UPS tracking status

UPS “Clearance in progress”: what it means

The short answer

Keep an eye on it

Your package is in the destination country and going through customs. UPS says all US imports are now subject to duties, taxes and fees, so expect a payment request unless the sender prepaid them. If documents are missing, UPS contacts you or the sender.

When to act: If nothing moves for a week and UPS has not asked you for anything, file a complaint and we send it to UPS.

Also shown as: “Import Scan” · “Your package is at the clearing agency awaiting final release.” · “Clearance Information Required” · “Additional documentation is required for clearance. We're working to obtain this information.” · “UPS initiated contact with receiver or importer for clearance information. Once received, UPS will submit for clearance.” · “The receiver must pay the duties or taxes due on the package.” · “Your package is pending release from a government agency. Release of the package to UPS may take up to 10 days.”

What to do now

Open the tracking page and look for a yellow banner. It says what UPS needs, such as documents or a payment.
If duties or taxes are due, pay with Pay Now on the UPS tracking page before delivery to avoid an extra fee at the door.
If you get a text or email about customs, check it against the tracking page before you pay. UPS says its real texts come from 75137 or 24031.
Keep your order confirmation at hand. If UPS asks you, as the importer, what the goods are and what you paid, the answers are there.
Save screenshots of the tracking lines and any banner, with the dates.
Still not sorted? File your complaint here. We write it with you and send it to UPS, so you do not have to chase it yourself.

Start my complaint

What does “Clearance in progress” mean?

'Import Scan' is the first scan in the destination country. 'Clearance in Progress' means the package is being cleared through customs, usually with UPS acting as the customs broker. UPS says customs delays can be caused by incorrect or missing documents, or by duties or taxes that need to be paid, and that the tracking page shows a yellow banner saying what is needed.

Lines such as 'Clearance Information Required' or 'UPS initiated contact with receiver or importer for clearance information' mean UPS is waiting for an answer, often from you as the importer. If duties are due, UPS shows a Pay Now option before delivery for eligible packages. Paying online in advance avoids an extra fee that UPS otherwise charges US recipients when duties are collected at delivery.

Why does UPS show it?

Routine processing after the package arrives in the country
A missing or incomplete commercial invoice
An unclear item description or value
Duties or taxes that must be paid
Extra checks for certain goods, such as food, medicine or cosmetics
A customs inspection of the contents
Slow broker processing during busy periods

How long does it last?

Once customs releases the package, tracking usually shows 'Your package was released by the clearing agency' and it continues to you through the normal network. Routine clearance often takes a day or two. Missing documents, unpaid duties or extra checks take longer, and one UPS message warns that release may take up to 10 days. That message can also appear before the package leaves the origin country, when an export authority there has to release it.

Other UPS statuses

Label createdNormal
DelayKeep an eye on it
Delivered but not receivedTake action
Out for deliveryNormal
On the wayNormal
ExceptionKeep an eye on it
Delivery attemptedTake action
Address information requiredTake action
Warehouse scanKeep an eye on it

All UPS statuses →

Who is responsible for a late or missing package from UPS?

If you bought it online from a business, the seller is usually responsible until the package is delivered to you. The seller chose UPS, paid for the shipping and is the one UPS pays on a claim, so a late, lost or damaged order is in most cases for the seller to put right, with a replacement or a refund.

If you sent the package yourself, your contract is with UPS, under the UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service. UPS's liability is limited to $100 per package unless you declared a higher value and paid for it when shipping, and UPS is not liable for late delivery except on services sold with its service guarantee.

Questions about “Clearance in progress”

What does Import Scan mean on UPS?

Your package has arrived in the destination country and was scanned in at the import facility. Customs clearance usually comes next.

How long does UPS Clearance in Progress take?

UPS gives no fixed time. Routine packages often clear within a day or two. Missing documents, unpaid duties or extra checks can take longer.

Do I have to pay duties on a UPS package?

Usually, for US imports. UPS says all shipments imported into the US are now subject to duties, taxes and fees, and the receiver pays unless the sender did. Where tracking offers Pay Now, paying before delivery avoids UPS's extra collection fee.

Is a text asking me to pay UPS customs fees real?

It may be fake. UPS says its real texts come from 75137 or 24031 and its real links only go to UPS's own website. If you are asked to pay for a package, UPS advises tracking it yourself first and using Pay Now on the tracking page.

Based on

UPS: My package is being held in customs
UPS: Understanding import fees
UPS: Tracking support FAQ
Paketda: UPS status 'Import Scan' (German)
Paketda: UPS status 'Your package is pending release from a government agency' (German)
UPS: File a claim
UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States (PDF)