[ GUIDE ]
The documents every ocean importer should have ready
Commercial invoice, packing list, and origin papers, and why a forwarder asks for them before a booking.
Start with two documents
A commercial invoice says what the goods are, what they are worth, and who is selling to whom. A packing list says how they are packed: how many packages, the weights, and the dimensions. Without those two, a forwarder is guessing the freight and the customs entry.
Origin is a duty question, not a logo
A certificate of origin, or an origin statement on the invoice, can change the duty into Spain. It is optional for a first estimate and often required once you are ready to book. The form on a forwarder's link treats it that way.
Quote-only can skip uploads
If you are comparing options, say so. You can mark a document as something the supplier will send, or as something you do not recognise yet. A booking path asks for the invoice and the packing list before the thread is closed.
Does the forwarder file for customs declaration?
Usually yes. You still need an EORI, and you still need the invoice and packing list that the declaration is built from.