International Shipping - Country Guidelines
The purpose of this guide is to give you insight on what you may need, avoid, or run into while shipping internationally.
Country |
Forms Required |
Restrictions |
Products Needing Additional Info |
Common Challenges |
KYC POA |
• Jewelry |
• Cosmetics |
• KYC Form • Incorrect consignee • Business name listed if going to residential area • Phone numbers incorrect • Emails incorrect |
|
Canada |
POA |
• Animal Products (dairy etc.) • Products made of wood
|
• Cheese
|
• POA Form for shipments of $3,300 CAD or more and / or restricted goods • POA
|
United Kingdom |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds • Beef jerky |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
Ireland |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
Germany |
EORI POA Tax ID |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
Spain |
POA |
• Cosmetics • Jewelry • Seeds • Plants • Hazmat Items |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
• POA required for shipments to private persons that is valued over 150 EUR. |
Australia |
|
• Plants • Hazmat Items
|
• Animal Products (dairy etc.) |
•Proof of value may be requested for shipments that have a high weight and low value • Customs holds 5% of all formal entry shipments entering the country for physical examination of goods- can delay transit 24-72 hours |
France |
EORI |
• Plants • Seeds • Hazmat Items |
• Jewelry • Hazmat Items
|
• Shipments must clear customs within 19 days or they will be returned • EORI required for businesses to import |
Consignee’s Tax ID |
• Plants • Hazmat Items
|
• Books |
• May need the recipients Tax ID or identification number to clear customs |
|
Singapore |
|
• Chewing gum • Wood products • Hazmat Items |
|
|
EORI |
• Soil • Seeds • Food • Plants • Hazmat Items |
• Food incl. coffee, tea, honey, etc. |
|
|
China |
Packing list POA |
• Soil • Plants • Hazmat Items |
• Jewelry • USB Sticks
|
• Single entry POA required for all non-document shipments – no blanket POA |
Israel |
Vat #/personal ID |
• Cosmetics • Hazmat Items |
• Jewelry • USB Sticks |
• Shipments over $100 USD or 5 kg will require the importers VAT # or Personal ID |
Turkey |
POA |
• Cosmetics • Hazmat Items |
• Jewelry • USB Sticks |
• POA approved by a notary and valid tax ID to clear customs • This POA is given only once and is valid until expiration date mentioned by the customer (up to 5 years) |
Trinidad |
|
• Honey • Hazmat Items |
|
|
|
• Hazmat Items
|
• Animal Products (dairy etc.) |
• Shipments over $999.99 value require the consignee to provide a customs broker • Shipments over $2500 require the consignee to have an import license |
|
Japan |
|
• Seeds • Soil • Hazmat
|
• Plants • Tea • Jewelry • Non-roasted coffee beans • Animal Products (dairy, jerky, etc.) |
|
Poland |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
Argentina |
|
• Personal hygiene (soap) • Hazmat Items
|
• Books |
• May need the recipients Tax ID or identification number to clear customs
|
Sweden |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
• EORI is required for commercial importers |
Switzerland |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
Portugal |
|
• Jewelry • Plants • Seeds |
• Precious metals |
• Shipments that do not clear customs after 20 days are returned automatically |
Egypt |
|
• Products with cameras • Honey • Hazmat |
• Jewelry • Textiles |
• Shipments valued above $2,000 USD and over 50 kg may need to be registered by the consignee for an Advance Cargo ID (ACID)
|
Denmark |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
|
United Arab Emirates |
|
• Products with cameras • Hazmat |
• Jewelry
|
|
Colombia |
|
• Hazmat |
• Jewelry • Toys |
• May need the recipients Tax ID or identification number to clear customs
|
Taiwan |
POA |
• Soil • Seeds • Hazmat
|
|
• Shipments over $1000 USD require import license obtained by consignee |
Lithuania |
EORI |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
• EORI required for personal and commercial shipments
|
Belgium |
EORI POA |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
• POA and EORI required for all B2B shipments |
South Africa |
|
• Animal Products (dairy, etc.) • Hazmat
|
• Books |
• Make sure correct values are listed on the invoice. SARS will request CI and Bank proof of payment if they find the values are not accurate. |
Korea |
|
• Soil • Hazmat |
|
• Penalty fees will be charged to shipper if the address on the shipment is incorrect |
Russian Federation |
|
• Liquids of any kind • Hazmat |
• Jewelry |
• Service not available |
Romania |
EORI Packing list |
• Jewelry • Seeds |
•Animal Products, incl. food for human consumption (dairy etc.) |
•EORI required for personal and commercial shipments • Shipments not cleared from customs will be returned within 14 days |
Indonesia |
POA Proof of payment Packing list |
• Liquids of any kind • Hazmat |
• Jewelry • Toys • Cosmetics • Food |
• B2C shipments might require proof of payment • POA required for shipments exceeding $1500 USD – Expect 2-5 days delay for clearance |