Seeing “held in customs” on your tracking is unsettling, but it covers a wide range of situations — from a completely routine processing pause that clears on its own, to a formal detention, to an outright seizure that requires a legal response. The tracking status alone will not tell you which one you are dealing with. This page explains the difference, how long customs can hold a package at each stage, and when a hold has crossed from an annoyance into a problem worth acting on.
Three Very Different Things “Held in Customs” Can Mean
The single most useful thing to understand is that a customs hold sits on a spectrum. Most holds are minor and temporary. A smaller number are formal detentions. A smaller number still are seizures. Knowing which stage you are at determines whether you simply wait or you need to act.
| Stage | What it is | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Routine hold | Normal processing, duty assessment, a random exam, or another agency’s review | Usually just wait; it clears on its own |
| Detention | CBP formally holds the goods to examine or resolve a question, with a written notice | Respond with information; deadlines start |
| Seizure | CBP takes the goods as a violation — counterfeit, undeclared, undervalued, prohibited | Act fast; a legal response is required |
The Routine Hold: Usually Nothing to Worry About
The large majority of “held in customs” statuses are ordinary and resolve without any action on your part. Common, benign reasons include the entry paperwork still being processed, duties or fees needing to be assessed or paid, a routine or random inspection, or a hold for another federal agency — the FDA, USDA, or similar — that reviews certain categories of goods. For an inbound international parcel through a carrier, the carrier or broker typically handles the clearance, and the package moves again once processing finishes. If your tracking has said “held” for only a day or a few days, this is almost always what is happening.
The Detention: A Formal Hold With a Clock
A detention is different from a routine processing pause. Here CBP has made a formal decision to hold the goods — to examine them, verify their value or classification, check admissibility, or resolve a specific question — and the process comes with defined timeframes rather than an open-ended wait.
The general detention timeframes
As a general rule, CBP decides whether to release or detain merchandise within five business days of it being presented for examination, and issues a notice of detention within five business days of a decision to detain. CBP then must make a final admissibility determination — release the goods, seize them, or otherwise dispose of them — within 30 days of presentation.
If CBP fails to make a determination within that window, the merchandise is generally treated as excluded, which gives the importer a decision that can be challenged through a protest. Exact timeframes can vary by circumstance, so confirm the current rules for your situation.
During a detention, CBP may send a request for information — often a Form CF-28 — asking you to document the value, classification, origin, or contents. How you answer matters: a complete, accurate response can resolve the detention with a release, while a poor or careless one can push it toward a seizure. Our page on customs detention of merchandise covers this stage in detail.
The Seizure: When a Hold Becomes a Legal Problem
A seizure is the serious end of the spectrum. Here CBP is not just holding the goods — it has taken them as a violation of the customs laws, and it will send a notice of seizure explaining the basis. Common grounds include counterfeit or trademark-infringing goods, undervaluation or misclassification, a failure to accurately declare the contents, prohibited or inadmissible merchandise, or undeclared currency. At this point the package is not going to simply resume delivery, and there is a deadline to respond.
| Basis for seizure | Where to turn |
|---|---|
| Counterfeit / IP goods | See counterfeit import seizures and penalties |
| Undervaluation / misclassification | See customs valuation |
| Failure to declare | See failure to declare under 19 USC 1497 |
| General seizure defense | See non-CAFRA customs seizure defense |
| A parcel-carrier shipment | See our FedEx, UPS, DHL, and USPS seizure pages |
What to Do If Your Package Is Held
- Figure out which stage you’re atA routine hold clears on its own. A detention comes with a notice or an information request. A seizure comes with a notice of seizure. The paperwork tells you which.
- For a routine hold, give it a little timeIf tracking has said “held” for only a few days with no notice, it is very likely ordinary processing. Check with the carrier or your broker before assuming a problem.
- For a detention, respond carefully and on timeIf CBP requests information, a complete and accurate answer is your best path to a release. This is the stage where a good response prevents a seizure.
- For a seizure, act quicklyA notice of seizure carries a response deadline. The right move depends on the basis for the seizure, and the early steps shape the outcome.
A detention is your chance to prevent a seizure
The transition from detention to seizure is often where importers lose control of the situation — by ignoring an information request, answering it poorly, or missing a deadline. If your package has moved past a routine hold into a formal detention or a seizure, how you respond in the first days matters more than anything else. When the goods are valuable or the basis is serious, that is the point to get advice rather than improvise.
If your package is simply in a routine hold, patience is usually all it takes. But if you have received a notice of detention or a notice of seizure — or CBP is questioning the value, origin, or contents of your goods — a customs and international trade lawyer can respond to CBP, work to secure a release, and defend against a seizure and any penalty. The difference between a package that clears and one that is lost often comes down to how the hold is handled once it stops being routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can customs hold a package?
A routine hold usually clears within days. A formal detention has defined timeframes: CBP decides to release or detain within five business days of presentation and must make a final determination within 30 days, after which undetermined goods are treated as excluded and the decision can be protested. A seizure follows its own process with a response deadline.
Why is my package held in customs?
Most often for routine reasons — paperwork processing, duty assessment, a random exam, or review by another agency like the FDA. Less commonly, CBP has formally detained the goods to verify value, classification, origin, or admissibility, or has seized them for a violation such as counterfeit, undervalued, undeclared, or prohibited merchandise.
When should I worry about a package held in customs?
A hold of a few days with no notice is usually routine. Worry when you receive a formal notice of detention or a notice of seizure, when CBP requests information about value or contents, or when a hold drags on well beyond normal processing. Those signal the hold has become something that needs a response.
Can I get my seized package back?
Often, depending on the basis for the seizure and how you respond. A notice of seizure carries a deadline and a set of options, and the right path depends on whether the goods were counterfeit, undervalued, undeclared, or otherwise flagged. Acting quickly and correctly gives you the best chance of a return.
Package detained or seized by customs?
If a hold has turned into a detention or seizure notice, the first days matter most. A customs attorney can respond to CBP and work to get your goods released.