Guides by customer type
Small businesses and online sellers
If you are importing goods for sale for the first time, please request a consultation before you place an order with an overseas seller or ask the seller to ship. Using the sales page, product photos and specifications, we check KC certification, radio certification, food requirements and country of origin marking, and list the items to request from the overseas seller.
When to contact us
- When you plan to import goods for sale for the first time
- When you do not know whether the goods you plan to import need KC certification, radio certification or a food declaration
- When you do not know how to ask the overseas seller for country of origin marking or an invoice
- When the goods have arrived but clearance has been put on hold
If missing certification is found after the goods arrive, they may have to be shipped back, and goods without country of origin marking may not be cleared. Goods that are not cleared incur warehouse charges while they are stored in a bonded warehouse.
Services you can entrust to us
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Requirement check before ordering | We check whether KC certification, radio certification, food requirements and country of origin marking apply, and list the items to request from the overseas seller |
| Code application service | We apply for a business customs clearance code |
| Import customs clearance | Before filing, we inform you of the HS code, expected duties and taxes and requirements, and then file the declaration |
| Electrical and radio compliance applications | We check whether KC or radio certification is required and submit the relevant applications |
| Imported food | We prepare the import declaration documents for food for sale |
Process
- Consultation before orderingWe receive the sales page address, product photos and specifications, and first tell you whether requirements apply.
- Reply with items to requestWe list the country of origin marking, invoice entries and certificates to request from the overseas seller.
- Document review before arrivalWe receive the invoice, packing list and B/L and review them before filing.
- Import declarationAfter filing, we inform you of the tax amount, payment deadline and payment method.
Documents to prepare
- Business registration certificate (first time only)
- Sales page address, product photos, specifications
- Copies of the invoice, packing list and B/L or AWB (after the goods are shipped)
Fees
| Item | Basis | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Import clearance Same for general cargo, express shipments and EMS | 0.2% of the customs value Minimum KRW 30,000 for a customs value up to KRW 15,000,000 | From KRW 30,000 |
| Food import declaration Document inspection | MFDS import declaration on your behalf, per case Inspection fees charged separately | KRW 70,000 |
| Customs clearance code application on your behalf | Free when requested together with your first clearance | KRW 20,000 |
| E-commerce operator code registration on your behalf | Purchasing agents, sales intermediaries and package forwarders Overseas businesses by separate agreement | KRW 80,000 |
| KC certification and radio certification verification | Application for customs confirmation for electrical appliances, consumer products and broadcasting and communications equipment, per case Additional fees apply according to the number of certified models For electrical products, an institutional fee of KRW 3,400 is charged separately | From KRW 20,000 |
Frequently asked questions
What do I do first when importing for the first time? After registering your business, you apply for a customs clearance code on UNI-PASS (copies of the business registration certificate and the representative's ID). Then the import declaration is filed with the invoice, packing list and B/L, and customs duty is paid within 15 days of the date the declaration is accepted.
Is list clearance possible if the amount is USD 150 or less? List clearance applies to express shipments of USD 150 or less (USD 200 from the United States) that are goods for personal use or duty-exempt commercial samples, so goods for sale are subject to an import declaration even if the amount is small.
What happens without KC certification or a food declaration? Products subject to certification or confirmation under the Electrical Appliances and Consumer Products Safety Control Act are subject to customs confirmation, so the declaration is not accepted until the requirement documents are in place. Devices that have wireless functions or generate electromagnetic waves can be imported only after a radio equipment conformity assessment under the Radio Waves Act. Food for sale must be declared for import to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), and importing it for sale also requires registration as an imported food import and sales business.
Consultation
Request a requirement check before shipment
Email [email protected] (weekdays 09:00 to 18:00). You can also send the sales page address and product photos to [email protected] for a consultation.
Related laws and materials
- Notice on Registration and Management of Customs Clearance Codes and Overseas Supplier Codes, Articles 2, 4 and 6
- Customs Act, Article 9 (payment deadline for customs duty, etc.)
- Customs Act, Article 38 (declaration and payment)
- Customs Act, Article 241 (declaration of export, import or return)
- Notice on Import Clearance Procedures for Express Shipments, Article 9 (declaration categories), Annex 1, Annex 2
- Korea Customs Service "Express Shipment Clearance"
- Korea Customs Service Customer Support Center "What is list clearance, and what is its scope?"
- Notice on Import Clearance Procedures, Article 15 (documents to submit with an import declaration)
- Notice on the Designation of Goods Subject to Confirmation by the Head of Customs and Confirmation Methods under Article 226 of the Customs Act, Article 7 and Annex 2
- Radio Waves Act, Article 58-2 (conformity assessment of broadcasting and communications equipment, etc.)
- Special Act on Imported Food Safety Control, Articles 14, 15 and 20