Bureau of Diplomatic Security – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of State has determined, under the Foreign Missions Act, that any shipment sent from abroad to any foreign diplomatic or consular mission, or its personnel must be cleared by U.S. Customs and Border Protection solely through the Department of State's diplomatic customs clearance procedure and form. This decision makes it unlawful for any person or entity (i.e. freight forwarders) to assist foreign missions in clearing shipments through customs by any other means. It clearly states that private entities as well as foreign missions are required to comply with the Department of State's diplomatic customs clearance procedure and it is the intended effect of this rule to increase such compliance.