This rule was established based on the insurance clause issued by the Association of London Insurers ICC 1/1/1982, including:

• Institute cargo clauses A (ICC - A)

• Insurance conditions B – Institute cargo clauses B (ICC - B)

• Instituto cargo clauses C (ICC - C)

Although the insured will receive compensation when a loss occurs, the terms of cargo insurance A B C also clearly stipulate about 7 general cases where payment is not received, specifically as follows:

1. Loss, damage or expense attributable to the Insured's willful misconduct.

2. The Insured is subject to normal leakage, expected loss of weight or volume, or normal wear and tear.

3. Loss, damage or expense resulting from inadequate or improper packing or preparation of the subject-matter insured (for this clause 4.3, packing shall be deemed to include loading into a "container" or "wooden case" but only if such stowage is performed before the entry into force of this contract or by the Assured or their servants).

4. Loss, damage or expense caused by an inherent defect or peculiarity of the subject matter insured.

5. Loss, damage or expense directly caused by delay even if the delay is caused by an insured peril (other than expenses covered under Clause 2 above)

6. Loss, damage or expense arising from insolvency or financial insufficiency of the Owner, manager, charterer or operator.

7. Loss, damage or expense arising from using any weapon involving the use of atomic or nuclear energy and or nuclear, radioactive or similar reaction.