Airway Bill
Air freight shipments require Airway bills, which can never be made in negotiable form (see sample). Airway bills are shipper-specific (i.e. USPS, Fed-Ex,UPS, DHL, etc).
Bill of Lading
A contract between the owner of the goods and the carrier (as with domestic shipments). For vessels, there are two types: a straight bill of lading, which is non-negotiable, and a negotiable or shipper's order bill of lading. The latter can be bought, sold, or traded while the goods are in transit. The customer usually needs an original as proof of ownership to take possession of the goods (see Sample Short Form Bill of Lading and Sample Liner Bill of Lading).
Commercial Invoice
A bill for the goods from the seller to the buyer. These invoices are often used by governments to determine the true value of goods when assessing customs duties. Governments that use the commercial invoice to control imports will often specify its form, content, number of copies, language to be used, and other characteristics (see Sample).
Export Packing List
Considerably more detailed and informative than a standard domestic packing list, it lists seller, buyer, shipper, invoice number, date of shipment, mode of transport, carrier, and itemizes quantity, description, the type of package, such as a box, crate, drum, or carton, the quantity of packages, total net and gross weight (in kilograms), package marks, and dimensions, if appropriate. Both commercial stationers and freight forwarders carry packing list forms. A packing list may serve as conforming document. It is not a substitute for a commercial invoice.
Electronic Export Information Form (Shippers Export Declaration)
The EEI is the most common of all export documents. Required for shipments above $2,500* and for shipments of any value requiring an export license. SED has to be electronically filed via AES Direct (free service from Census and Customs) online system.
*Note: EEI is required for shipments to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the former Pacific Trust Territories even though they are not considered exports (unless each “Schedule B” item in the shipment is under $2,500).
Shipments to Canada do not require an SED except in cases where an export license is required. (Shipments to third countries passing through Canada do need an SED.)
