Most international packages clear U.S. Customs within one to three business days. Express couriers like FedEx, UPS, and DHL often move shipments through in under 48 hours because their brokerage teams pre-clear electronically before the plane lands. Ocean freight takes longer, typically three to seven business days. Those numbers assume clean paperwork and no red flags. A package pulled for inspection or missing a document can sit for days or weeks, and since the $800 duty-free threshold was suspended in 2025, more packages now require duty assessment than before, which adds a step to the process for shipments that used to sail through.
Typical Timeframes by Shipping Method
There is no single official number, because clearance time depends on how the package traveled, what’s inside, and whether anything catches an officer’s attention. The working ranges look like this:
- Express couriers (FedEx, UPS, DHL): one to two business days. These carriers have dedicated customs brokerage teams and pre-clear many shipments electronically before arrival.
- Air cargo and USPS international mail: one to three business days under normal conditions. USPS routes international mail through one of five International Service Centers, in New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, where CBP screens it before releasing it into the domestic mail stream.
- Ocean freight: three to seven business days, sometimes longer when ports are congested.
- Peak holiday season, roughly November through January: add a day or two across every method as volume strains processing capacity.
When CBP decides to look closer, add time. A simple document hold often resolves within one to three business days once the right paperwork is submitted. A full physical inspection can add several days to two weeks or more, depending on the port’s exam schedule and how backed up the facility is.
What Slows a Package Down
A few things account for most delays.
Paperwork Problems
Incomplete or inaccurate customs declarations are the single most common cause of preventable delays. Every international package needs a form describing the contents, their value, and their country of origin. Mail shipments use a CN22 for low-value items or a CN23 for higher-value or commercial ones. Courier and freight shipments use a commercial invoice. A missing form, a vague description like “gift” or “merchandise,” or an obviously understated value gives CBP a reason to stop the package and ask questions.
What’s in the Box
Some product categories automatically pull in additional agencies. Food, dietary supplements, and pharmaceuticals trigger FDA review. Electronics that emit radio frequencies fall under FCC import rules.1eCFR. 47 CFR Part 2 Subpart K – Importation of Devices Capable of Causing Harmful Interference Fresh fruits, meats, and plant materials need USDA clearance. Each extra review adds time.
Where It Came From
Packages from countries under enhanced trade enforcement or sanctions face closer scrutiny. Since 2025, shipments from China and Hong Kong have moved through especially intensive processing because the de minimis exemption was suspended for those origins before it was suspended globally.2The White House. Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries Packages from countries under U.S. sanctions, including Cuba and Iran, generally cannot enter without a specific license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control.3U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Prohibited and Restricted Items
Inspections
CBP uses risk-based targeting to flag high-risk shipments and also selects packages randomly. Most screening happens through non-intrusive X-ray scanning.4U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Cargo Examinations If the scan raises questions, a physical exam follows. Nothing prevents a random pull, but accurate paperwork and a clear description of contents reduce the odds of a targeted hold.
The 2025 De Minimis Change and Why It Matters for Wait Times
Until mid-2025, packages valued at $800 or less entered duty-free under the Section 321 de minimis exemption. That exemption was suspended in stages during 2025 and, as of August 29, 2025, no longer applies to shipments from any country.2The White House. Suspending Duty-Free De Minimis Treatment for All Countries The practical effect on timing: packages that used to bypass duty assessment now require entry filing and may owe duties and taxes regardless of value. That’s an extra step in the clearance chain for a much larger share of incoming shipments.
Duties are calculated from the item’s classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule and its declared value, so rates vary by product. If duties are assessed, CBP will not release the package until payment is arranged.5eCFR. 19 CFR Part 142 – Entry Process Shipments under $2,500 generally qualify for informal entry, a simplified process with less paperwork.6U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Filing an Informal Entry for Goods That Are Less Than $2500 in Value Above that value, formal entry usually involves a licensed customs broker and more detailed documents, which adds time.
What “Held at Customs” Actually Means
When a package arrives at a U.S. port of entry, CBP moves it through several stages. Understanding those stages helps explain why tracking can freeze on a single status for days.
First, CBP reviews the shipping manifest and customs declaration, checking the declared contents and value against the carrier’s records. Automated systems flag inconsistencies, restricted goods, or shipments from high-risk origins. Most packages clear this electronic screening without a human ever touching them.
If something triggers a closer look, the package moves to secondary review. An officer examines the documentation in detail and may order an X-ray or physical inspection. Officers can open the package to verify the contents match the declaration.4U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Cargo Examinations If CBP formally detains the package, they must notify the importer or recipient within five business days, explaining why it was detained, what tests or inquiries are underway, and how long they expect the detention to last.7eCFR. 19 CFR 151.16 – Detention of Merchandise
Once CBP is satisfied and any duties are accounted for, the package is released to the carrier. For USPS shipments, it re-enters the domestic mail network. For FedEx, UPS, and DHL, it moves into the carrier’s standard delivery pipeline. Tracking should update to show it has cleared. If duties were assessed and the carrier paid them on your behalf, expect a bill, plus a brokerage or advancement fee that typically runs from roughly $10 to $50 for ground and economy shipments.
What to Do If Your Package Is Stuck
Start with the tracking number. Most delays have a plain explanation in the tracking history, like “held at customs” or “awaiting clearance.” If nothing has moved for more than a week, work through these steps.
Contact the Carrier, Not CBP
The shipping carrier is your point of contact. CBP handles inquiries through the carrier or the importer of record, not directly with recipients.8U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Importers – I Ordered Goods From Abroad, but the Seller Said They Are Being Held Up by CBP Ask for specifics: is the hold about a document, an unpaid duty, or an inspection? The carrier can usually tell you exactly what’s needed.
Check Your Mail and Email
A hold often means CBP or the carrier needs something from you: additional documentation, a more detailed description of contents, or payment of assessed duties. Duties must be paid before goods are released.8U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Importers – I Ordered Goods From Abroad, but the Seller Said They Are Being Held Up by CBP CBP accepts electronic payments including credit cards and ACH transfers through its Pay.gov portal for non-commercial entries.9U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Acceptable Electronic Payment Methods Ignoring a duty notice keeps the package stuck indefinitely.
File a USPS Missing Mail Inquiry
For USPS shipments, you can file a missing mail inquiry after a waiting period. Priority Mail International and Registered Mail inquiries can be filed as soon as seven days after mailing. For Global Express Guaranteed, the window opens three days after mailing or the scheduled delivery date, whichever is later.10Postal Explorer. International Mail Manual – 9 Inquiries and Claims
Loop in the Sender
If the carrier can’t resolve it, go back to the seller or shipper. The sender created the shipping documentation and is in the best position to correct paperwork errors, provide missing invoices, or start a formal trace. If the package is ultimately lost or seized, most reputable sellers will reship or refund.