What is Arrival Notice?

An arrival notice is a document sent by a shipping line, freight forwarder, or customs broker to the consignee (the party receiving goods) to inform them that a shipment has arrived or is about to arrive at the destination port. The notice typically includes the vessel name, estimated arrival date, container numbers, bill of lading reference, and any charges due (freight, demurrage, storage). It serves as the trigger for the importer or their broker to begin the customs entry process — filing the entry, paying duties, and arranging for cargo release and delivery.

While arrival notices are not directly part of the refund process, they establish the timeline for when duties were initially assessed. The date of importation recorded when entry is filed after receiving the arrival notice determines whether an entry falls within the CAPE lookback window for refund eligibility.