To ship internationally, first check that the destination accepts your item. Then pack it for a long trip, choose a USPS or UPS international service, and fill out the customs declaration with a clear description and value for every item. Finally, print the label and drop the package off. The customs form is the step that most often delays international package shipping, so it gets the most attention below.
The steps are the same for a gift to family abroad and for a small business sending orders overseas. What changes is the service you pick and how much paperwork the contents need.
In This Section
- What Are the Steps to Ship a Package Internationally?
- How Do You Check What a Country Allows?
- Which International Shipping Service Should You Use?
- How Should You Pack an International Package?
- How Do You Fill Out a Customs Form?
- Who Pays Duties and Taxes on an International Package?
- How Do You Get the Label and Hand Off the Package?
- How Do Tracking and Insurance Work Abroad?
What Are the Steps to Ship a Package Internationally?
- Check the destination’s rules. Make sure the item is allowed in the destination country and that your carrier currently serves it.
- Pick a service. Balance speed, tracking, insurance and the weight limit for that country.
- Pack it well. Use a new, sturdy box built to survive several handoffs and customs inspection.
- Complete the customs declaration. Describe each item, its quantity, value and country of origin.
- Decide who pays duties and taxes. Tell the recipient, or prepay them if your service allows it.
- Buy the label and hand it off. Drop it at a Post Office or UPS location, or schedule a pickup.
- Track it and keep your records. Keep the receipt, the customs data and photos until it’s delivered.
How Do You Check What a Country Allows?
Every country publishes its own list of prohibited and restricted imports, and they differ widely. An item that is fine in one country can be banned in another, for example certain foods, plants, medicines, cosmetics, batteries or used clothing. For USPS shipments, the International Mail Manual (IMM) has a page for each country listing what’s prohibited, what’s restricted and which services are available.
Check USPS’s International Service Alerts as well, because USPS sometimes suspends service to a country. UPS publishes its own country requirements and service availability. Our international shipping hub links to destination guides for individual countries, with customs notes for each.
Find out what the export side requires too. U.S. exporters must file Electronic Export Information (EEI) through the Automated Export System (AES) for any single Schedule B commodity valued over $2,500, or for any item that needs an export license, whatever its value. Most personal gifts and small e-commerce orders are well below that threshold.
Which International Shipping Service Should You Use?
USPS and UPS cover almost every destination, at different speeds and with different weight limits. USPS hands your package to the destination country’s postal service for final delivery. UPS moves it through its own network and customs brokerage. The table compares the main options without prices, which change with weight and destination.
| Service | Typical delivery time | Maximum weight | Included insurance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail Express International | 3–5 business days | 70 lb (lower for some countries) | Up to $200 for merchandise | Fast postal delivery with tracking |
| USPS Priority Mail International | 6–10 business days | 70 lb (Flat Rate Box: 20 lb) | Up to $200 for merchandise (not Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Boxes) | Most gifts and mid-size parcels |
| USPS First-Class Package International Service | Varies by destination | 4 lb | Not available | Small, lightweight items |
| UPS Worldwide Express / Express Plus | Usually 1–3 business days to major cities | 150 lb | Liability up to $100 unless you declare a higher value | Urgent or high-value shipments |
| UPS Worldwide Saver / Expedited | Saver: end of day, usually 1–3 days. Expedited: usually 2–5 days | 150 lb | Same as above | Business shipments that need detailed tracking |
| UPS Standard (Canada and Mexico) | Ground transit, varies by distance | 150 lb | Same as above | Heavier boxes to Canada or Mexico |
USPS international services are often the best value for small and lightweight parcels. UPS usually wins on speed and on heavier boxes. Our guides to USPS shipping services and to whether UPS ships internationally cover each carrier in more depth. When the budget matters more than the delivery date, our roundup of the cheapest international shipping options compares the lowest-cost routes.
How Should You Pack an International Package?
International parcels travel farther, change hands more often and may be opened at customs. Use a new double-wall corrugated box for anything heavy or fragile, and wrap each item separately with at least a couple of inches of cushioning. Seal the box with pressure-sensitive packing tape, never string or paper tape, so that customs officers can open it and reseal it neatly.
Put electronics and anything that could leak inside a sealed plastic bag. Put a copy of the recipient’s address and phone number, and your own, inside the box, in case the outer label is damaged. Keep the package as small as the contents allow, because international services also price by billable weight, which depends on the box’s dimensions.
Some destinations restrict packing materials as well as contents, especially wood. Untreated wooden crates and pallets may need to meet international wood-packaging (ISPM 15) treatment rules, so use corrugated cardboard or treated, marked wood when in doubt.
How Do You Fill Out a Customs Form?
Every international package that contains goods needs a customs declaration. When you buy a USPS or UPS international label online, you enter the customs data as part of the checkout, and the form prints with the label. At a Post Office counter, USPS uses PS Form 2976-R, which you fill out before the clerk creates the label.
For each item, list:
- A specific description: USPS now requires an appropriately detailed description of every item, one that makes clear what it is, what it’s made of and what it’s for. “Women’s cotton T-shirt” passes, but “clothes” or “gift” does not.
- Quantity and value: Give the real value of each item, in U.S. dollars. Customs uses this to calculate duty, and undervaluing an item can lead to delays, fines or seizure.
- Country of origin: This is where the item was made, not where you’re shipping it from.
- The reason for shipping: Gift, merchandise (a sale), returned goods, documents or samples.
- HS code: This is the Harmonized System tariff number that customs uses to classify goods. USPS says it will assign an HS code from your description during processing, so you don’t need to look one up. Business shippers should still include the code on commercial invoices for UPS shipments.
Some country rules are changing. USPS notes that starting July 1, 2026, new import duties and requirements may apply to packages containing merchandise valued up to €150 sent to countries that follow European Union customs rules. Sellers can find more on cross-border paperwork in our guide on how to ship Amazon orders internationally.
Who Pays Duties and Taxes on an International Package?
By default, the recipient pays any import duties, taxes and brokerage fees before or at delivery. This is called Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU). If the recipient refuses to pay, the package may come back to you, and return charges can apply. Businesses that want the customer to pay nothing at the door can ship Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) where the carrier and service offer it, and our guide to DDP shipping explains how that works.
Whether duty is owed depends on the destination country’s own threshold, the item’s classification and its declared value. Tell your recipient what to expect, especially for higher-value items. If you sell online, add a line about duties to your checkout page, as our guide to shipping for small business recommends for every order.
How Do You Get the Label and Hand Off the Package?
You can buy an international label at a Post Office or UPS counter, or online and print it at home. ParcelPath is free to use and gives up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS, including international services, with no subscription or per-label fee. You can compare USPS and UPS international rates for your package, and enter the customs details as part of buying the label. Our shipping calculator guide explains how the quote works.
Take USPS international packages to a Post Office counter, or schedule a free USPS pickup. Take UPS packages to The UPS Store or another UPS location, or arrange a UPS pickup. If you don’t have a printer, ParcelPath also supports printer-free labels: a UPS Mobile Barcode at UPS Store locations and USPS Label Broker at the Post Office. For a wider look at carriers and couriers, our overview of major delivery companies and our list of the best shipping services and solutions compare the options.
How Do Tracking and Insurance Work Abroad?
USPS Priority Mail Express International and Priority Mail International include USPS Tracking, although tracking can be limited in some destinations once the package reaches the local postal service. First-Class Package International Service offers only limited delivery confirmation to select countries and has no insurance option. UPS international services are tracked door to door.
Insurance limits are lower than many shippers expect. USPS Priority Mail Express International and Priority Mail International include up to $200 of coverage for merchandise, and you can buy more. UPS covers $100 unless you declare a higher value. For UPS international shipments, a claim must be filed within 60 days of delivery, or of the scheduled delivery date if the package never arrived. Expect customs to add a few days in most countries, and tell your recipient so.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to ship a package internationally?
For small, light packages, USPS First-Class Package International Service (up to 4 pounds) or Priority Mail International is usually the lowest-cost option. Heavier or urgent boxes are often better value with UPS. Prices depend on weight, size and destination, so compare quotes for your exact package rather than relying on a general rule.
Do I need a customs form for international package shipping?
Yes. Every international package that contains goods needs a customs declaration with a detailed description, quantity, value and country of origin for each item. USPS requires descriptions that make clear what the item is, what it’s made of and what it’s used for. Online labels collect this data at checkout and print the form with the label.
How long does it take to ship internationally?
USPS Priority Mail Express International usually takes 3–5 business days, and Priority Mail International takes 6–10 business days. UPS Worldwide Express usually reaches major cities in 1–3 business days. Customs inspection can add time in any country, so build a few extra days into delivery estimates for your recipient.
When do I need to file Electronic Export Information?
U.S. exporters must file Electronic Export Information through the Automated Export System when a single Schedule B commodity in the shipment is valued over $2,500. It’s also required when an item needs an export license, at any value. Most personal gifts and small online orders fall below the threshold and need only the carrier’s customs declaration.
Sources
- USPS: International Mail and Shipping Services (delivery times, weight limits, insurance)
- USPS: Customs Forms (PS Form 2976-R, detailed descriptions, HS codes, EU change from July 1, 2026)
- USPS International Mail Manual: Individual Country Listings
- International Trade Administration: Filing Export Shipments Through AES
- UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service – United States (150 lb limit, liability, international claim deadline, guaranteed international services)
- UPS: International Shipping Services
Part of our Shipping How-To Guides guide. Related: How to Ship Multiple Packages, Shipping Process, Shipping with Ease.
