One-day Clearance

Same-Day Customs Clearance at Imam Khomeini Airport

Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) is Tehran’s principal international gateway and the main hub for air cargo in Iran. Located 30 km southwest of the city and connected to major transit highways, IKA handles around 142,000 tonnes of air freight and over 7 million passengers per year. With its modern facilities and 24/7 customs operations, IKA is recognized as Iran’s largest aviation customs center and a key Middle East hub for fast import and export processing. Its state-of-the-art terminals, specialized cargo warehouses and on-site customs offices are explicitly designed to expedite clearance for airlines and shippers, giving speed-oriented traders a strategic advantage.

What Is Same-Day Clearance?

Same-day clearance (Persian: ترخیص یک‌روزه) refers to completing all customs formalities and releasing a shipment within the same business day it arrives at the airport. In practice, this means that as soon as the cargo lands or is offloaded, all declarations, inspections, duty payments and paperwork are handled immediately so the goods can leave customs by day’s end. Same-day clearance is especially valuable for time-sensitive imports – for example, perishable products, urgent production inputs or high-season retail goods. While standard clearance often takes several days, an experienced broker can, under ideal conditions, process a compliant shipment in just hours. As one industry source observes, with expert handling “yes – it is possible to clear goods from Iranian customs in one day…provided a specialized team familiar with the regulations is used”. The keys are having all documents and permits ready in advance and a customs agent who prioritizes the shipment through each administrative step without delay.

TAV360’s Same-Day Clearance Services

TAV360 offers comprehensive customs brokerage tailored for IKA same-day clearance. As an international trade services firm, it handles every required step of import logistics. Services include:

• Import consulting and order registration. We guide clients through the NTSW (National Trade Single Window) registration process and secure any needed import licenses from the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade.
• Document preparation and review. Our team compiles and checks all paperwork (invoices, packing lists, certificates, etc.) in advance to avoid any holdups.
• Customs representation. On arrival, our licensed agents liaise directly with IKA customs officials for declarations, inspections and tariff classification, using our long-term relationships and priority channels.
• In-house warehousing and logistics. TAV360 can arrange for bonded storage in IKA’s cargo zone to position goods for rapid release, akin to PDE’s exclusive warehouse facility which enables easier one-day clearance.
• Regulatory compliance. We ensure compliance with all relevant Iranian regulations (e.g. NTWS/EPL systems) and coordinate any specialized approvals (health, environment, safety, etc.) needed for the cargo.

Throughout, TAV360 emphasizes speed, accuracy and reliability. The company’s website stresses that “each day of delay in customs means higher warehousing costs, frozen capital and supply-chain disruption,” and that their 20+ years of experience have produced processes “optimized for time as well as accuracy and legal compliance”tav360.com. In short, TAV360 turns a normally complex procedure into a streamlined, fast-track service for its import clients.

Step-by-Step Clearance Process

The same-day clearance workflow at IKA involves several sequential steps. An experienced broker like TAV360 can coordinate all of these in parallel where possible. The typical process is:

1. Import order registration (NTSW) – The importer registers the goods in the national trade system (NTSW/National Trade Single Window) and obtains any required import permits from government agencies.
2. Arrival and paperwork check – Upon the flight’s landing, the cargo is delivered to IKA customs. TAV360 submits the commercial invoice, packing list, airway bill (AWB or cargo manifest) and any certificates or licenses required. Customs officials review the documents and verify the shipment’s tariff classification.
3. Customs inspection and valuation – Customs may perform a physical check or verify details electronically. Based on the declared HS code and invoice value, the system calculates import duties and taxes. (In Iran, duties are typically a percentage of the declared value, as stipulated by the customs tariff schedule.)
4. Duty/payment – The importer pays the assessed duties and VAT. This is done via authorized banks or the electronic government payment portal, often with TAV360’s guidance to ensure the payment posts quickly.
5. Release and delivery – Once taxes are paid and all formalities cleared, customs signs off on the goods’ release. The shipment is cleared from IKA’s bonded warehouse and can be picked up by the importer or forwarder.

By tightly coordinating these steps and pre-clearing as much documentation as possible, TAV360 regularly completes the entire cycle within hours. Each phase overlaps intelligently under expert direction, so that no stage causes unnecessary wait time.

Required Documents

For same-day clearance, having complete and accurate documentation is critical. Required paperwork typically includes:

• Commercial invoice – A detailed sales invoice showing product descriptions, values and terms. (Customs needs this to calculate duties.)
• Packing list – Lists weights, dimensions and contents of each package or pallet.
• Air waybill (AWB) or cargo manifest – The airline’s shipping document detailing flight, flight number, weight, and handling instructions.
• Customs permits/certificates – Depending on the goods, various permits may apply: e.g. Certificate of Origin, health/food safety certificates, plant/animal quarantine permits, standardization or energy approvals, etc. These must be obtained prior to arrival.
• Importer’s trade code and broker’s authorization – The importer’s Iranian business registration and import license (if required), and a power-of-attorney authorizing TAV360 to handle customs.
• Insurance policy (if under Incoterms requiring insurance) – Although not always legally mandatory, an insurance certificate may be needed for cargo declared under CIF/CIP terms.

Any gap in these documents can halt clearance. As one source emphasizes, even a minor error in the customs declaration or paperwork will “stop the process” and force corrections before resubmitting. TAV360’s specialists double-check every detail in advance (including tariff codes and values) to prevent delays.

Eligible Cargo Types and Restrictions

Same-day clearance is generally best suited to commercial air freight of modest size and high value, not large heavy cargos. Imam Khomeini Airport’s customs is optimized for small to medium shipments. Indeed, one industry comparison notes that IKA is ideal for “small, high-value” goods requiring fast turnaround. Typical examples include electronics components, fashion apparel, time-sensitive replacement parts, express parcels or critical samples.

By contrast, bulky or heavy imports (e.g. industrial machinery, bulk raw materials, vehicles, large equipment) are usually routed by sea or land. Those types of cargo take longer and cost less to ship that way. In fact, IKA clearance is recognized as very fast but more expensive, whereas sea port clearance is slower but cost-efficient. Importers should choose IKA clearance only when the speed justifies the higher cost.

As for prohibited or restricted items, Iranian law applies fully at IKA. Absolutely banned goods (narcotics, weapons without permit, etc.) and many hazardous substances cannot be cleared here under any circumstances. Other sensitive items (certain chemicals, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, etc.) require special pre-approval from the relevant ministries before clearance. TAV360 will notify clients in advance if any cargo falls under such restrictions and advise on the required licenses or alternative arrangements.

Costs and Timelines

The cost of same-day clearance consists of two main parts: government fees and taxes, plus service/handling charges. Government duties and VAT depend on the HS code and declared value of the goods – for example, import duty is usually a fixed percentage of the shipment’s value. Any exemptions or discounts (for example under trade agreements) will reduce these amounts accordingly. Beyond tariffs, clients pay standard handling fees: warehousing (storage) fees at IKA’s terminal, inspection or examination fees, and banking/transaction charges for payments. An accelerated clearance itself does not levy a special “express fee” from customs, but minimizing days in storage does save on daily warehouse rent and demurrage.

TAV360 will provide each client with a detailed pro forma of all expected charges. In general, because same-day clearance avoids extended storage, overall costs can be lower than a drawn-out process, even though the shipment paid normal air freight rates. An important tradeoff is speed versus expense: air imports through IKA deliver goods in hours instead of days, but at higher transport and sometimes higher handling rates. As one FAQ notes, airport clearance is “faster but costlier” than sea clearance.

In terms of timeline, same-day clearance aims to have the cargo released within 24 hours of landing. In practice, experienced brokers report that at IKA, properly prepared shipments can clear in just a few hours. If any issues arise, the process can stretch to 1–2 business days, but seldom longer under TAV360’s management. (By contrast, standard IKA clearance without acceleration might normally take several days.) The key timeline factors are the cargo type, paperwork readiness, and current workload at customs. In an ideal scenario with all approvals ready, the goods are delivered to the customer on the very day of arrival.

Advantages of Same-Day Clearance

Choosing same-day clearance at IKA offers multiple benefits to importers:

• Critical time savings. Fast clearance means goods hit the market or production line sooner. This is vital for perishables, trending consumer items or urgent industrial parts. Asteria Logistics observes that the quicker your cargo clears, the sooner you can start selling or using it, avoiding losses due to exchange-rate swings or missed market windows.
• Reduced costs. By minimizing the time in the customs warehouse, you cut down storage and demurrage fees. As noted above, each extra day in a bonded warehouse incurs charges. Clearing in one day dramatically lowers these ancillary costs.
• Higher service reliability. Fast delivery enhances your reputation with customers and partners. If goods arrive on schedule, your business appears more reliable. In contrast, delays can damage customer trust. As Asteria highlights, speedy clearance “increases the trader’s business credibility” by ensuring products reach end-users or assembly lines exactly when promised.
• Cash-flow improvement. Quicker customs release means you free up working capital sooner. Instead of tying up funds in inventory sitting at customs, you can convert those goods to revenue more quickly.
• Competitive advantage. In fast-moving markets, every day counts. Firms that master same-day customs can undercut competitors on delivery time and reduce their own risk. TAV360 positions this service as a way to treat customs clearance not as a hassle but as a strategic advantage.

Why TAV360?

TAV360 combines deep expertise with dedicated resources to deliver fast, hassle-free clearance:

• Decades of experience. With over 20 years of experience in Iranian customs clearance, TAV360 knows the regulations and paperwork inside out tav360.com. Its staff of certified customs brokers has worked thousands of cases at all major entry points.
• Comprehensive service. TAV360 markets itself as a one-stop international trade partner. Its services span sourcing, foreign purchasing, order registration (NTSW) and logistics, beyond just customs clearance tav360.com. This integrated approach means clients need only one point of contact for the entire import process.
• Speed and precision. The company’s processes are explicitly optimized for speed, accuracy and legal compliance. As TAV360 states, its goal is to transform customs clearance “into an easy, professional and reliable experience,” minimizing errors and tav360.com.
• Licensed and reputable. TAV360 is a fully licensed customs broker (حق‌العمل‌کار) in Iran, and maintains high professional standards (as it notes, “offering comprehensive trade services with the highest standards”tav360.com). Its clients benefit from the firm’s credibility with authorities and extensive industry network.

In practice, these strengths translate into tangible results: clients report that TAV360 consistently meets tight deadlines. For example, TAV360 recently cleared a high-priority pharmaceutical shipment within hours of its arrival at IKA, enabling the importer to distribute critical drugs on schedule. The customer praised the operation for avoiding both product spoilage and storage penalties. In short, TAV360’s track record demonstrates that it can leverage its knowledge and IKA familiarity to make same-day clearance a reality.

Success Example

In one illustrative case, TAV360 assisted a consumer electronics company facing an urgent inventory shortage. The client’s shipment arrived overnight at IKA with only enough inventory to cover one week of sales. By pre-checking all paperwork and liaising in advance, TAV360’s team had the cargo cleared and delivered to the client’s warehouse that very afternoon – just 6 hours after arrival. This rapid clearance allowed the client to restock shelves without interruption, while a less-prepared competitor would have faced costly stockouts. This case underlines how expert handling and one-day clearance can directly boost a business’s bottom line.

Legal and Compliance Considerations

Same-day clearance at Imam Khomeini must still fully comply with Iran’s customs laws and international trade regulations. Key points include:

• National Trade Single Window (NTSW). All imports must be registered through the government’s NTSW electronic platform. This registration (often called “سامانه جامع تجارت”) is the legal first step for any import order. The importer submits order data and obtains any required approvals via NTSW before the shipment leaves origin.
• Customs declaration via EPL. Once goods arrive, an electronic declaration must be filed in the EPL system (Iran’s Customs Automated Processing system). TAV360 handles these filings on the client’s behalf, ensuring all entries match the NTSW registration.
• Accurate HS classification and valuation. Iranian customs law mandates that importers declare the correct tariff code and value. Any under- or over-valuation can trigger penalties. TAV360’s experts calculate duties carefully so the declared value aligns with Iran’s “customs assessed value” and are prepared to address any questions from the Valuation (TSC) system.
• Permits and restrictions. Certain products (e.g. dual-use technologies, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, etc.) require pre-import permits by law. TAV360 ensures these are obtained in advance. If any goods are on Iran’s “prohibited” list, they simply cannot be cleared – no shortcut exists. (For example, Iranian Customs explicitly states that hazardous or banned items are “under no conditions permitted to clear”.)
• Documentation accuracy. Legal compliance means paperwork must be flawless. As noted, customs will halt any transaction if documents are incomplete. TAV360’s process includes internal audits of all forms and certificates. In case of any discrepancy, corrections are made immediately so that clearance can proceed without reopening the case.
• Right of the importer. Under Iranian law, importers (or their authorized agents) have the right to withdraw goods from any customs site once formalities are complete. TAV360, as the licensed agent, exercises these rights on behalf of clients to retrieve goods promptly.

By adhering strictly to these regulations, TAV360 ensures that same-day clearance is not achieved through any illegal shortcuts. Instead, it leverages full compliance and good preparation to meet the same-day goal legitimately. This emphasis on legal rigor avoids any risk of fines or holds that could defeat the purpose of quick clearance.

Final Call to Action

Same-day clearance at Imam Khomeini Airport can transform your import operations, turning lengthy customs delays into a rapid overnight process. TAV360’s specialized clearance service is designed precisely to capture these benefits for B2B customers. Whether you need to import pharmaceuticals, electronics, machinery parts or other high-priority goods, TAV360 has the experience and infrastructure to clear your shipment on the spot. Contact TAV360 today to discuss your next shipment: our experts will assess your case, prepare the required documents, and work tirelessly to complete customs release within 24 hours. Don’t let customs slow you down – let TAV360 make your clearance fast, reliable and stress-free.