How to ship gifts abroad

Here are three things you should check before sending your gift:

While each country will have its own definition, a gift – according to customs – is usually:

• Sent occasionally from one private individual to another
• Intended for the recipient’s personal or family use
• Sent without payment from the recipient
• Not part of a commercial transaction

When customs clearance is involved, not every gift is allowed, however ordinary or readily available in your own country.

Some countries can be particularly strict. Australia, for example, controls many food, plant and animal products through its biosecurity system, while Saudi Arabia prohibits alcohol. 

For other countries, food, medicine and plants may be permitted only in certain quantities or with specific documents like CITES certificate or a certificate of origin. 

When sending your gift with FedEx, keep in mind that:

• Perfume and other flammable liquids are considered dangerous goods that need to be packed and labeled accordingly.
• If your gift is an electronic device with lithium batteries, check our guide for packing it correctly.

No. It tells customs why the goods are being sent; it does not override the destination country’s rules.

Maybe.

Writing “gift” on the customs form does not automatically make it duty- or tax-free. The destination country decides whether duty and taxes apply, based on the value of the goods, who is sending them and what’s inside.

For example, in many destinations a new or expensive laptop has a value above the duty-free limit, so duties will be charged, even if the parcel is labelled as a gift. It's always wise to check the maximum duty-free value for gifts in your planned destination.

Here are some duty- and tax-free thresholds for popular shipping destinations:

Sometimes.

If your gift's value is above the duty- and tax-free limit of the destination country, and you want to avoid making your recipient pay duties and taxes on it, then you can include Incoterms® in your shipping paperwork. Incoterms define who pays for various shipment costs. 

Select Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) as the Incoterms® on your commercial invoice and choose the “bill to sender” option when creating your shipment.  

If you’re aiming for a total surprise, keep in mind that even when the sender pays the duties, the recipient may still need to provide information or identification to customs.

Every international shipment will need an airway bill. The customs will use the information on the document to determine whether your gift is allowed to enter and if duties and taxes are to be charged. 

Mark it as a gift

Select “gift” as the reason for export when the parcel genuinely qualifies. 

Describe each item precisely
Don't just name the item, describe what it's made of and what it’s used for, include the weight and quantities. If the package contains branded items, include the brand and model number along with the description. 

The country of manufacture and a HS code may also be required. 

Declare a genuine value
State the true value of the gift. This should be the market or retail price of the goods, along with the currency. For a used or handmade item, give a reasonable current value or, where appropriate, the cost of the materials. Don’t enter zero simply because no money changed hands.

If the value doesn’t seem reasonable, customs may ask you or your receiver for evidence of the value you’ve declared on the invoice.  

Start with our delivery estimate, then allow extra time for customs checks and busy seasonal periods.

Check that: