Shipping goods from the United States to Latin America requires proper documentation to ensure your cargo clears customs without delays or penalties. Missing or incorrect paperwork is one of the most common causes of shipment holds, additional fees, and frustrated customers. Here are the five essential documents every exporter needs when shipping to Latin American countries.

1. Commercial Invoice

The commercial invoice is the most important document in international shipping. It serves as the official record of the transaction between buyer and seller and is used by customs authorities to assess duties and taxes. Your commercial invoice must include the names and addresses of the shipper and consignee, a detailed description of the goods, the quantity and unit value of each item, the total shipment value, currency of the transaction, Incoterms (such as FOB, CIF, or EXW), and the country of origin for each product.

Accuracy is critical. Customs authorities in Peru, Ecuador, Panama, and Colombia all require commercial invoices that match the physical cargo exactly.

2. Packing List

The packing list provides a detailed breakdown of how goods are packed within the shipment. While the commercial invoice covers value, the packing list covers the physical details: number of packages, cartons, or pallets, dimensions and weight of each package, contents of each package, and markings and labeling on each package.

Customs inspectors use the packing list to verify that the physical cargo matches the declared contents.

3. Bill of Lading (Ocean) or Air Waybill (Air)

The bill of lading is the contract between the shipper and the ocean carrier. For air shipments, the equivalent is the air waybill. This document serves three purposes: it is a receipt confirming the carrier received the goods, it is a contract of carriage defining the terms of transport, and for ocean freight, the original bill of lading can serve as a document of title.

There are two main types: a straight bill of lading (non-negotiable, consigned directly to the buyer) and an order bill of lading (negotiable, often used with letters of credit).

4. Certificate of Origin

The certificate of origin confirms where your goods were manufactured or produced. This document is especially important for shipments to countries that have free trade agreements with the United States. The US has trade agreements with Peru, Colombia, and Panama that can significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on qualifying products.

Without a valid certificate of origin, your buyer may pay full tariff rates even when preferential rates are available.

5. Import Permits and Product-Specific Certificates

Depending on what you are shipping, additional permits or certificates may be required. Food and agricultural products often require phytosanitary certificates from USDA APHIS. Pharmaceuticals and medical devices need health authority approvals. Electronics may require compliance certificates. Chemicals and hazardous materials require safety data sheets and special transport documentation.

Each Latin American country has its own regulatory agencies. In Peru it is SUNAT and SENASA, in Ecuador it is SENAE and AGROCALIDAD, in Panama it is the Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas, and in Colombia it is DIAN and INVIMA.

How Gloval Shipping Simplifies Documentation

Getting documentation right is where an experienced freight forwarder adds real value. At Gloval Shipping, our customs clearance team handles document preparation, review, and filing for every shipment. With our own offices in Lima, Guayaquil, and Panama City, we manage customs processes at both origin and destination.

Our 20 years of experience on Latin American trade lanes means we know exactly what each country requires and how to avoid common documentation mistakes that cause delays.

5 Essential Documents for Shipping to Latin America