Package Stuck in Customs? How Long It Takes & What to Do

How long a package takes to clear customs depends on the destination, the goods, the paperwork and whether customs asks for payment, documents or an inspection. Most delays have a reason you can find: an unanswered request, a document that doesn't match, or a check on regulated goods. Start with your carrier's tracking page and answer any request quickly.

In the US, there are a few fixed limits. Entry must normally be filed within 15 calendar days of arrival. Goods left in CBP custody for six months can be sold. CBP cannot track parcels, so contact the carrier first.

How long does a package take to clear customs?

How long a package takes to clear customs depends on the destination, the goods, the paperwork and whether customs asks for payment, documents or an inspection. Most delays have a reason you can find, so start with the carrier's tracking page and answer any request quickly.

Clearance by shipping mode

Shipping mode alone cannot tell you when a package will clear. Ask the carrier or broker for an estimate specific to your shipment. Clearance also depends on:

• Documentation quality. Every document has to be complete and consistent with the others. Errors are one of the most common causes of holds.
• What you're shipping. Regulated goods such as food, chemicals, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals are more likely to be held and often need clearance from another government agency.
• Volume. At peak season or during port congestion, even compliant shipments wait longer.

UPS’s customs guidance highlights complete commercial invoices, accurate tariff codes and payment of required duties and taxes as practical checks to help avoid holds.

How long can customs hold a package?

The limits depend on the country, and your carrier's notice states the deadline for your shipment. In the US, two fixed limits apply:

• 15 days to file entry. Entry must normally be filed within 15 calendar days of arrival.
• Six months to general order sale. Goods left unclaimed in CBP custody for six months can be sold.

Other countries set their own limits. Read the carrier's notice or the customs notice for the reason, the action required and the deadline, and act before it passes. CBP cannot track parcels, so ask the carrier first.

Why packages get stuck in customs

Tracking labels vary by carrier. “Clearance Delay” or “Customs Hold” can indicate that documents, payment or a review are still required. Check the tracking details and ask the carrier or broker to confirm the specific reason.

Documentation errors

• Missing paperwork. No commercial invoice, packing list or required certificate of origin means an immediate hold.
• Inconsistent figures. If the figures on the bill of lading, packing list and commercial invoice don't agree, the shipment can be flagged for review.
• Wrong HS code or value. The HS code sets the duty rate and which rules apply. If you ship regularly, check the HS code before you ship so a wrong code doesn't cause the hold. A wrong code means the wrong duty, a correction, and possibly a closer look at your other entries (see what happens if you use the wrong HS code). Undervaluing goods can lead to penalties or seizure.

Inspection and regulatory holds

• Regulated goods. Food, cosmetics, electronics with lithium batteries and pharmaceuticals often need clearance from a second agency (in the US, for example, the FDA alongside CBP), which adds time.
• Random exams. Customs selects some shipments at random for X-ray or physical inspection. You can't prevent it, but it adds days, and you may be billed for exam and handling fees.

Seasonal and external factors

• Peak volume. Year-end holidays, big sales events and Lunar New Year factory closures cause cargo surges and backlogs at ports and airports.
• Disruption. Strikes, severe weather and infrastructure problems delay when goods are even available for inspection.

What to do if your package is stuck in customs

1. Check for a request. Look at the tracking page and your email for a notice asking for documents or a duty payment. An unanswered request is the most common reason for a long hold.
2. Respond fast. Send the missing information yourself or through your broker.
3. Contact the carrier or broker. If nothing has changed and no request is outstanding, ask the carrier or broker to open a case and tell you exactly what is blocking release.
4. Don't ignore it. In the US, goods left unclaimed in CBP custody for six months can be sold at auction (19 U.S.C. § 1491). Other countries have their own time limits.
5. Ask for a case if it stays stuck. If tracking says awaiting customs clearance for longer than the carrier's estimate, ask the carrier to open a case.

After "Clearance Completed": how long until delivery?

When the status changes to "Clearance Completed" or "Customs Released," the hold is lifted and the goods are released to the domestic carrier or trucker for the last leg. That delivery time is separate from clearance and depends on:

• the distance from the port of entry to the delivery address
• the service level (ground or express)
• the carrier's routes and schedule

Delivery after release usually follows the carrier's updated estimate. See package released from customs for what to check next, and what customs clearance completed means for the status itself.

How to clear customs faster next time

Get the documents right before shipping

• Use a pre-shipment checklist and make sure the commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin agree with each other.
• Choose Incoterms deliberately and confirm who arranges clearance and pays duties and taxes. Under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), the seller takes responsibility for import clearance and payment; this does not guarantee release without checks or delays.

For the documents your product needs, see import documents by HS code.

Verify the HS code yourself

Don't rely only on the supplier's code. Check it against the destination country's tariff schedule or with a broker. Start with how to find the right HS code. Note that the US uses 10-digit HTS numbers built on the 6-digit HS code (HTS vs HS code), and similar products can sit in different chapters: instant coffee is classified differently from green coffee beans.

Keep up with rate changes

Tariffs, anti-dumping duties and licence rules change. When a rate changes, recheck your landed cost: how to calculate import duty.

File early and work with a licensed broker

Most customs systems (such as ACE in the US) accept entry data before the goods arrive, so filing early starts the review sooner. A licensed customs broker can answer customs queries, such as a CBP Form 28 or 29, quickly and fix problems directly with officials.

Check the code, duty and consignee before you ship

Many holds start before the package leaves: a wrong HS code, a duty nobody planned for, or a consignee nobody screened. Compliance, EximAgent's AI teammate for export compliance, runs those three checks in one chat.

• HS code suggestions. Describe the product in plain words and get a suggested code with the reasoning.
• Duty by route. Look up the duty for a product on a specific trade lane and work out the landed cost.
• Sanctions screening. Screen a buyer, supplier or consignee name against the OFAC SDN list.

Example: ceramic mugs from China to the US

Say you're about to ship earthenware coffee mugs from a factory in China to a US buyer. Before you book, you ask Compliance:

"Earthenware coffee mugs, China to the US. Which HS code and what's the duty? And can you screen Sample Trading Co.?"

Compliance replies with:

1. The code. Earthenware and other ceramic mugs fall under HTS 6912.00.44, in heading 6912 (ceramic tableware and kitchenware) (see importers of HS 691200). CBP classified mugs like these there in ruling NY N124608.
2. The duty. Check the current US Harmonized Tariff Schedule for the full classification, country of origin and entry date, including any additional duties. Ask your broker to confirm the applicable rate before using it in a landed-cost quote.
3. The screening (example). Sample Trading Co.: no match on the OFAC SDN list.

The material matters. Earthenware, stoneware and porcelain can have different classifications. Confirm the composition and intended use of your mugs before choosing the full code; a ruling on another product is a reference, not a classification decision for your shipment.

You then put the code on the commercial invoice and use the duty in your landed-cost quote. Compliance's results are advisory: confirm the full code for your shipment against the tariff schedule or with your broker, and leave final sanctions decisions to your compliance team. Compliance doesn't file customs entries or replace a licensed broker; it gives you and your broker accurate data to start from.

Before your next shipment, check the HS code, duty and consignee in one chat. Ask Compliance, free to start. Working in Cursor, Claude Code or Codex? Add the EximAgent connector or use the CLI.

From the CLI or the connector

The same checks run from a terminal with the EximAgent CLI:

curl -fsSL https://cli.eximagent.ai/install | sh
eximagent login

(Windows PowerShell: irm https://cli.eximagent.ai/install.ps1 | iex)

eximagent hscode search --query "earthenware coffee mugs"
eximagent tariff --exporter CN --importer US --product "earthenware coffee mugs"
eximagent sanctions check --name "Sample Trading Co."

To use Compliance inside an AI agent, add the hosted connector: in Claude Code, run claude mcp add --transport http eximagent https://mcp.eximagent.ai/mcp --scope user. For other clients, see the connector docs.

FAQ

How long does US customs take to process a package?

There is no published standard time; CBP releases a package once entry is accepted and any duties, documents or exams are resolved. Your carrier's tracking shows the current step.

Why is my package stuck in customs?

Possible causes include missing or inconsistent documents, an incorrect HS code or declared value, unpaid duties and taxes, checks on regulated goods, or inspection. Ask the carrier or broker which issue applies to your shipment; the tracking label alone may not explain it.

How long can customs hold a package?

It depends on the country, and the carrier's or customs notice states the deadline. In the US, entry must normally be filed within 15 calendar days of arrival, and goods left in CBP custody for six months can be sold.

What should I do if my package has been in customs for days?

Follow the carrier’s instructions and any stated deadline. If the expected delivery date has passed or no next action is clear, ask the carrier or broker to identify the missing document, payment or review. Follow a formal detention notice if one is issued. For recurring problems, see our guide to the five most common customs delays.

Can I check my HS code before shipping?

Yes. Look the product up in the destination country's tariff schedule, ask your broker, or describe it to Compliance for a suggested code and duty by route, then confirm the full code for your shipment.