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1. Sender details (Sender / Absender)
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Full name and address: including street, house number, postal code, city, and country.
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Phone number or e-mail address: helps the authorities or carrier contact you if needed.
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EORI number (for trade): required for companies, optional for private individuals (upela.com, paack.co).
2. Recipient details (Recipient / Empfänger)
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Include the full name and complete address (including postal code, city, and country). It is recommended to add a phone number or e-mail address as well.
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Tax or customs number (Tax/VAT ID), if known – in some countries this is mandatory.
3. Transport details (Carrier / Versanddienstleister)
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Name of the carrier company (e.g. DHL, national post, UPS) and its address if available (sendcloud.com).
4. Shipment details
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Net weight: weight of each item without packaging, in kilograms.
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Gross weight: weight of the item including packaging; the total gross weight of all items should also be entered.
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Item value: price per piece excluding VAT, in euro or the local currency.
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Total value: sum of the values of all items; this must match the shipping or commercial invoice if one exists (postoffice.co.uk).
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Precise description of contents: full and clear description of the goods, e.g. “men’s cotton shirt”, ideally including the material.
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Quantity: number of items shipped.
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HS code (customs tariff number): required for commercial goods, usually not needed for personal gifts (edgectp.com).
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Country of origin: where the goods were manufactured or assembled; this is mandatory for commercial shipments.
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Shipping / postage costs: include postal charges and any insurance, because customs duties and taxes are sometimes calculated on the value of the goods plus shipping.
5. Category of the shipment (Category / Art der Sendung)
Tick one of the following boxes and specify the correct type of shipment:
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Gift (Gift / Geschenk)
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Documents (Documents)
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Commercial sample (Commercial sample / Warenmuster)
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Return of goods (Return of goods / Warenrücksendung)
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Sale / goods for trade (Sale / Handelsware)
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Other (Other / Sonstiges) – with a short explanation in the “Explanation” field (paketda.de).
6. Additional comments (Comments / Beobachtungen)
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Use this section for important details such as health or quarantine requirements, certificates, or special licenses.
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Example: “Contains products of animal origin”.
7. Invoice number
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Used for commercial shipments; specify the invoice number and attach a copy of the invoice.
8. Date and signature (Date & Signature)
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Date: the day on which the form is completed.
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Signature: by the sender or their representative; confirms that the information provided is correct.
Important notes:
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Fill in the form clearly using BLOCK CAPITALS or, preferably, a computer/printer to avoid errors during scanning.
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Use the correct form: CN-23 for high-value or heavy shipments (typically above 300 SZR or more than 2 kg) (shipstage.com).
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Keep a copy of the commercial invoice for business shipments. For personal gifts it is usually sufficient to mark the shipment as “Gift / Geschenk” in the relevant box and, if available, attach a receipt showing the original value.
Summary:
With these points in mind, you can complete the CN-23 form confidently: be precise with descriptions, values and weights, and make sure your sender and recipient data are complete. Attach the form clearly on the outside of the parcel. This will help your shipment pass through customs smoothly and reduce the risk of delays or extra charges.
The editorial team of the website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and multiple sources. However, errors or uncertain details cannot be completely ruled out. Therefore, the information in this article should be treated as preliminary guidance only; for binding and case-specific information you should always consult the competent authorities.
