DHL Label not generating customs form anymore - anyone else?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

A user encountered an issue where DHL shipping labels no longer include attached customs forms, with only the label and packing slip appearing in the printing documents section.

Possible Explanations:

  • Paperless Trade (PLT) Service: The shipment may be using DHL’s electronic customs submission system, which eliminates physical customs documents. Look for “C-PLT” markings on the label or “Paperless Trade” notes in shipment details to confirm this is active.

  • Incomplete Product Information: Missing or incomplete product data (HS codes, country of origin, detailed descriptions) can prevent customs forms from generating automatically.

Suggested Actions:

  • Verify all product listings contain required customs information
  • Check if PLT is enabled for the shipment
  • Manually create customs forms through the DHL account if needed
  • Contact Shopify or DHL support for clarification if the issue persists
Summarized with AI on October 28. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

Hey folks,

I just printed a DHL label and noticed there is no custom form attached anymore. I checked under the " shipping Label- printing documents" section too , but only the label and packing slip are showing - no custom paperwork at all.

Has anyone else experienced this or know what might be causing it? Appreciate any insight!

2

It sounds like your shipment may be using DHL’s Paperless Trade (PLT) service, which electronically submits customs documents directly to customs authorities. This would explain why no physical customs form is printing with your label. You can usually confirm this by checking for a “C-PLT” marking on your shipping label or a note mentioning “Paperless Trade” in the shipment details. If PLT is active, there’s no need to attach any physical customs documents everything is handled electronically. However, if you don’t see those indicators, PLT might not be enabled, and missing customs info during label creation could be preventing the forms from generating.

3

Yes, this can happen if DHL no longer auto-generates customs documents for certain international shipments or if the product information is incomplete. Make sure your product listings include harmonized system (HS) codes, country of origin, and detailed descriptions. If everything looks correct, you may need to manually create the customs forms through your DHL account or contact Shopify/DHL support for clarification.