- Confirm with the carrier or postal operator whether the parcel is eligible for CN22 alone or requires a commercial invoice.
- Collect the order record: seller, buyer, line items, quantities, values, currency, country of origin, HS code candidates.
- Draft the CN22 or CN23 from the postal declaration generator; update every field to match the order record.
- Draft the commercial invoice from the generator if the carrier or destination requires it; line items and totals must match.
- Print, attach, and store copies of every document with the order record and tracking number.
- After dispatch, retain all drafts and supporting order data for any post-mailing follow-up.
Guide
CN22 vs Commercial Invoice: Which Document Goes With the Parcel and Why
Comparison of CN22 and commercial invoice for low-value international parcels, covering who uses each document, when CN22 is enough, when a commercial invoice is required, and how to draft both from one order record.
Answer Summary
Preparation checklist
CN22 is a postal customs declaration form; a commercial invoice is the transactional document for the sale or shipment.
Choose CN22 when the parcel is eligible for low-value postal handling and the postal operator allows it.
Choose a commercial invoice for carrier, broker, or business shipments, regardless of value, when the carrier or destination requires it.
Required fields or decision table
Fields to prepare before the document draft
| Field or decision | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Parcel value, weight, destination, and product category decide whether CN22 alone is allowed or a commercial invoice is required. |
| Document purpose | CN22 declares the parcel for postal customs handling; the commercial invoice records the transaction (parties, value, currency, items). |
| HS code candidate | Both documents may include HS code candidates; verify the full national code in the destination tariff database before filing. |
| Country of origin | Both documents request country of origin; the country where each item was made or substantially transformed. |
| Carrier or postal operator rules | The carrier or postal operator is the source of truth for the final form, not the draft. |
Step-by-step preparation
How to prepare the draft
Ecommerce example
How this looks in a seller workflow
A Shopify seller dispatching a low-value accessory to a UK buyer drafts a CN22 because the parcel value and weight are within CN22 limits and the postal operator allows CN22 alone. For a separate business shipment of 12 units to a US wholesaler, the seller drafts a commercial invoice because the carrier and US Customs require one regardless of value; the seller also includes a CN22 where the postal operator allows it for the same parcel.
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
- Treating CN22 as a replacement for a commercial invoice on a business shipment.
- Skipping the commercial invoice for higher-value or carrier-handled shipments.
- Mismatched values, weights, or HS code candidates between the CN22 and the commercial invoice.
- Skipping country of origin on either document.
- Discarding drafts after mailing instead of retaining them with the order record.
- Trusting a draft without checking carrier or postal operator rules.
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
What is the main difference between CN22 and a commercial invoice?
CN22 is a postal customs declaration used for eligible low-value parcels mailed through a postal operator. A commercial invoice records the transaction (parties, items, values, currency) and is used by carriers, brokers, and buyers for higher-value or business shipments. The two serve different purposes.
Can I use CN22 without a commercial invoice?
Yes, when the parcel is eligible for low-value postal handling and the postal operator allows CN22 alone. For business shipments, higher-value parcels, or carrier-handled shipments, the carrier or destination may require a commercial invoice in addition to or instead of CN22.
Do I need both documents on the same parcel?
Sometimes. When both documents travel with the parcel, the values, weights, line items, HS code candidates, and country of origin must match. Confirm the rule with the carrier or postal operator before attaching both.
Which document is used for higher-value or business shipments?
Business shipments and higher-value parcels typically require a commercial invoice. CN22 may still travel with the parcel if the postal operator allows it. Confirm with the carrier, broker, or destination customs authority before dispatch.
How do HS code candidates overlap between the two documents?
Both documents may include HS code candidates. Use the same working candidate in both, drawn from the AI HS Code Finder or official source, and verify the full national code in the destination tariff database before filing.
Whose rules decide which document I need?
The carrier or postal operator decides which document applies to the parcel. Local destination rules may add further requirements. Treat any draft as preparation aid; the final document 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.