How to Export Cosmetics From Korea: The 6-Step Process

How to export cosmetics from Korea, in six steps: confirm the product can enter the destination market, agree the quotation and contract terms (Incoterms® rules), settle the payment method, file the export declaration through Korea Customs’ UNI-PASS system, arrange transport and insurance, then send the shipping documents.

Under the Customs Act the export declaration comes before the goods leave, and once it is accepted the goods must be loaded within 30 days.

The steps below show what each stage involves. Whether you are a Korean brand exporting for the first time or an overseas buyer who wants to know what your supplier has to do, the sequence is the same.

Step 1: Before you export cosmetics from Korea, check destination entry rules

An export is two procedures that must match: leaving Korea and entering the buyer’s country. If the goods cannot clear customs at destination, a perfect Korean export declaration does not help.

• pre-market notification or registration rules and any local responsible person
• ingredient restrictions and product classification, for example whether sunscreen counts as a drug
• labelling: local language, importer details, warnings
• whether the buyer can act as importer of record

Step 2: Agree the quotation, contract and Incoterms® rule

Alongside products, quantities and prices, the quotation must state the trade term. The usual reference is the ICC’s Incoterms® 2020, which allocates freight, insurance, export and import clearance and the point where risk passes.

• Write the rule, named place and edition together, for example “FCA Incheon, Incoterms® 2020”.
• FOB vs EXW vs DDP compares who pays what under the most common rules.

Step 3: Settle the payment method

The main options are telegraphic transfer (T/T), letters of credit (L/C) and documentary collections (D/P, D/A). The right one depends on whether it is a first order, its value and how much you know about the buyer’s credit. T/T vs letter of credit explains the trade-offs. Agree payment and the Incoterms® rule together so the documents line up.

Step 4: File the export declaration through UNI-PASS

Article 241 of Korea’s Customs Act¹ requires anyone exporting goods to declare their description, specification, quantity and price to customs. Declarations are made in the name of the owner of the goods or a licensed customs broker, and an export declaration may also be made in the name of the manufacturer that supplied the goods (Article 242).

Under Korea Customs Service’s notice on export and return clearance², the declaration is filed with the customs office responsible for where the goods are located, by sending the electronic declaration and supporting documents such as the invoice through the customs system, UNI-PASS³. One declaration is made per loading unit (B/L or AWB). In practice most exporters use a customs broker.

• Loading deadline: accepted goods must be loaded onto the vessel or aircraft within 30 days of acceptance, or customs may cancel the acceptance (Article 251).
• HS code: the declaration needs a tariff classification; see HS codes for cosmetics.
• Declaration types: besides the standard declaration there are simplified routes for e-commerce goods and list-based clearance for small consignments; see Korea export declaration types.

Step 5: Choose transport and insurance

Air freight is fast but costly and restricts items classed as dangerous goods, such as perfume and aerosols. Sea freight is slower but cheaper per unit at volume. Air vs sea freight for cosmetics compares them in detail.

Who insures depends on the Incoterms® rule. Under CIF and CIP the seller must arrange insurance; under other rules the party carrying the risk insures as it sees fit.

Step 6: Send the shipping documents

After shipment the seller sends the documents the buyer needs for import clearance and payment. Typically:

• commercial invoice and packing list
• bill of lading (B/L) or air waybill (AWB)
• the Korean export declaration certificate
• a certificate of origin where required; Korea certificate of origin explains the types
• any product documents the destination requires

Under a letter of credit, every document must match the credit’s terms exactly for the seller to be paid.

Related reading: Korea export declaration types · HS codes for cosmetics · Korea certificate of origin · FOB vs EXW vs DDP · T/T vs letter of credit · Air vs sea freight

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See also: Export documents checklist · Export agency vs distributor · Brand export readiness

Incoterms® and the Incoterms® 2020 logo are trademarks of ICC. Use of these trademarks does not imply association with, approval of or sponsorship by ICC unless specifically stated above. The Incoterms® Rules are protected by copyright owned by ICC.

Notes

1. Korea’s Ministry of Government Legislation, 관세법, verified 2026-10-25. ↩

2. Korea’s Ministry of Government Legislation, 수출 및 반송통관에 관한 고시, verified 2026-10-25. ↩

3. Korea Customs Service, 국가관세종합정보시스템 서비스, verified 2026-10-25. ↩