What happens during a customs hold
Customs & Documentation
3 min read Updated August 2026
A customs hold means your shipment has been flagged for additional review by the customs authority at export or import, and cannot proceed until that review is resolved.
Common causes
- Missing or inconsistent documentation (e.g. invoice value doesn't match the declared HS code's expected range)
- Random or routine inspection selection — not necessarily an indication of a problem
- Regulated commodity requiring a specific licence or certificate that wasn't on file
- Valuation queries — customs requesting justification for a declared value
What ZargoLogix does
Our licensed customs brokers are notified automatically when a hold is applied and begin working the case immediately — this isn't something you need to initiate.
If additional documents or information are needed from you, we contact you directly and explain exactly what's required.
Your tracking status updates to reflect the hold, and we provide an estimate for resolution once we understand the specific reason.
ZargoLogix maintains a 98.4% first-pass clearance rate across our network — holds are the exception, not the norm, and most resolve within a few business days once the required information is provided.
For time-critical shipments held in customs, contact us through the 24/7 Emergency Operations line on the Contact page rather than waiting for a routine status update.
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