Switzerland

Switzerland and South Africa have a growing business relationship. Though sending shipments to Switzerland from South Africa is generally straightforward, here are some things to bear in mind.

Country Information

SENDING SHIPMENTS TO SWITZERLAND – GENERAL ADVICE

All commercial shipments must be accompanied by a Commercial Invoice with a practical value and typed in print format. Invoices stating No Commercial value will not be accepted. Pro-forma Invoices are unacceptable. Clearance delays depend on the receiver’s ability to present required permits.

DOCUMENT SHIPMENTS

Switzerland Customs defines a document as general correspondence (business or private) as well as:

Advertising brochures / pamphlets
Airline tickets, issued / validated
Annual reports
Blueprints ¹
Booklets, brochures (non-advertising)
Charts / graphs
Cheques, cashier (NI)
Credit card blanks (NI)
Credit cards (NI)
Deeds
Diaries
Documents, general business
Drawings and plans for technical / architectural / engineering purposes ¹
Invoices, not blank
Manuscripts
Music, printed or manuscript
Newspapers
Pamphlets
Passports
Personal mail
Photographs as part of business reports
Price lists
Shipping schedules
Visa applications

If items are contained in bids/proposals and are in book form

NON DOCUMENT SHIPMENTS

Alcoholic beverages ³
Coffee ¹
Animal products ⁴
Oil Products ¹
X-ray Machines ⁵
Plants ¹
Slides ²
Tea ¹
Textile articles ¹
Photographs ⁶

If over 20kgs (44lbs), import licence required. If EC/EFTA origin, EUR1 form required.
Quantity must be stated on inv.
Wine: If EC/EFTA origin EUR1 form required. Duties (32USD/kg) apply to all shipments above 14% vol.
All products of animal origin are restricted and can only be sent off network.
Please contact destination prior to accepting shipment for any licenses or permits requirement.
Should the photographs be coming from the US – this must be declared as goods

PROHIBITED ITEMS

The following items are specifically not allowed to be sent with DHL to Switzerland.

Antiques
Airline tickets, blank stock (NI)
Asbestos
Dangerous goods, including hazardous or combustible materials
Firearms, parts of
Furs
Gambling devices
Jewellery and costume jewellery
Liquids, non-hazardous
Playing cards
Precious metals and stones

This is in addition to DHL’s Global standard list of prohibited items which can be found here

SIZE AND WEIGHT NOTES

The maximum weight per shipment is 300 kg (660.0 lb).

The maximum weight per piece is 70.0 kg (154.0 lb).

The maximum dimensions of each shipment are length: 120.0 cm (47 in); height: 120.0 cm (47.0 in); width: 100.0 cm (39.0 in).

Pallets are accepted.

Should you at any time require more information or telephonic assistance, please make contact with our Certified International Specialists.