- Confirm the parcel is eligible for CN22 by value, weight, and destination rules with the postal operator or carrier.
- Collect sender and recipient details from the order record, not from a shortened label.
- For each item, capture description, quantity, unit weight, unit value, total value, currency, country of origin, and HS code candidate.
- Pick the shipping channel (gift, sale, sample, return, document, other) based on shipment facts.
- Generate the form draft using the CN22 / CN23 Generator and review every field for accuracy.
- Print, attach to the parcel following carrier guidelines, and keep a copy with the order record.
- After dispatch, retain the form copy and tracking number together; updates or claims may rely on this record.
Guide
CN22 Generator Printable PDF: How to Draft a Postal Customs Declaration for Low-Value Parcels
Step-by-step guide to drafting a CN22 postal customs declaration form for low-value parcels, including sender, recipient, contents description, weight, value, HS code candidate, origin, and printable PDF review.
Answer Summary
Preparation checklist
CN22 is a postal customs declaration form used for low-value international parcels mailed through a postal operator.
The form is a preparation draft; carriers and postal operators are the source of truth for the final declaration.
Common preparation fields include sender, recipient, contents description, weight, value, currency, HS code candidate, origin, shipping channel, and signature.
Required fields or decision table
Fields to prepare before the document draft
| Field or decision | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Sender | Full sender name, address, and contact (phone or email). Some carriers require the return address on the form, not only on the parcel. |
| Recipient | Full recipient name, full address including country, and any contact reference. Verify the address before generating the form. |
| Contents description | Item description in plain language. Vague terms such as gift, accessory, or item may trigger customs review; use material + function + product type. |
| Quantity and unit weight | Number of items, unit weight, and total parcel weight. Match the weight on the postal label. |
| Value and currency | Unit value, total value, and currency. The currency on the form must match the postal record. |
| Country of origin | Country where each item was made or substantially transformed. The form may ask for origin per item. |
| HS code candidate | A working HS code candidate per item. The form sometimes accepts the heading or subheading digits; verify in the destination tariff database. |
| Shipping channel | Gift, sale, sample, return, document, or other purpose. The category depends on shipment facts; verify with the carrier if unsure. |
| Signature | Sender signature, where required by the postal operator. Some carriers allow electronic acknowledgement. |
Step-by-step preparation
How to prepare the draft
Ecommerce example
How this looks in a seller workflow
A Shopify seller preparing a low-value parcel to a UK buyer drafts a CN22 form. The parcel contains a small accessory sold for £15, plus a fabric sample. The seller enters sender and recipient details, lists the accessory as a cotton-polyester fabric accessory with country of origin China and HS code candidate 6117, lists the sample as a textile fabric sample, records total parcel weight and currency, picks the channel as sale, generates the form draft, prints it, attaches it to the parcel, and keeps a copy with the order record. If the postal operator requests a different channel or description, the seller updates the draft before re-printing.
Verification checklist
Review the draft before it travels with the shipment
Before a document draft is used, compare it against the order record, product catalog, carrier label, and any destination-specific instructions. The preparation checklist should confirm parties, shipment channel, item descriptions, value, currency, quantity, weight, origin, HS code candidate, and any package or reference fields.
What is required depends on shipment value, carrier, destination, and product facts, so a field that is optional in one postal or carrier workflow may be required in another. When a draft supports a repeated SKU, save the checked inputs with the product record so future shipments start from reviewed data.
Use the draft as a review artifact: it should make weak descriptions, missing origin, inconsistent values, and unsupported HS code candidates easy to spot before the parcel is handed to a postal operator, carrier, marketplace label flow, or freight team.
Common mistakes
What to avoid
- Using vague descriptions such as gift, accessory, or item on the form.
- Entering the wrong total value or currency on the form versus the order record.
- Skipping the country of origin field on the form.
- Attaching the form without checking that weight on the parcel matches weight on the form.
- Using a CN22 draft for a parcel that requires CN23 (value, weight, or destination rules).
- Treating the draft as the final declaration without postal operator confirmation.
Editorial
Editorial review note
Written by the TariffCatalog Editorial Team for ecommerce document preparation workflows. The page is designed as a preparation checklist, not a filing outcome.
Maintained by Ryan Cole, with review focused on ecommerce catalog, document, and source-check workflow clarity.
Document requirements may be required differently by carrier, destination, shipment value, and product facts. Use the methodology, sources, and corrections pages to understand how the page is maintained.
Official source note
References to verify
Use official sources, carrier guidance, postal operator rules, and destination requirements to verify before filing or shipping.
USITC HTS
Use this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
CBPUse this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
EU TARICUse this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
UK Trade TariffUse this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
FAQ
Common questions
When do I need a CN22 form?
Use CN22 for eligible low-value international parcels mailed through a postal operator. Eligibility depends on parcel value, weight, destination, and product category. Confirm with the carrier or postal operator before attaching the form.
What information goes on a CN22 form?
CN22 typically requires sender, recipient, contents description, quantity, weight, value, currency, country of origin, HS code candidate where applicable, shipping channel, and sender signature where required. Carrier-specific fields may apply.
Can CN22 descriptions be vague?
No. Vague descriptions such as gift, accessory, or item may trigger customs review. Use a clear description with material + function + product type, and verify the wording with the postal operator or carrier.
How does CN22 differ from CN23?
CN22 is for eligible low-value parcels; CN23 is used when value, weight, or destination rules exceed the CN22 limits. Use the CN22 / CN23 Generator to produce both drafts when the parcel is borderline, and verify with the carrier or postal operator before mailing.
How do I fill country of origin on CN22?
Enter the country where each item was made or substantially transformed, not the ship-from warehouse. If the form requests a single origin and items have different origins, list the items and origins clearly or use separate forms per origin group.
Should HS code be on CN22?
Some postal operators request a HS code or heading on the form. Use a working HS code candidate from the AI HS Code Finder or official source, and verify in the destination tariff database before mailing. The form is a draft; the final declaration is the responsibility of the sender.
Disclaimer
TariffCatalog provides informational tools and preparation workflows only. Verify final classification, rates, document requirements, and filing treatment with official sources or licensed professionals.