The full import process, step by step

The first time you bring goods into Taiwan from abroad, the most common worry is “I have no idea what steps are involved.” This is a plain-English walkthrough of one import shipment, from the first quote all the way to your warehouse

1. Get a ballpark first: quote and estimate

Before you commit to an order, nail down three numbers: freight, customs duty, and the HS code. Freight depends on whether you go by ocean (figured on volume, in CBM) or by air (figured on chargeable weight); duty depends on the product's HS code and its customs value. This step doesn't require handing over your phone number first — free online tools get you a ballpark, so you've got a sense of the numbers going in

2. Booking and pickup

Once you've decided to import, you book space with your freight forwarder (a container slot for ocean, a flight slot for air) and arrange pickup and loading at origin. What matters in this stretch is timing and documents: the bill of lading (B/L or AWB), commercial invoice, and packing list all need to be in order, or the customs declaration further down the line gets stuck

3. Customs declaration

Once the cargo reaches port, it has to be declared to Customs — that's the “customs declaration.” Your customs broker handles tariff classification (which sets the duty rate), prepares the entry, and files it with Customs. Misclassifying the HS code means overpaying duty or getting the entry rejected, which is why this step is where the expertise sits. Jumping Freight's brokerage is in-house — checked hands-on by our own customs-brokerage family, handled end-to-end

4. Duty and clearance

After Customs reviews the entry, it assesses the duties and taxes owed (customs duty plus business tax, and commodity tax or others where they apply); once you've paid and passed inspection, the cargo is “cleared.” Items more likely to be pulled for inspection (food, special materials, IP-sensitive goods) need extra lead time built in

5. Release and delivery

Once Customs releases the cargo, we arrange inland trucking and home delivery to get it to your warehouse or store. The whole way, Jumping Freight gives you a LINE update on which stage you're at — no need to keep chasing

How long does it take?

Total time varies with the route, the goods, and inspection. Ocean freight is usually measured in weeks, air in days; when the declaration goes smoothly, release is mostly within a few working days of the cargo arriving. Actual timing depends on the specific sailing and Customs conditions — here we're giving you the framework, not made-up numbers