Summary: A FedEx international shipment stops with "Requires electronic image". Electronic trade documents are turned on for a country that needs an uploaded letterhead and signature image. Turn the electronic forms option off for that country with a business rule, and the shipment prints paper customs paperwork instead.

Problem

You process a FedEx international shipment and it fails, while shipments to other countries go through fine. The message is:

Requires electronic image

Cause

FedEx takes international customs paperwork one of two ways: sent to FedEx electronically (Electronic Trade Documents), or printed on paper and handed over with the shipment.

For some countries, sending it electronically also needs a picture of your letterhead and signature on the Commercial Invoice (the customs paperwork that lists what is in the shipment and what it is worth). When electronic forms are turned on for one of those countries and no image is on file, FedEx stops the shipment with this message. Turning electronic forms off for that country makes Shipstore print paper paperwork instead.

How to check: process a test order to a different country. If that one goes through, the problem is the destination country, not your account.

Fix

  1. Note the destination country on the failing shipment.
  2. Add a business rule on the shipping profile that clears the electronic forms option when the destination country matches that country. Most sites keep one rule for each country that needs paper.
  3. Check the Description of Goods is filled in on the shipment. An international shipment will not process without it.
  4. Process a test shipment to that country and check a paper Commercial Invoice prints.
  5. If you are not sure how to build the rule, email support@shipstore.com with the country and say that shipments there need paper customs paperwork.

What you should see

Shipments to that country process with no "Requires electronic image" message and print a paper Commercial Invoice, and shipments to other countries keep sending the paperwork electronically.

Related articles

  • Commercial Invoice prints on paper for some countries
  • Domestic shipment fails with error 9999 (Use Electronic Form)
  • Commercial Invoice needs company letterhead and a signature