UPS International Shipping for Individuals

Make sure you can ship it.

Every country has different shipping regulations. Our handy tool will keep you informed.Look up country-specific shipping restrictions and service options.

There are also rules for special-care or prohibited items.

If you are shipping a large parcel, please be aware of size and weight restrictions.

If you are shipping agri-food consignments:

Agri-food consignments require health certificates and undergo sanitary and phytosanitary controls at border inspection posts. If you’re going to ship these items, contact us to get a special contract. We only accept these restricted commodities with UPS Express services.

It is your responsibility as the shipper to check the regulations and whether the products you are shipping will require inspection.

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Are you shipping a gift? Or something you sold?

If you’re selling the item that you’re shipping, then, as long as your business is registered for VAT in your own country, you can register for an EORI number via your country’s customs website (listed here). To learn more about the EORI number, watch this video.

VAT or import duties are applied to all shipments except for gifts worth €45 or less. To calculate the value of your shipment, add the parcel value, shipping cost and duties. If the result is €45 or less, and it meets the other criteria for gifts, you don’t have to pay VAT or duties.

To qualify as gifts, goods must be:

• described as gifts on the customs declaration
• for a birthday, anniversary or other occasion
• bought and sent between individuals (not companies)
• intended for personal use

If your gift does not meet these requirements for VAT exemption, you can check the VAT rate for your destination country for the EU or the UK.

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Understanding VAT.

Most goods that cross into or out of the EU require VAT. Here’s what you need to know:

To determine what your VAT rate will be, you need to know the value of your parcel (cost of the goods + cost of shipping + duties).

If the item you’re shipping is a gift worth €45 or less, you will not be charged VAT or import duties.

To qualify as gifts, goods must be:

• described as gifts on the customs declaration
• for a birthday, anniversary or other occasion
• bought and sent between individuals (not companies)
• intended for personal use

You can check the VAT rate for your destination country for the EU or the UK.

Keep in mind, you can always get an estimate of all landed costs by entering a few details about your shipment.

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Who pays duties, taxes and fees?

Either the shipper or the receiver will be responsible for payment of duties, taxes and fees. The receiver is responsible to pay, unless the shipper has opted for Delivery Duty Paid (DDP).

Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) means the shipper will pay.Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) means the receiver will need to pay.

If you do not have a UPS payment account, and are simply paying with a credit card, it will default to DDU, meaning the receiver will have to pay the duties, taxes and fees in order to receive their shipment.

By opening up a UPS payment account, you will have the choice, when you are creating the shipping label, of selecting either DDP or DDU.

If the recipient is to pay these charges, we recommend you inform them of this before the transaction, to avoid any surprises. Note, however, that if the receiver does not pay, then UPS may recover the outstanding amounts from you.

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What forms you’ll need to fill in.

If you are shipping within the EU (or domestically), you do not need to fill in any of the below forms.

If you are shipping from an EU country to a non-EU country, you will need to fill in a Commercial Invoice (also referred to as a ‘pro forma’ invoice).

• Commercial Invoice – Mandatory for all cross-border shipments, except certain documents. Our shipping tool will help you fill out your Commercial Invoice as you’re creating your shipping label. It is important to provide accurate and specific information to avoid customs delays. Watch this video for more guidance. Once completed, print 3 copies of your Commercial Invoice, place them in a clear plastic pouch and attach the pouch securely on top of your parcel, next to the shipping label.
• Other Export Documentation - Different countries require different documentation. The type of product you ship and the local regulations of the destination country that you’re shipping to, will influence what additional documentation is required. To learn about some common export documents, watch this video. To find which forms will be needed for a particular shipment, you can use our Import/Export tool.

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What is a tariff code (or HS code)? And do you need one?

Harmonised System Codes (or tariff codes) are used by customs authorities to identify products being shipped, so they can accurately assess any duties and taxes owed. An incorrect code can lead to customs delays or even fines.

While you don’t need to know your tariff code in order to ship, it is important that you provide an accurate, detailed description of the goods you are shipping (example: ‘men’s knitted jumper’ is better than ‘jumper’, ‘clothing’ or ‘gift’). This will allow us to determine the appropriate code for your goods.

We strongly recommend that you add a Harmonised tariff code for every commodity that you ship to an international destination. To learn how to identify the right tariff code easily for your product, watch this video and then visit the government website to find it.

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Do I need a customs broker?

Brokerage exists in every country to support the movement and approval of Goods moving out of the origin (export brokerage), in or out of the EU (transit brokerage), goods moving into the destination country (import brokerage). If you ship overseas, a Customs Broker will act as an intermediary to facilitate transactions between you and the customs authorities by preparing and submitting all documentation required to clear your goods at customs.

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