Customs Clearance Guide 2026 — Delays, Holds, Import & Export
Customs clearance is the stage of international shipping that causes more confusion, anxiety, and unanswered questions than any other. Your package crosses an ocean in three days and then sits at a US facility for a week with no explanation. Your tracking goes completely silent. Nobody tells you anything.
This guide covers the complete customs clearance process — what it is, how long it actually takes in 2026, why packages get held, what happens during import and export clearance, and exactly what to do when something goes wrong. Whether you’re a shopper waiting on a SHEIN or AliExpress order or a small business owner importing inventory, this is the guide you needed before your shipment got stuck.
What Is Customs Clearance?
Customs clearance is the mandatory process by which imported goods are declared to a country’s border authority, duties and taxes are assessed and paid, and the cargo is officially released for onward movement inside the country.
In the United States, this process is managed by US Customs and Border Protection — CBP. Every commercial shipment entering the US goes through customs clearance, regardless of shipping mode (air, ocean, truck, rail) or declared value. Since May 2025, even low-value packages from China that previously sailed through under the de minimis exemption now go through formal CBP processing.
Customs clearance is not one single step — it’s a sequence of steps that can take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks depending on what’s being shipped, where it came from, and whether everything is in order.
The Full Customs Clearance Process — Step by Step
Understanding the sequence makes every other part of this guide easier to follow.
Step 1 — Pre-arrival filing Before a shipment physically arrives at a US port of entry, the importer or their customs broker files an entry manifest with CBP through the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system — up to 24 hours before arrival for air or ocean cargo. This pre-filing is what allows CBP to start reviewing the shipment before it even lands.
Step 2 — Arrival at port of entry The shipment arrives at a US port — typically Los Angeles, Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, or another major entry point. CBP begins reviewing the entry filing against the shipment’s documentation.
Step 3 — CBP review and risk assessment CBP’s automated system reviews the filing and assigns the shipment to one of three processing channels:
- Green channel (automated release): Low-risk shipment, documentation is complete and correct, duties are calculated automatically, release happens quickly — often under 24 hours for air cargo
- Yellow channel (document review): CBP wants to review documents more closely before releasing. No physical inspection, but additional time is needed to verify paperwork
- Red channel (physical examination): CBP physically inspects the shipment. This is the longest channel and the one that causes significant delays
For a typical commercial package arriving by air, US customs processes it within 24 to 48 hours after arrival. Express courier shipments often clear in under 12 hours.
Step 4 — Duty and fee payment Every commercial import pays two mandatory fees on top of tariff duty: the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) at 0.3464% of declared value, and for ocean shipments only, the Harbor Maintenance Fee (HMF) at 0.125% of declared value. These are calculated and assessed during the review stage.
Step 5 — Release Once CBP is satisfied with the documentation and duties are settled, the shipment is released. This triggers the “Customs Cleared” status in your tracking and the package enters the domestic carrier network for final delivery.
Step 6 — Post-clearance Formal entries — required for goods valued over $2,500 — demand bonds, invoices, bills of lading, and detailed summaries within 10–15 days of arrival or release. For individual shoppers, this stage is handled entirely by the retailer or carrier — you don’t need to do anything.
How Long Does US Customs Clearance Take in 2026?
Typical US customs clearance takes 1 to 5 business days. Air cargo often clears in under 24 hours. Ocean cargo held for exam can take a week or longer.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown by shipment type:
| Shipment Type | Typical Clearance Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Express courier (FedEx/UPS international) | Under 12 hours | Pre-filed, low-risk routes |
| Standard air freight | 24–48 hours | Routine documentation |
| Consolidated air freight (SHEIN/Temu/AliExpress) | 1–5 business days | Post-de minimis processing |
| Ocean freight — automated release | 1–3 business days | At the Port of Los Angeles, average dwell time ranged from 2.55 to 3.25 days throughout 2025 |
| Ocean freight — document review | 3–7 business days | Additional paperwork review |
| Ocean freight — physical exam | 1–3 weeks | Full physical inspection required |
The 2026 reality for SHEIN, Temu, and AliExpress shoppers: Before May 2025, packages valued under $800 from China sailed through customs under the de minimis exemption — often in hours rather than days. That pathway no longer exists.
Every package from China now goes through formal CBP processing, which has added 1–3 days to the customs clearance stage compared to pre-2025 timelines. The 5–15 day “silence” you experience while waiting for a cross-border order is longer in 2026 than it was in 2023 or 2024 for this exact reason.
Export Clearance — What Happens on the Sending Side
Most guides focus entirely on import clearance — what happens when a package arrives in your country. But export clearance happens first, on the sending side, and problems there can delay your shipment before it even leaves the origin country.
Export clearance is the process by which the origin country’s customs authority approves a shipment for departure. In China — the origin of most SHEIN and AliExpress packages — this involves Chinese Customs (GACC) reviewing and releasing outbound cargo.
The key steps in export clearance:
Commercial invoice and packing list: The seller must provide accurate documentation of what’s being shipped, the declared value, quantity, and country of origin. Shippers must provide accurate commercial invoices, packing lists, and customs forms at this stage. Any discrepancies discovered during export review can prevent the shipment from leaving the origin country.
Export license (where required): Certain goods require specific export licenses — technology products, controlled materials, some electronics. Most consumer goods shipped through SHEIN and Temu don’t require special licenses, but if they do and documentation is missing, the shipment doesn’t leave.
Customs declaration: The exporter files an export declaration confirming the shipment details match the documentation. For large retailers like SHEIN processing millions of packages daily, this is largely automated.
Carrier acceptance: Once export clearance is approved, the carrier physically accepts the package into their international network.
For most individual shoppers, export clearance happens invisibly — you never see it in your tracking, and problems are rare because high-volume retailers like SHEIN have highly optimized export documentation processes. But when it does cause a delay, your package can sit in China for 3–7 extra days before even boarding a plane.
Import Clearance — What Happens When Your Package Arrives in the US
Import clearance is the stage most shoppers experience as a tracking black hole. Your package arrives at a US port of entry, the tracking shows something like “Arrived at Destination Country” or “Customs Clearance in Progress” — and then nothing happens for days.
Here’s what’s actually going on during that silence:
Your package is in a CBP processing queue. The tracking system doesn’t generate individual scan updates during customs review because CBP isn’t running packages through carrier scanners — they’re reviewing documentation in their own internal systems. From the outside, this looks identical to a package that’s lost or stuck. From the inside, it’s just a queue.
The tracking status progression during import clearance typically looks like:
| Tracking Status | What It Means |
|---|---|
| “Import Customs Clearance Started” | Broker has filed the entry with CBP |
| “Customs Clearance In Progress” | CBP is actively reviewing the shipment |
| “Import Customs Clearance Completed” | Package has been released — now entering domestic network |
| “Held by Customs” / “Customs Hold” | Something requires additional review — see next section |
Once “Import Customs Clearance Completed” appears, your package moves to the domestic last-mile carrier — SpeedX, USPS, UPS, or FedEx depending on your location — and regular tracking resumes.
Customs Delays — The Most Common Causes in 2026
CBP holds are becoming more common in 2026. Here’s why they happen, ranked by frequency:
1. Incorrect or Missing Documentation
This is the single most common cause of customs delays for both importers and individual shoppers. Certain products require additional documentation beyond standard shipping paperwork. Missing certificates, testing reports, compliance records, permits, or import documentation can delay customs clearance.
For everyday shoppers, you’re rarely in control of this — SHEIN and AliExpress handle their own documentation. But if a retailer’s documentation is incorrect or incomplete for your specific shipment, your package is the one that gets held.
2. Wrong or Mismatched HS Codes
The Harmonized System (HS) Code is the universal classification system for traded goods. Assigning the wrong HS Code is one of the most common reasons for clearance failure. If Customs inspectors determine the physical goods do not match the description of that code, it is flagged as misdeclaration. This leads to immediate administrative fines, a mandatory reassessment of taxes, and your shipment being moved to the Red Channel for physical inspection.
For individual shoppers this is the retailer’s problem, not yours — but the delay lands on you.
3. Random Physical Inspection
CBP selects a percentage of shipments for physical examination regardless of whether documentation is perfect. There’s no reliable way to predict or prevent a random inspection selection. Holds and exams compound standard processing delays, leaving you without stock and with potentially angry customers. For individual packages rather than business shipments, random inspections are relatively infrequent — but they do happen.
4. Restricted or Prohibited Items
Certain products face enhanced scrutiny or are outright prohibited from import. Items that trigger additional review include certain electronics, food products, plants, medications, counterfeit goods, and items subject to trade restrictions. If your package contains something in a restricted category — even if it’s legitimately purchased — expect additional processing time.
5. Value Discrepancies
If the declared value on a package doesn’t match what CBP believes the goods are worth — for example, a package declared at $10 that contains items CBP’s database prices at $80 — it gets flagged for value review. This was historically less common when de minimis covered most individual consumer packages. It’s more common now that every package goes through formal processing.
6. Port Congestion
Even when your documentation is perfect and nothing is wrong with your shipment, port congestion can slow clearance. At the US’s busiest port, the Port of Los Angeles, average dwell time for shipping containers ranged from 2.55 to 3.25 days throughout 2025 — and that’s just for standard container processing. Peak periods — Chinese New Year recovery, post-holiday import surges, and times of geopolitical trade disruption — extend these waits.
Customs Holds — What They Are and What Happens
A customs hold is the formal status CBP assigns when a shipment requires additional review, inspection, or resolution before it can be released. Your shipment arrives at the port, only to be met with an unexpected delay due to a customs hold.
There are several types of customs holds, each with different timelines and resolution requirements:
Document Hold
CBP needs additional documentation to verify what’s in the shipment. The importer or their broker is notified and given an opportunity to provide the missing documents. A best practice for importers is to be prepared for a hold to occur rather than assuming it won’t. The following four documents will likely contain information CBP wants to verify or have corrected: commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading/airway bill, and entry summary.
Document holds typically resolve in 2–5 business days once the correct documentation is submitted.
Examination Hold (X-ray or Physical)
CBP physically examines the shipment. Two types:
Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII): X-ray or scanning of the container or package without opening it. Faster — typically adds 1–3 days.
Intensive Examination: CBP physically opens and inspects the shipment. This is the slowest type — can add 5–15 business days and involves unloading containers, inspecting contents, and reloading if the shipment is cleared.
FDA, USDA, or Other Agency Hold
Some goods require review by agencies beyond CBP. Food products are reviewed by the FDA. Plants and agricultural products go through the USDA. Medical devices have their own regulatory review. These multi-agency holds can take significantly longer — weeks in some cases — because the package is waiting for a separate agency’s review queue, not just CBP’s.
Trade Compliance Hold
Shipments flagged for potential trade violations — counterfeit goods, goods from sanctioned countries, items that may violate intellectual property rights — are held pending legal review. These are the most serious holds and can result in seizure rather than release.
Customs Holds in 2026 — What’s Changed
Since CBP holds are becoming more common in 2026, sellers must build inventory strategies that account for potential disruptions in the import process.
Several factors have increased the frequency and duration of customs holds in 2026 compared to previous years:
End of de minimis exemption (May–August 2025): The single biggest change. Before May 2025, packages from China under $800 bypassed formal customs entry. Now they all go through CBP’s formal process. The result: CBP is processing dramatically more individual packages than it was two years ago, with the same infrastructure and staffing — creating longer queues.
Increased trade enforcement activity: In the context of ongoing US-China trade policy, CBP has increased enforcement activity on China-origin shipments in 2026. More shipments are being selected for review and examination than in previous years.
New tariff structures: With tariff rates on many goods having changed significantly in 2025 and 2026, CBP is reviewing more shipments to ensure accurate duty calculation — particularly on product categories where rates have changed substantially.
In 2026, with over 90% of e-commerce orders shipping to residential addresses and new customs pre-clearance requirements taking effect, understanding this critical step can mean the difference between on-time delivery and costly delays.
What to Do If Your Package Is Stuck at Customs
For shoppers (SHEIN, Temu, AliExpress orders):
Wait up to 5 business days before doing anything. Customs silence of 1–5 days is completely normal in 2026. Your package is in a queue, not lost.
Check both tracking numbers. For SHEIN and AliExpress orders, you have two tracking numbers — one for the international leg (LP/Cainiao number) and one for the domestic last-mile (SPX for SpeedX, or a USPS number). Make sure you’re checking the right one for the right stage. If customs hasn’t cleared yet, your SPX number will show nothing — that’s expected.
Contact your retailer after 10 business days. If your package has been showing customs-related status for more than 10 business days with no update, contact SHEIN, Temu, or AliExpress through their in-app support. They have visibility into the logistics chain that you don’t have as an individual recipient.
Don’t contact CBP directly. Individual shoppers cannot open customs inquiries with CBP — only licensed customs brokers and importers of record can do this. Your retailer is your only lever here.
Open a buyer protection dispute if needed. If your package has been stuck at customs for more than 20 days and your retailer isn’t resolving it, open a formal dispute through SHEIN’s app, Temu’s Get Help flow, or AliExpress’s dispute system. Customs delays qualify for buyer protection claims on most platforms.
For small business importers:
Have a licensed customs broker on call. This is the single most important thing a business importer can do. Being unprepared when CBP notifies you of a hold or exam will only stretch the timeline of resolving your issue out even more. Preparing for the possibility of a customs hold or exam means having ready access to all of your customs and shipping documents.
Respond to CBP requests immediately. When CBP requests additional documentation, every hour of delay on your end extends the hold. Have your commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and entry summary ready to provide within hours of being notified.
Maintain safety stock. Effective inventory planning starts with understanding supplier lead times, shipping transit times, and customs clearance risks. Maintaining safety stock is one of the most effective ways to protect against unexpected disruptions. In 2026, assuming every shipment will clear customs on schedule is a risky strategy for businesses that run lean inventory.
How to Avoid Customs Delays on Future Shipments
Most customs delays are preventable. Here’s what actually reduces the risk:
Accurate declared values. Don’t undervalue shipments. Value discrepancies are one of CBP’s primary triggers for additional review, and the penalties for deliberate undervaluation are severe. For individual shoppers, this is the retailer’s responsibility — but it’s worth knowing that when a retailer undervalues packages to reduce duties, it increases the risk of your specific package being held.
Complete and accurate documentation from day one. The commercial invoice must match the packing list, which must match the bill of lading, which must match the entry filing. Any discrepancy between documents — even minor ones like mismatched weights or spelling differences in product descriptions — can trigger a documentation hold.
Correct HS codes. For business importers, using a licensed customs broker to verify HS code classification before filing prevents the single most common clearance failure. Assigning the wrong HS Code is the single most common reason for clearance failure.
Pre-clearance filing. Filing entry paperwork before the shipment arrives — not after — allows CBP to complete their automated review during transit rather than after arrival. This is standard practice for established importers and significantly reduces clearance time once the shipment lands.
Avoid prohibited and restricted items. Research import requirements for specific product categories before shipping — particularly for electronics, food items, plants, medications, and branded goods.
Customs Clearance Tracking Statuses — Quick Reference
| Status | What It Means | Action Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Customs Clearance Started | CBP entry has been filed | No — wait |
| Customs Clearance In Progress | CBP reviewing documentation | No — wait |
| Customs Clearance Completed | Released — entering domestic network | No — track via carrier |
| Held by Customs | Additional review required | Contact retailer if 10+ days |
| Customs Hold — Document Request | CBP needs additional paperwork | Business: provide docs immediately |
| Physical Examination | Package being physically inspected | No — wait 5–15 business days |
| Seized by Customs | Package detained for violation | Consult a customs attorney |
Quick Reference Summary
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How long does US customs clearance take? | 1–5 business days typically; up to 3 weeks if held for exam |
| Why is my package stuck at customs? | Documentation review, random inspection, or volume backlog |
| Does customs silence mean something is wrong? | No — normal for 1–5 business days |
| Who do I contact if my package is stuck? | Your retailer — individual shoppers can’t contact CBP directly |
| What changed in 2026? | De minimis exemption ended — all China packages now formally processed |
| When should I open a buyer protection dispute? | After 20+ business days with no customs clearance |
| Can I speed up customs clearance? | Not as a shopper — only the importer/retailer can take action |
Waiting for a Package That’s Cleared Customs?
Once your SHEIN, Temu, or AliExpress package clears US customs and SpeedX picks it up for last-mile delivery, track your current delivery status in real time using our free tracker.
