Carrying Hardware Samples Through Shenzhen Customs

If you are bringing a prototype to a Shenzhen supplier or taking purchased samples home, settle the customs plan before packing. China’s Customs Announcement No. 43 of 2025, effective from 1 April 2025, lists goods, samples and advertising materials among items requiring written declaration on both entry and exit. Recognise the Chinese wording 货物、货样、广告品.

This guide was checked on 2 November 2026. It covers passenger declaration preparation; an individual product’s classification, taxes and permits still need to be resolved with Customs or your customs agent.

Choose the declaration channel

Under Customs Order No. 276, travellers who must declare, or who do not know the rules or which channel to choose, must use the red channel (红色通道). Shenzhen’s English customs guide gives the same direction for uncertain travellers.

Order No. 276 also limits baggage to reasonable quantities for personal use; quantities beyond that are handled as goods. For a sourcing trip, do not infer an exemption from a sample’s small size or low purchase price. Ask how your actual items should be processed before organising collection or a border connection.

Prefill electronically, then complete the formalities

Announcement No. 43 allows paper declarations or electronic data. You can prefill through the WeChat or Alipay mini-program named 海关进出境人员指尖服务, or the available web channel. At entry or exit, confirm that data at the declaration counter or other designated location and undergo Customs verification.

Order No. 276 requires your valid entry/exit document, the paper form or confirmed electronic data, and applicable permits or supporting documents. Prefilling alone does not finish the procedure: Article 11 treats a required declaration as not made if the prescribed steps are incomplete before Customs starts an inspection.

Look for 申报台 (declaration counter). Keep the items accessible and allow time for staff to examine the declaration and equipment.

Taking the same equipment back out?

Article 13 of Order No. 276 provides for written registration of temporarily entering or leaving baggage, a guarantee as prescribed, and Customs approval with an endorsed record. On the return movement, Customs uses that record to verify the items.

Ask in advance whether this route applies to your demonstration equipment and what guarantee and records are required. “I will take it home again” is not a substitute for completing the agreed procedure. This guide does not determine whether a commercial exhibition shipment qualifies as passenger baggage.

Prepare a sample file before your supplier visit

The following is our practical preparation list, rather than a universal set of mandatory documents:

• Inventory each item with a plain description, model, quantity and serial number where available.
• Save invoices or other value evidence and the supplier’s contact details.
• Explain the purpose: demonstration, evaluation, repair, delivery or another use; identify what will remain and what will return.
• Photograph labels and record battery specifications separately.
• Ask your customs agent or Customs about the appropriate procedure, required permits and any guarantee before committing to transport.
• Keep endorsed records and check that they identify the equipment you will later present.

Our hardware manufacturing guide helps organise supplier and sample records; the Huaqiangbei guide covers purchase checks.

Confirm the carrier’s acceptance separately, especially for battery-powered products. Use the power-bank and battery-sample flight guide before arranging a flight. For a journey through Hong Kong, also check the requirements for each customs territory and your onward destination; the Hong Kong–Shenzhen travel guide covers the passenger journey.