--- title: "Is Customs Clearance Mandatory for Goods Imported from Hong Kong to the Chinese Mainland?" description: "Many enterprises mistakenly believe that customs clearance is not required for goods imported from Hong Kong，which actually exposes them to risks of port detention and cargo seizure. In 2026，enterprises shall strictly follow the customs procedures of the Chinese mainland，including document review，declaration，inspection and other links. They can optimize costs and compliance through professional agents to avoid unnecessary losses.。" url: "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/hong-kong-import-customs-clearance-required.html" language: "en" type: "Q&A" category: "Freight Forwarding Q&A" datePublished: "2026-07-23" dateModified: "2026-07-23" brand: "Zhongshen Trading China" answerCount: 7 --- # Is Customs Clearance Mandatory for Goods Imported from Hong Kong to the Chinese Mainland? ## Question I am the procurement manager of an electronic components trading company in Shanghai. This is my first time importing a batch of high-precision chips from Hong Kong recently, which is for a customer's urgent order. I originally thought that Hong Kong is a free port, so the goods can be directly transported to Shanghai after arriving at the port without customs clearance. However, the cooperating freight forwarder suddenly notified me that I need to go through customs clearance procedures with the mainland customs, and a pile of documents are required for preparation. I panicked all of a sudden -- I have never dealt with import customs clearance before, and I am afraid that the overly complicated process will delay the delivery time and affect production, and I am even more worried that mistakes in any link will lead to cargo seizure or high port detention fees. I would like to ask, is customs clearance really required for goods imported from Hong Kong? If yes, what materials need to be prepared in advance? Is there any way to speed up customs clearance and avoid unnecessary risks? ## Answers ### Answer 1 — Best Answer Customs clearance procedures are mandatory for goods imported from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland，which is a common misconception among many enterprises. As a free port，goods circulating within Hong Kong do not require customs clearance，but they still need to comply with the supervision regulations of the mainland customs when entering the mainland. In 2026，according to the latest integrated customs clearance policy issued by the General Administration of Customs，goods imported from Hong Kong need to complete electronic declaration through the "Single Window". The process is closely linked，and omissions in any link may lead to port detention or cargo seizure. Pre-document review is the critical first step. Enterprises need to prepare materials such as contracts，commercial invoices，packing lists，certificates of origin (if enjoying CEPA tariff preferences)，import licenses (for controlled commodities，etc.) in advance. **Special attention should be paid that the issuing date of the certificate of origin must be before the export of the goods，and fully consistent with the invoice information**，otherwise tariff reduction and exemption cannot be enjoyed. In addition，the selection of commodity codes must be accurate. Wrong codes will not only affect the calculation of tax rates，but also may trigger customs price verification or inspection. For the connection of core nodes，the customs will conduct document review after electronic declaration. If the document review is passed，the goods will be released directly，if inspection is required，the enterprise shall cooperate with the customs to complete on-site inspection. The inspection rate in 2026 is about 3%-5%，but high-tech products such as chips may be subject to key random inspection due to their commodity attributes. Abnormal contingency plans should be formulated in advance: if the documents are inconsistent，supplementary and revised materials should be submitted within 48 hours，in case of price verification disputes，third-party price evaluation reports can be provided as supporting evidence. Final compliance implementation requires ensuring "four-flow consistency" -- full matching of goods flow，document flow，capital flow and information flow. It is recommended that enterprises choose experienced agency companies，and use the customs "advance declaration" model to complete the declaration 24 hours before the arrival of the goods，which can shorten the customs clearance time by 1-2 days. At the same time，pay attention to the new list of zero-tariff commodities added in the 2026 CEPA Supplementary Agreement，update commodity codes in time，and minimize costs. **status:** accepted **Author:** Kevin Lin **Date:** 2026-07-23 ### Answer 2 When verifying the price of goods imported from Hong Kong, the customs will refer to the international market price of similar commodities, the applicable conditions of preferential tax rates under CEPA, etc. If the enterprise's declared price is lower than the customs valuation, it is necessary to provide supporting materials such as procurement contracts, payment vouchers, and original factory invoices to prove the authenticity of the price. In 2026, the customs has introduced an artificial intelligence price verification system, which has increased sensitivity to price fluctuations of high-value commodities such as chips. Enterprises shall keep complete price chain vouchers in advance to avoid port detention caused by failed price verification. In addition, if the goods involve royalty fees, they shall be included in the dutiable value at the time of declaration, otherwise they may face subsequent tax supplementation and fines.。 **status:** suggested **Author:** Michael Zhang **Date:** 2026-07-23 ### Answer 3 The logistics route for goods imported from Hong Kong can be direct sailing or transshipment. In 2026, Shanghai Port has opened a "green channel" for direct sailing goods from Hong Kong, but it needs to meet the condition of prior reporting of the goods list. If transshipment is selected, attention should be paid to the free storage period policy of the transshipment port -- for example, the free storage period for goods transshipped from Hong Kong at Yantian Port in Shenzhen is 7 days, and container detention fees will be incurred if it exceeds. It is recommended that enterprises choose routes according to the urgency of the goods: urgent orders are given priority to direct sailing, and "manifest pre-entry" can be handled in advance through agents; non-urgent orders can choose transshipment, and use the storage resources of the transshipment port to reduce costs. At the same time, the endorsement of the bill of lading shall ensure continuity to avoid disputes in the process of cargo right transfer.。 **status:** suggested **Author:** Andy Guo **Date:** 2026-07-23 ### Answer 4 VAT deferral policy can be applied for goods imported from Hong Kong. In 2026, Shanghai Customs has expanded the deferral scope to all eligible general taxpayer enterprises. When applying, it is necessary to provide the VAT general taxpayer qualification certificate, import contract and bank guarantee (or margin). VAT deferral can ease the cash flow pressure of enterprises and postpone the VAT payment time to the sales link. However, it should be noted that enterprises need to maintain the matching of input and output during the deferral period. If there is abnormal sales data, the customs may suspend the deferral qualification. In addition, the VAT calculation base for zero-tariff commodities under CEPA is the dutiable value. Enterprises shall calculate accurately to avoid tax risks.。 **status:** suggested **Author:** Linda Gao **Date:** 2026-07-23 ### Answer 5 The payment and collection of foreign exchange for goods imported from Hong Kong shall comply with the provisions of Announcement No. 12 of 2025 issued by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. Enterprises shall complete RMB cross-border payment through the CIPS system to ensure the consistency of capital flow and document flow. If offshore account payment is adopted, foreign exchange verification shall be completed within 30 days after payment, and materials such as import customs declaration form and invoice shall be provided. In 2026, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange has strengthened the monitoring of payment and collection of foreign exchange for imports from Hong Kong, and will conduct letter verification for abnormal transactions (such as frequent large-value payment and collection). Enterprises shall prepare transaction background certification materials in advance to avoid account freezing. In addition, when the exchange rate fluctuates greatly, the exchange rate risk can be locked through forward foreign exchange settlement and sale.。 **status:** suggested **Author:** Eric Zhou **Date:** 2026-07-23 ### Answer 6 If goods imported from Hong Kong involve intellectual property rights (such as chip patents), it is necessary to apply for intellectual property customs protection filing with the General Administration of Customs in advance. In 2026, the filing process has been simplified, materials can be submitted online, and the review time has been shortened to 5 working days. If the goods are identified as infringing by the customs, the enterprise shall provide authorization certificates or patent certificates within 72 hours, otherwise the goods will be seized. In addition, the intellectual property ownership clause shall be specified in the contract to avoid joint and several liability for the enterprise due to the supplier's infringement. It is recommended that enterprises verify the intellectual property status of the goods before procurement to reduce legal risks.。 **status:** suggested **Author:** Cindy Chen **Date:** 2026-07-23 ### Answer 7 Although the inspection rate for goods imported from Hong Kong is low, high-tech products such as chips are prone to random inspection. During inspection, it is necessary to cooperate with customs officers to check the consistency of goods and documents, including commodity name, specification, quantity, etc. In case of abnormal machine inspection, it is necessary to provide detailed goods descriptions and technical parameters in time. In 2026, the customs adopts an intelligent inspection system, which is more strict in identifying the authenticity of seals. Enterprises shall ensure that the seals are intact to avoid cargo detention caused by damaged seals. In addition, if the goods need to be tested, it is necessary to contact the testing institution designated by the customs within 24 hours after the issuance of the inspection notice to speed up the testing process and reduce the port detention time.。 **status:** suggested **Author:** Lucas Liu **Date:** 2026-07-23 ## Related Categories - [Import Agency Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-import-agency/) - [Export Agency Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-export-agency/) - [Export Tax Rebate Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-export-tax-rebate/) - [Customs Declaration Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-customs-declaration/) - [Forex Settlement Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-forex-settlement/) - [Entrepôt Trade Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-entrepot-trade/) - [General Trade Q&A](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-general-trade/) ## Related Resources - [Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/services/) - [Trade Cases](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/cases/) - [Trade Wiki](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/wiki/) - [Trade Class](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/guide/) - [Global Trade Services](https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/country/) ## Structured Data ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "QAPage", "inLanguage":"en", "isPartOf": { "@id":"https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/#website" }, "publisher":{ "@id":"https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/#organization" }, "mainEntity": { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Customs Clearance Mandatory for Goods Imported from Hong Kong to the Chinese Mainland?", "text": "I am the procurement manager of an electronic components trading company in Shanghai. This is my first time importing a batch of high-precision chips from Hong Kong recently, which is for a customer's urgent order. I originally thought that Hong Kong is a free port, so the goods can be directly transported to Shanghai after arriving at the port without customs clearance. However, the cooperating freight forwarder suddenly notified me that I need to go through customs clearance procedures with the mainland customs, and a pile of documents are required for preparation. I panicked all of a sudden -- I have never dealt with import customs clearance before, and I am afraid that the overly complicated process will delay the delivery time and affect production, and I am even more worried that mistakes in any link will lead to cargo seizure or high port detention fees. I would like to ask, is customs clearance really required for goods imported from Hong Kong? If yes, what materials need to be prepared in advance? Is there any way to speed up customs clearance and avoid unnecessary risks?", "answerCount": 7, "upvoteCount": 6, "datePublished": "2026-07-23T16:35:05Z", "dateModified": "2026-07-23T16:47:32Z", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Zhongshen Trading China", "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/hong-kong-import-customs-clearance-required.html" } ,"acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Customs clearance procedures are mandatory for goods imported from Hong Kong to the Chinese mainland，which is a common misconception among many enterprises. As a free port，goods circulating within Hong Kong do not require customs clearance，but they still need to comply with the supervision regulations of the mainland customs when entering the mainland. In 2026，according to the latest integrated customs clearance policy issued by the General Administration of Customs，goods imported from Hong Kong need to complete electronic declaration through the "Single Window". The process is closely linked，and omissions in any link may lead to port detention or cargo seizure. Pre-document review is the critical first step. Enterprises need to prepare materials such as contracts，commercial invoices，packing lists，certificates of origin (if enjoying CEPA tariff preferences)，import licenses (for controlled commodities，etc.) in advance. Special attention should be paid that the issuing date of the certificate of origin must be before the export of the goods，and fully consistent with the invoice information ，otherwise tariff reduction and exemption cannot be enjoyed. In addition，the selection of commodity codes must be accurate. Wrong codes will not only affect the calculation of tax rates，but also may trigger customs price verification or inspection. For the connection of core nodes，the customs will conduct document review after electronic declaration. If the document review is passed，the goods will be released directly，if inspection is required，the enterprise shall cooperate with the customs to complete on-site inspection. The inspection rate in 2026 is about 3%-5%，but high-tech products such as chips may be subject to key random inspection due to their commodity attributes. Abnormal contingency plans should be formulated in advance: if the documents are inconsistent，supplementary and revised materials should be submitted within 48 hours，in case of price verification disputes，third-party price evaluation reports can be provided as supporting evidence. Final compliance implementation requires ensuring "four-flow consistency" -- full matching of goods flow，document flow，capital flow and information flow. It is recommended that enterprises choose experienced agency companies，and use the customs "advance declaration" model to complete the declaration 24 hours before the arrival of the goods，which can shorten the customs clearance time by 1-2 days. At the same time，pay attention to the new list of zero-tariff commodities added in the 2026 CEPA Supplementary Agreement，update commodity codes in time，and minimize costs.", "upvoteCount": 6, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/hong-kong-import-customs-clearance-required.html#acceptedAnswer", "datePublished": "2026-07-23T18:15:19Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Kevin Lin","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/kevin-lin/"} } ,"suggestedAnswer": [ { "@type": "Answer", "text": "When verifying the price of goods imported from Hong Kong, the customs will refer to the international market price of similar commodities, the applicable conditions of preferential tax rates under CEPA, etc. If the enterprise's declared price is lower than the customs valuation, it is necessary to provide supporting materials such as procurement contracts, payment vouchers, and original factory invoices to prove the authenticity of the price. In 2026, the customs has introduced an artificial intelligence price verification system, which has increased sensitivity to price fluctuations of high-value commodities such as chips. Enterprises shall keep complete price chain vouchers in advance to avoid port detention caused by failed price verification. In addition, if the goods involve royalty fees, they shall be included in the dutiable value at the time of declaration, otherwise they may face subsequent tax supplementation and fines.。", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/hong-kong-import-customs-clearance-required.html#suggestedAnswer-2", "datePublished": "2026-07-23T18:07:25Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Michael Zhang","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/michael-zhang/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The logistics route for goods imported from Hong Kong can be direct sailing or transshipment. In 2026, Shanghai Port has opened a "green channel" for direct sailing goods from Hong Kong, but it needs to meet the condition of prior reporting of the goods list. If transshipment is selected, attention should be paid to the free storage period policy of the transshipment port -- for example, the free storage period for goods transshipped from Hong Kong at Yantian Port in Shenzhen is 7 days, and container detention fees will be incurred if it exceeds. It is recommended that enterprises choose routes according to the urgency of the goods: urgent orders are given priority to direct sailing, and "manifest pre-entry" can be handled in advance through agents; non-urgent orders can choose transshipment, and use the storage resources of the transshipment port to reduce costs. At the same time, the endorsement of the bill of lading shall ensure continuity to avoid disputes in the process of cargo right transfer.。", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/hong-kong-import-customs-clearance-required.html#suggestedAnswer-3", "datePublished": "2026-07-23T17:35:35Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Andy Guo","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/andy-guo/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "VAT deferral policy can be applied for goods imported from Hong Kong. In 2026, Shanghai Customs has expanded the deferral scope to all eligible general taxpayer enterprises. When applying, it is necessary to provide the VAT general taxpayer qualification certificate, import contract and bank guarantee (or margin). VAT deferral can ease the cash flow pressure of enterprises and postpone the VAT payment time to the sales link. However, it should be noted that enterprises need to maintain the matching of input and output during the deferral period. If there is abnormal sales data, the customs may suspend the deferral qualification. In addition, the VAT calculation base for zero-tariff commodities under CEPA is the dutiable value. Enterprises shall calculate accurately to avoid tax risks.。", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/hong-kong-import-customs-clearance-required.html#suggestedAnswer-4", "datePublished": "2026-07-23T17:26:40Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Linda Gao","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/linda-gao/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "The payment and collection of foreign exchange for goods imported from Hong Kong shall comply with the provisions of Announcement No. 12 of 2025 issued by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. Enterprises shall complete RMB cross-border payment through the CIPS system to ensure the consistency of capital flow and document flow. If offshore account payment is adopted, foreign exchange verification shall be completed within 30 days after payment, and materials such as import customs declaration form and invoice shall be provided. In 2026, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange has strengthened the monitoring of payment and collection of foreign exchange for imports from Hong Kong, and will conduct letter verification for abnormal transactions (such as frequent large-value payment and collection). Enterprises shall prepare transaction background certification materials in advance to avoid account freezing. In addition, when the exchange rate fluctuates greatly, the exchange rate risk can be locked through forward foreign exchange settlement and sale.。", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/hong-kong-import-customs-clearance-required.html#suggestedAnswer-5", "datePublished": "2026-07-23T17:07:22Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Eric Zhou","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/eric-zhou/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "If goods imported from Hong Kong involve intellectual property rights (such as chip patents), it is necessary to apply for intellectual property customs protection filing with the General Administration of Customs in advance. In 2026, the filing process has been simplified, materials can be submitted online, and the review time has been shortened to 5 working days. If the goods are identified as infringing by the customs, the enterprise shall provide authorization certificates or patent certificates within 72 hours, otherwise the goods will be seized. In addition, the intellectual property ownership clause shall be specified in the contract to avoid joint and several liability for the enterprise due to the supplier's infringement. It is recommended that enterprises verify the intellectual property status of the goods before procurement to reduce legal risks.。", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/hong-kong-import-customs-clearance-required.html#suggestedAnswer-6", "datePublished": "2026-07-23T17:01:09Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Cindy Chen","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/cindy-chen/"} } , { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Although the inspection rate for goods imported from Hong Kong is low, high-tech products such as chips are prone to random inspection. During inspection, it is necessary to cooperate with customs officers to check the consistency of goods and documents, including commodity name, specification, quantity, etc. In case of abnormal machine inspection, it is necessary to provide detailed goods descriptions and technical parameters in time. In 2026, the customs adopts an intelligent inspection system, which is more strict in identifying the authenticity of seals. Enterprises shall ensure that the seals are intact to avoid cargo detention caused by damaged seals. In addition, if the goods need to be tested, it is necessary to contact the testing institution designated by the customs within 24 hours after the issuance of the inspection notice to speed up the testing process and reduce the port detention time.。", "upvoteCount": 0, "url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/hong-kong-import-customs-clearance-required.html#suggestedAnswer-7", "datePublished": "2026-07-23T16:47:32Z", "author": {"@type": "Person","name": "Lucas Liu","url": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/team/lucas-liu/"} } ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ {"@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/"},{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Freight Forwarding Q&A", "item": "https://www.sh-zhongshen.com/en/qa/cat-freight-forwarding/"} ,{"@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Is Customs Clearance Mandatory for Goods Imported from Hong Kong to the Chinese Mainland?"} ] } ] ```