Formal Clearance process for official US Government Shipments. This is not the process for Diplomatic pouches. Even though this is specific to the US Embassy & DHL Express, the basic process would apply to other embassies & carriers. If you have any questions or any other RFI's, please do not hesitate to contact the Global Public Sector team.

1. DHL Express
PH US Government Exemption Process
Philippines Customs Process

2. Inbound Customs | Philippines | 6/21/2016 Page 2
Philippines Customs Clearance Process
Shipment paperwork (AWB and CI) must be filled out as indicated in the given examples
Pre-alerts of the shipment AWB # and uplift details should be sent to PH DHL & receiver (US
Embassy) by the shipper.
FernandezJ3@state.gov ; DOD_inboundalert@dhl.com ; Cherrie.DelMundo@dhl.com ;
MarieAyla.Elegado@dhl.com ; jr.hautea@dhl.com ; MirandaBM@state.gov
Pre alert email must include the images of the Airwaybill, Commercial Invoice and DD-1149 (if MIL)
(The DOD shipper(s) must pre alert the destination DHL and the US Embassy** in MNL of the PH shipment on
the day of shipping.)
DHL PH will clear the shipment(s) with the US Embassy as the indicated receiver on the Airway bill
and commercial invoice.
DHL PH will then pull the shipment and make delivery according to the address referenced on the
commercial invoice.
If there is no pre-alert to PH DHL & US Embassy or the shipment paperwork is not
filled out as instructed, there will be transit delays.
The US Embassy must be able to identify and verify the “mark for”.

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The Receiving Entity must be
indicated below the Embassy
Address, eg. “M/F FSO” or “M/F
JUSMAG”.
No personal names.
If the Shipper is a Contractor or
Commercial Company, the
shipping address must start with “
US Government C/O”.

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Receiver’s address
For PH Customs purposes
Secondary address:
In the case that delivery should not
be at the US Embassy.
The image of the modified Invoice
must be faxed or emailed to the
origin DHL help desk.

5. Inbound Customs | Philippines | 6/21/2016 Page
Tips to assist the Embassy/NAVSUP & the Commercial Carrier
Secondary delivery address ( in most cases the shipment is not for the embassy )
a) If you do not know the ultimate delivery address in the Philippines, please do
not ship until it is known.
b) If you know the ultimate delivery address, manually add it to the bottom part
of the commercial invoice.
c) Email pre alerts containing the soft images of the airwaybill, commercial
invoice and DD1149/1348 to the Embassy/NAVSUP and DHL contacts.
d) Ensure all the info on the shipment paperwork matches perfectly
Not doing any of the above will result in customs delays and shipments having to be stored.
Both have a negative impact to DHL and the Embassy.
5

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*This process is the same process for shipping Official Diplomatic Material.
*The process is to be used for any official US Government shipment that
needs to be exempted from any PH Import duties and taxes.
*Pre alerts to DHLE PH are always needed particularly for shipments needing
to be delivered to a secondary address. This is an extra service that DHLE PH
has agreed to perform.
*Pre alerts to the US Embassy (by the shipper) are required for all shipments.
*It is important that the Letter of Guarantee and Certificate of Tax Exempt be
provided prior to shipment arrival to facilitate faster clearance.
Philippines Customs Clearance Process - Information
Adobe Acrobat
Document
Double Click
Example Cert.

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Subic Bay “free trade zone”
Shipments are duty/tax free BUT there is a processing fee applied by Subic bay.
Shipments consigned directly to Subic falls under Transhipment Clearance -
where IP (Import Permit) is required prior to Release
A Flat Rate of Php 2500.00 as Transhipment Fee is charged to customer per
AWB regardless of the shipment’s Declared Value
Addressee / Consignee must be SBFZ (Subic Bay Freeport Zone) registered
LOI (List of Importables) are submitted to SBMA (Subic Bay Maritime
Authority) for application of Import Permit (looks like a HS code)
This is done by uploading the List of Items through ETAPS (Electronic Transit
Admission Permit System) –
Import Permit Approval usually takes 2days
And since this is done electronically, if the system is down, further delay will
occur (no Approval can be made)