Customs limits in different countries of the world: important aspects and restrictions

We have collected information about the main destinations and indicated their customs limits.
Duty-free import of shipments

Customs limits are one of the key factors that store owners should consider on popular marketplaces such as Amazon, Etsy and eBay. Each country has its own rules and regulations on customs limits. Restrictions may depend on factors such as the type of goods, cost, country of origin and destination. Shopkeepers should be familiar with these rules and limits in order to avoid possible problems with customs control and fines.

We have collected information about the main destinations and indicated their customs limits.

USA

International shipments with a value up to $800 USD are exempt from customs duties.

Australia

International shipments with a value up to of $100 AUD are exempt from customs duties.

Brazil

International shipments with a value up to $50 USD are mostly imported free of duties.

United Kingdom

International shipments with a value up to £135 are imported free of duties but could be liable for import VAT. Normal VAT and customs duty rules apply on importation of consignments valued at more than £135.

Canada

For a shipment imported by mail, the following still applies:

$20 CAD and under: duty and tax free when imported from any country

Above $20 CAD: duties and taxes apply when imported from any country, including the US and Mexico

For a shipment imported by courier:

Imported from any country (other than the US and Mexico)

Up to $20 CAD: duty and tax free

Above $20 CAD: duties and taxes apply, excluding the US and Mexico

Imported from the US and Mexico

Up to $40: duty and tax free

Above $40 to $150: duty free, but taxes still apply

Above $150: duties and taxes apply

Some exceptions apply when shipping by mail or courier (for example: alcohol, cannabis products, cigars, cigarettes, tobacco, publications and others). For more information, please refer to the definition of “goods” and section 3 “Application” of the Courier Imports Remission Order and the Postal Imports Remission Order.

China

If the goods are worth less than 500 Yuan your parcel will be exempt from duties and tax. Shipments worth more than 1000 Yuan will have to pass through formal customs clearance.

Japan

If an item is valued below 10,000 yen, it shall be exempted from taxation of customs duty and consumption tax.

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Finland, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Sweden

International consignments up to 150EUR: duty free, VAT applies, consignments over 150EUR duty and VAT apply. Customs processing fees might be charged as well.

Argentina

International shipments with a value up to $25 USD per year are exempt from customs duties.

Switzerland

All type of goods imported from abroad must be registered and customs duties and VAT must be paid, with the exception of postcards and letters with text messages (no goods value).

As the recipient, you pay VAT on the value of the goods (incl. shipping costs and services) and customs duties on the gross weight. Additional fees may apply, depending on the goods (e.g. for tobacco). Partial or complete exemption from customs duties (known as preferential conditions) may also be possible.

Gifts from private individuals abroad are duty-free up to CHF 100 (except alcohol and tobacco).

If consignments are incorrectly or insufficiently declared, customs clearance will not be able to be completed and the consignment will undergo a clarification process. As the recipient, we will notify you of this and ask you to provide the missing information via an online form.

Israel

International shipments with a value up to 75 USD per year are exempt from customs duties.

Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Brunei Darussalam, Burkina Faso, Brundi, Haiti, Ghana, Hong Kong, Guyana, Gambia, Gibraltar, Grenada, Congo, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Erie, India, Cambodia, Cameroon, Qatar, Kenya, Kiribati, Colombia, Comoros, Kuwait, Curacao, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Macau, Malawi, Maldives, Martinique, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Nicaragua, Oman, Peru, El Salvador, Sri Lanka

All incoming international shipments are subject to duties and taxes.

The information is collected from open sources. Payment of customs brokerage services, duties, taxes and other fees is made in the country of customs clearance. The amount of customs duties, taxes, fees is determined by the legislation of each country, depending on the content and declared value of the shipment. A recipient can get this information from the customs authorities of the destination country.

Given the international nature of e-commerce, it is important for store owners on marketplaces to keep in mind that customs limits may change over time and depend on the political, economic and trade conditions of countries. Therefore, before carrying out international shipments, it is recommended to always check the current customs limits for each specific destination and country.

We understand how important timely deliveries are, especially with additional customs checks. Therefore, we recommend using the services of our exclusive fulfillment centers - SkladUSA.

With SkladUSA, you no longer have to worry about the hassle of storage, purchasing packaging materials, picking, packing, and shipping.

We'll take care of everything at the best possible rates, so you can focus on boosting your brand and generating more business.

SkladUSA. You sell we`ll do the rest!

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Customs limits in different countries of the world: important aspects and restrictionsDuty-free import of shipments

Customs limits in different countries of the world: important aspects and restrictions

2023-06-09T11:28:00+03:002024-01-11T18:46:41+02:00We have collected information about the main destinations and indicated their customs limits.