Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI): Free Template & Online Form

Fill it in here and download a PDF for your forwarder. No sign-up.Fill it in here and download a PDF for your forwarder. No sign-up. Or get the blank Word, Excel or PDF.

Parties

Shipper / USPPI

Consignee

Forwarding agentoptional

Named on the letter as the agent you instruct.

Notify partySame as consignee

Shipment & routing

Ports, freight, bill of lading

Mode

Export date

Port of loading

Port of discharge

Incoterms® 2020

Freight charges

Bill of lading

Insurance

Goods

Description, HS code, packages, weight

Paste rows from Excel to add many at once

Sign & send

Hazardous, documents, signatory

Hazardous goods

If yes, attach the dangerous goods declaration.

Signed by

Documents enclosed

Special instructionsoptional

Title

Date

This form does not file anything in AES. Your forwarder may ask for more.

Live preview

Updates as you type · draft kept in this browser

Free, no sign-up. The PDF carries a small “Made with ovrseas.io” line.

Needed: shipper, consignee and one goods line. Everything else is optional.

SHIPPER'S LETTER OF INSTRUCTION

Reference

Buyer Reference

Export Declaration No

Shipper Your company appears here	Forwarding Agent
Consignee Buyer appears here	Notify Party Same as consignee

Method of Dispatch Sea	Type of Shipment	Vessel / Aircraft	Voyage / Flight No
Country of Origin	Place of Receipt	Port of Loading	Date of Departure
Country of Destination	Final Destination	Port of Discharge
Incoterms® 2020	Freight Charges	Declared Value

FORWARDER TO ARRANGE

DESCRIPTION OF GOODS	HS / SCHEDULE B	KIND & NO OF PKGS	QUANTITY	GROSS WT (KG)	VALUE (USD)
Total

Does this shipment contain HAZARDOUS / DANGEROUS goods? If YES, please enclose your dangerous goods declaration.

Is this shipment under Letter of Credit? If YES, please enclose your L/C documents.

Document Instructions

Special Instructions

Place and Date of Issue

Signatory Company

Name of Authorized Signatory

Signature

Made with ovrseas.io

Paper size

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What is a Shipper's Letter of Instruction used for?

The Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI) is an essential export document that conveys an exporter's instructions to their freight forwarder. It ensures there are no misunderstandings about how goods should be handled, stored, loaded, and transported to foreign markets.

The SLI serves multiple critical purposes in international trade. For U.S. exports, it is often how the exporter passes on the details a forwarder needs to file Electronic Export Information (EEI) in the Automated Export System (AES). It also authorizes the freight forwarder to issue transport documents like Bills of Lading or Air Waybills on behalf of the exporter.

Many forwarders' SLI forms also include a limited power of attorney or written authorization, letting the forwarder file export declarations on the exporter's behalf. For U.S. exporters, the ovrseas SLI can print a written authorization line based on the wording in 15 CFR 30.3(f), only if you tick it; otherwise use your forwarder's authorization form.

Providing shipping instructions to freight forwarders

Authorizing agents to file Electronic Export Information (EEI)

Enabling issuance of Bills of Lading or Air Waybills

Granting limited Power of Attorney for export documentation

Keeping a written record of the exporter's instructions

Communicating special handling requirements

Documenting hazardous goods declarations

How to create a Shipper's Letter of Instruction

Enter shipper and consignee details

Fill in complete contact information for the shipper, consignee, forwarding agent, and notify party.

Add shipping information

Specify method of dispatch, ports of loading and discharge, vessel details, and departure dates.

Describe the goods

List all items with descriptions, marks and numbers, package quantities, weights, and measurements.

Include special instructions

Add any document instructions, special handling requirements, hazardous goods declarations, or Letter of Credit information.

Sign and authorize

Add authorized signatory details and signature to authorize the freight forwarder to act on your behalf.

Create in ovrseas

Your questions, answered.

Yes. Fill in the form at the top of this page and download the Shipper's Letter of Instruction as a PDF on A4 or US Letter paper, with no sign-up. Only the shipper, the consignee and one goods line are needed; everything else is optional. Your draft stays in your own browser until you download. The PDF carries a small "Made with ovrseas.io" line. The form does not file anything in AES. Blank Word, Excel and PDF versions are also free to download.

A Shipper's Letter of Instruction (SLI) is a formal document that conveys an exporter's instructions to their freight forwarder. It contains details about shipping terms, handling instructions, and authorizes the forwarder to process export documentation on behalf of the shipper.

While not legally mandatory in all cases, an SLI is often required by freight forwarders and is considered best practice for international shipments. It provides crucial instructions and authorization for handling your export shipment properly.

The exporter or shipper is responsible for completing the Shipper's Letter of Instruction with all relevant information and detailed instructions. The authorized signatory should have the necessary authority to provide instructions on behalf of the shipping company.

The SLI is an instruction document from the shipper to the freight forwarder, while the Bill of Lading is a transport document issued by the carrier. The SLI authorizes the forwarder to issue the Bill of Lading on behalf of the shipper.

An SLI typically includes: shipper and consignee details, forwarding agent information, goods description, shipping method and route, special handling instructions, declared value, and authorization signatures.

An SLI is commonly used to give a U.S. forwarder the information it needs to file EEI in the Automated Export System (AES). The ovrseas SLI covers the parties, routing, goods, weights, measurements and declared value. U.S. exporters can also switch on an optional EEI block for some 15 CFR § 30.6 data elements: USPPI EIN, related party and routed export transaction indicators, ultimate consignee type, and per line the Schedule B or HTS number, license or license exemption code, ECCN and value at the U.S. port of export. The free online form on this page also takes the U.S. state of origin and, per line, the domestic or foreign (D/F) indicator. It does not cover every EEI element and does not file anything in AES, so check with your forwarder what else they need. The forwarder also needs a power of attorney or written authorization from you to file the EEI.

Many forwarders' SLI forms include a limited power of attorney statement that gives the forwarder authority to sign documents, file export declarations, and act for the exporter on that shipment. For U.S. exporters, the ovrseas SLI can print an optional written authorization line based on the wording in 15 CFR 30.3(f) when you tick it. If your forwarder wants its own form, use that instead.

Yes, an SLI is commonly used for both sea and air freight shipments. For air freight, it authorizes the forwarder to issue Air Waybills and file necessary export documentation.

Incorrect SLI information can lead to shipping delays, customs holds, additional fees, and potential compliance violations. Always verify all details before submitting to your freight forwarder.

Yes, many freight forwarders and ports now accept electronic SLIs (eSLIs) for faster processing. Digital submission is increasingly common in modern logistics operations.

The declared value is typically the commercial value of the goods being shipped, often based on the commercial invoice value. This is used for customs purposes and may affect insurance coverage.

Yes, if your shipment contains hazardous or dangerous goods, this must be clearly indicated on the SLI. A separate Dangerous Goods Declaration should also be enclosed with the shipment documents.