DHL Express MyDHL API

DHL Express MyDHL API offers both domestic and international services for shipping to and from destinations worldwide.

This guide provides developers with the details needed to build DHL Express MyDHL API shipping capabilities into your ShipStation API workflows.

Requirements

PROPERTY DESCRIPTIONS​

• • provide_commercial_invoice_outside_of_auctane. Using this property, you agree, "I will ensure my commercial invoice is provided electronically to DHL to support paperless trade shipping. I understand that shipments cannot be transported without the commercial invoice being provided to DHL electronically, and where necessary, printed and affixed to the package for non-paperless trade shipments."
• ** shipper_business_party_role_type. This information is used for international shipping and placed on the commercial invoice for compliant customs clearance. Allowed values are: business, direct_consumer, government, other, private, reseller.
• *** return_label_validity_period. Defines the duration that return shipment data information is stored in the carrier’s systems and the return label and/or the QR Code remains active and can be used. Allowed values are:
  3 months,
  6 months,
  12 months,
  24 months,
  PT,
  PU,
  PV,
  PW.

Shipping Requirements

Connect Account

You can connect a DHL Express MyDHL API account using the POST method to the /v1/connections/carriers/ endpoint, or via the ShipStation API Dashboard.

Connect via Endpoint

carrier_name: dhl_express_mydhl

POST /v1/connections/carriers/:carrier_name

Sample request:

HTTPcURLC#JavaScriptNodeJSPHPPythonRubyJavaGoSwiftObjective-CPowerShell

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POST /v1/connections/carriers/dhl_express_mydhl HTTP/1.1
Host: api.shipengine.com
API-Key: __YOUR_API_KEY_HERE__
Content-Type: application/json
{
  "dhl_shipper_number": "123456789",
  "api_key`": "1234-abcd-5678-efgh-0129",
  "api_secret": "my-api-secret"
}

Once connected, use the carrier_id returned in the response for all future account requests.

Connect via Dashboard

Find steps to connect via the ShipStation API dashboard in the DHL Express MyDHL API help center page.

Rates

DHL Express MyDHL API supports rate shopping with ShipStation API.

Rates Received: Prices are always returned in the currencies based on the contract signed between the carrier and the merchant.

Service Details

Available DHL Express MyDHL API services are provided below. Please note that carriers may update their available services at any time. To ensure you are always using valid services, you can use the list carrier services endpoint at any time.

Domestic Services

International Services

Optimizing Customs Data for International Shipments to Prevent Delays

To ensure smooth customs clearance and minimize the risk of shipment inspections or delays, it is critical to provide high-quality data for every international shipment. Poor data quality, specifically vague descriptions and missing HS codes, often triggers manual reviews by destination authorities.

Key Takeaways for Merchants

Write Accurate Line Item Descriptions

Customs authorities need to know exactly what is being imported, what it is made of, and its intended use. Avoid using internal marketing descriptions or vague terms.

Utilizing Harmonized System (HS) Codes

Providing a correct HS code (or Commodity Code) is the most effective way to help customs officials categorize your goods.

Provide Part and Reference Numbers

When possible, include the specific part or item number in your commercial invoice data. Mapping these to the correct reference fields in your shipping tool (e.g., the "PAN" reference type) provides an extra layer of clarity for clearance agents and helps verify the item against the provided description.

Prohibited Stop Words & Description Comparison

Using vague language is the fastest way to get a shipment flagged for inspection. Below are examples of poor descriptions found in recent audit data versus the clear, detailed descriptions required by customs authorities.

Merchant Checklist: International Shipping Compliance

To ensure your international shipments clear customs without delay, use this checklist to review your data before printing your labels.

Description Logic: The "Physical" Rule

When writing descriptions, ignore your marketing names. Customs authorities don't know what a Polaris IGX 144+ Linkage Kit is. Instead, describe the physical object: Steel mechanical linkage parts for vehicle suspension.

Technical Note: Mapping Compliance Data

When integrating with international carriers, how you map data fields in your API payload directly impacts customs clearance rates. While the UI may show a single "Description" field, the backend mapping should prioritize the following:

NOTE: Action Required: :nz: New Zealand Border Levy Changes

Effective ​April 1, 2026​​, a new ​NZD $2.21 (+ GST) levy​ applies to low-value air freight consignments entering New Zealand. This fee is ​separate from​​ the 15% GST already being collected, and it applies per package, not per item.

To see how this change impacts your shipping rates and carrier invoices, see the Shipping to New Zealand: Low Value Goods (LVG) Levy section of International Shipments​​.

Shipping from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

DHL Express MyDHL API will support the B2B movement types for shipping from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, in accordance with the Windsor Framework.

The Windsor Framework applies when the following conditions are met:

To comply with the Windsor Framework, the following changes are required for the Non-Document shipment creation process.

For more information, see Implementing a DHL Integrated Solution: Windsor Framework Requirements with My DHL API.

Return Services

DHL Express MyDHL API supports creating return labels, but you must have DHL’s agreement to use the Label-free solution.

During carrier account setup, merchants can select the Return Label/QR Code Validity Period. This setting determines how long return shipment data is stored and how long labels or QR codes remain active for use.

The allowed validity periods are:

The carrier offers a Label-free shipping feature where the driver prints the label upon pickup via a QR code. However, the carrier advises against this for high-volume shipments, as they will not print labels for large quantities.

Returns are only available with the following services:

and shipment parameter is_return set to "true".

IMPORTANT:

Label-free service availability is provided in the DHL Label-Free Pickup & Drop off Configurability (1).xlsx file. Neither the carrier nor the ShipEngine Connect will validate those values. It is the customer's responsibility to properly offer this solution to their clients. The DHL Operations or Sales will keep this table up to date and inform the customer.

Packages

The following carrier package types are available for DHL Express MyDHL API services:

Adding Shipment Insurance

DHL Express MyDHL API supports adding carrier insurance to shipments created with ShipStation API. Shipping insurance allows for coverage up to the declared value. This means that the insurance amount should not exceed the all-products-declared value.

Review our insurance page for details on adding insurance to your shipments.

Label Support

Label Reference Fields

DHL Express MyDHL API supports adding custom label messages.

Label messages map in the following way:

Multi-Package Labels

DHL Express MyDHL API supports creating multi-package shipments for all available services, except for the label-free shipping feature.

See our Multi-Package Shipping page for details about creating multi-package labels.

Label Branding

The ShipStation API integration with DHL Express MyDHL API does not support label branding. This feature is only available in the ShipStation UI.

Voiding Labels

You can void labels internally via the ShipStation API, but this will not sync with the carrier.

DHL Express does not support electronic voiding through their API. While you can void the label in our system for record-keeping, DHL simply advises merchants to discard any unused labels.

DHL Express bills a merchant for the label at the completion check-point (not at the 1st scan, not at label generation). There should be no consequences from the carrier for not using the label generated by their system.

Paperless Labels

DHL Express MyDHL API supports paperless labels. Please see the Return Services section above.

Customs Declarations

DHL commercial invoices are available to download from the forms_download object in the label response.

When you connect the carrier account to ShipStation API, you can select the option ‘Use my own commercial invoice’. The default integration behaviour is to apply Paperless Trade/Automated Digital Imaging (PLT/ADI) on all orders. By selecting this option, you can turn it off and use your own commercial invoice or a fully non-PLT flow.

Paperless Trade (PLT)

Paperless Trade (PLT) is the regulatory term used when a customs regime will accept either data or electronic images to perform the customs clearance. For PLT shipments, the shipper only needs to print the transport label. No customs paperwork needs to be printed and handed over to DHL.

Non-PLT countries require a physical hardcopy of the paperwork to be provided by the shipper and affixed to the package to ensure it was not altered or > manipulated during transit. Wherever accepted, usage of the Paperless trade service is mandatory. There are a few scenarios where the shipment won’t be eligible for PLT, typically one of the following:

• a) one of the countries in the origin/destination pair doesn’t support PLT, or
• b) the declared value exceeds the maximum value allowed for one of the countries.

Automated Digital Imaging (ADI)

Automated Digital Imaging (ADI) is a benefit for Non-PLT shipments to reduce physical paperwork printing. DHL automatically stores the commercial invoice and waybill doc images and makes them available to authorized DHL staff globally. Therefore, to be compliant for non-PLT shipments, the shipper simply needs to print a copy of the commercial invoice and affix it to the sleeve on the package.

Use my own commercial invoice is not selected (OFF)

When Use my own commercial invoice is not selected (off), ShipStation API sends to the myDHL API a special service code WY** with bypassPLTError** feature on. It works for the following services only:

DHL Express Worldwide (nondoc) - P,
DHL Express 09:00 (nondoc) - E,
DHL Express 12:00 (nondoc) - Y,
DHL Economy Select (nondoc) - H,
DHL Express 10:30 (nondoc) - M,
DHL Medical Express (nondoc) - Q

The WY special service code denotes the shipment as PLT, and the availability of the invoice data and DHL-generated invoice meets the data and image validation criteria for PLT. No need to print anything other than the transport label for the package.

**bypassPLTError - The default behavior of the DHL API is to return an error if PLT is requested but not available. The bypassPLTError feature will process the shipment successfully, convert the shipment from PLT to ADI, and return a warning message to print the customs paperwork as opposed to returning an error.

Use my own commercial invoice is selected (ON)

When Use my own commercial invoice is selected (ON), then neither the WY special service code nor the bypassPLTError feature is used. The shipper will be on fully manual/non-PLT, and will need to physically print the commercial invoice and give the paperwork to the carrier. For this scenario, ShipEngine will request the waybill document on all shipments from myDHL API as well as the commercial invoice doc. Waybill Docs are required to print and give to the carrier, along with a hard copy of the commercial invoice for shipments that aren’t processed as PLT or ADI.

For merchants who want to control which particular international shipments they apply a PLT solution to, use another configuration. Select the Use my own commercial invoice option and set the shipment parameter advanced_options.paperless_invoice to true. With this setup, only the shipment with this advanced option selected will be sent with the WY special service code. The bypassPLTError feature would not be applied. If the PLT is not available for a particular shipment, then the customer will receive an error from the carrier's API.

To avoid violating the arrangements with the carrier, it is important to remember that the configuration of the ShipEngine/ShipStation/DM/MPM or any other internal generic commercial invoice document is not allowed for this integration.

Find more information on pages 20-24 of the carrier’s Solution Provider Companion Guide.

Delivery Confirmation

See our Delivery Confirmation page for more details about using the confirmation property.

Advanced Options

DHL Express MyDHL API supports certain advanced options, which you can add to the shipment object when creating a shipment or label.

To ensure you always have the most up-to-date information about a carrier's advanced options, use the list carrier options call.

Manifests

DHL Express MyDHL API does not require manifesting your shipments.

Scheduling Pickups

DHL Express MyDHL API supports scheduling pickups using ShipStation API.

Pickup scheduling is available as well as Pickup cancelling, and there are no cancellation fees.

When scheduling pickups:

Delivery to a Service Point (PUDO)

DHL Express MyDHL API supports delivery to a service point (PUDO) for all DHL Express services.

Service point information is retrieved from the DHL Location Finder API and contains the data required for sending and receiving parcels. The integration can retrieve service points within a specified radius. The DHL Location Finder API limits results to a maximum of 50 locations per request and supports a maximum radius of 1,000,000 meters.

The integration includes a GetServicePoint() method that returns full details for a selected service point by its DHL Service Point ID.

See our Intro to Service Points for more details about how to use service points with ShipStation API.

Tracking

ShipStation API's integration with DHL Express MyDHL API supports receiving tracking updates via API (Single-Item). Review our ​Track a Package guides​​ for details on tracking with the ShipStation API.

Dangerous Goods

To send Dangerous Goods (DG) shipments with DHL Express MyDHL API, customers must have approval on their DHL Account Numbers. Approval is given for specific ServiceCodes/ContentIds (Contract sign off).

If customers send DG shipments without approval or a contract, then those shipments will be stopped in the DHL facility.

See the ShipStation API Dangerous Goods page to learn which dangerous goods objects and properties you should use, about properties required by various carriers to indicate you are shipping dangerous goods (DG), and how to remain in compliance with the carrier's dangerous goods shipping requirements.

Create a Dangerous Goods Shipment

To create a DG shipment, the following DHL-specific values are required in the request: [DangerousGoods.ServiceCode] and [DangerousGoods.ContentId].

For specific Request elements, see the DHL Express Dangerous Goods.pdf.

Notes about Dangerous Goods Shipments

The customer is responsible for the correct packaging of the shipment, including additional labels, stickers, and documents (as required by the Dangerous Goods regulations).

ShipStation API-implemented logic to calculate ContentID/ServiceCode is based on the DangerousGoods data provided in the request. Logic covers the vast majority of potential use cases. However, we are not able to calculate some ContentIds.

Any regulation changes (ADR/IATA) might trigger changes on the DHL side, and consequently, ShipStation API logic to find/calculate ContentId/ServiceCode. In that possibility, please ​contact ​​[email protected]​​​ if the algorithm is missing anything and if additional Analyst/DEV work might be required to accommodate the new regulations.

Notes and Limitations about DHL Express MyDHL API

ShipStation API currently cannot pass this Warning Message at label creation to print the customs paperwork:

"warnings": [ "7988: Please note on printing the hardcopy of all the shipment paperwork and affix it to the package." ]

Additional Notes

bypassPLTError - The default behavior of DHL’s API is to return an error if PLT is requested but not available. The bypassPLTError feature will process the shipment successfully, convert the shipment from PLT to ADI, and return a warning message to print the customs paperwork instead of returning an error. bypassPLTError=true is used as a default setup in the integration.

Automated Digital Imaging, or ADI, is a benefit for Non-PLT shipments to reduce physical paperwork printing. DHL automatically stores the commercial invoice and waybill doc images and makes them available to authorized DHL staff globally. Therefore, to be compliant for non-PLT shipments, the shipper simply needs to print a copy of the commercial invoice and affix it to the package sleeve.

Disconnecting Your DHL Express MyDHL API Account

See the Disconnect section in our Delete a Carrier page for the process of deleting or disconnecting a carrier from ShipStation API.

NOTE:

If you disconnect a carrier account and reconnect it, the account will have a new carrier_id in ShipStation API.