Sourcing graduation cards from China
Printed graduation greeting cards from China carry 0% UK duty under heading 4909, including cards supplied with envelopes or trimmings. Consumer cards sold in Great Britain must be safe. Agree the graduation wording, board, print proof and envelope fit before production. Cambridge China Bridge sources printed graduation greeting cards.
Duty and the attached export control
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 4 October 2026, heading 4909 covers printed or illustrated postcards and printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, with or without illustrations, envelopes or trimmings. Printed graduation greeting cards fall within this description. The formats in the table share the same commodity code.
Goods from China carry 0% duty. The supplied tariff record lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no suspension. It attaches a DCMS Export Licence entry. Official guidance states that cultural objects have no import licensing requirement into Great Britain. Ask your customs broker to confirm the treatment of the attached entry for your shipment.
Confirm the finished product's commodity code, particularly if adding sound modules or lights. Blank stationery is classified elsewhere. For another card family within this heading, see printed birth announcement cards.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printed folded graduation greeting cards | 4909 00 00 00 | 0% | None |
Specify graduation wording, board and finish
Approve the exact front greeting, inside message, graduate name and graduation year wherever these are printed. Identify each artwork version and match it to the order. Specify folded size, board weight, paper surface, envelope size and colour, foil areas, embossing and the space left for a handwritten message.
Approve a physical print proof on the actual board, including dark mortarboard artwork and fine lettering. Check that ordinary handwriting remains legible on the inside surface. Artwork must be yours or licensed. For school or university crests, obtain permission before supplying them to the printer.
Consumer cards supplied in Great Britain must be safe. Where reasonable, the product or packaging must identify the producer's name and address and the product reference or applicable batch. Agree the layout before printing. Sleeves and envelopes also bring packaging producer-responsibility questions, as explained in the site's existing greeting-card guide.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order of 50,000 printed graduation greeting cards with envelopes under 4909 00 00 00, invoiced at £11,000 free on board, with £1,600 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £12,600. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £12,600, so it is £2,520. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.
Inspection checklist
Wording and versions: compare front and inside text with approved artwork, checking names, graduation years, spelling and the correct design in each pack.
Print and decoration: compare colour with the signed proof, inspect fine lettering and foil alignment, and rub decorative areas to check for shedding or transfer.
Board and envelopes: check board weight, trimming, fold alignment and cracking at the crease; insert finished cards into their envelopes and check closure.
Packing and arrival: count cards and envelopes, match pack labels to artwork versions, and inspect for dampness, bent corners and crushed cartons. Use a written inspection brief before dispatch.
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What goes wrong
A correctly printed card can still be unsaleable when the graduation year or graduate name is wrong. Mixed artwork versions are difficult to spot in sealed packs. Fine foil lettering can fill in, dark ink can transfer onto the inside, and a poorly positioned crease can split the printed surface.
Keep an approved physical sample for each artwork version and agree how packs will be identified. Check envelope fit after folding and decoration, rather than using an unfinished sheet. Moisture protection and firm carton packing help prevent warped cards and damaged corners. Check the tax calculation separately using the UK import duty and VAT guide.
Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For repeat volumes, see container programmes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on graduation cards from China?
Printed graduation greeting cards under 4909 00 00 00 carry 0% duty in the supplied tariff record. It lists no anti-dumping or countervailing duty. Import VAT is separate.
Do graduation cards need a cultural-object import licence?
Official guidance states there is no cultural-object import licensing requirement for Great Britain. The tariff record attaches a DCMS Export Licence entry; ask your broker to confirm its treatment.
Can I print a university crest on graduation cards?
Use artwork you own or have permission to reproduce. Obtain permission for the crest before approving the print proof, and keep the approval with the artwork record.
What should I approve before printing graduation cards?
Approve the greeting, names and graduation year, a physical proof on the specified board, foil and fold positions, envelope fit, and the packaging layout for each artwork version.