International shipping is an available option for all businesses. With the help of GlobalPost, expanding your business to a global market is both easy and attainable. To begin shipping internationally, you’ll simply need to familiarize yourself with the required documentation and available resources to make for a smooth delivery process. Some helpful tools and features that can make global shipping simpler include GlobalPost’s international services and tools like the Free HS Tariff lookup tool.
GLOBALPOST INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
The first step in international shipping is deciding which carrier services are the best fit for your needs. GlobalPost’s international offerings include GlobalPost International Economy, GlobalPost International Standard, and GlobalPost Plus. Each service has its own advantages, so you can easily select the right service for your package. The features included for GlobalPost International Economy, GlobalPost International Standard, and GlobalPost Plus can be found in the table below.
| GlobalPost International Economy | GlobalPost International Standard | GlobalPost Plus | |
| Weight Limit Per Package | 4.4 lbs. | Up to 70 lbs.* | Up to 66 lbs.* |
| Package Types | Flats up to 16 oz., Packages up to 4.4 lbs. | Packages up to 70 lbs. | Packages up to 66 lbs. |
| Transit | 10-14 days | 10-14 days | 4-8 days |
| Max. Value of Goods | $400 | Varies by country | Varies by country |
| Free Coverage | Not included | Up to $100 in loss or damages, plus shipping cost | Up to $200 against loss or damage, plus shipping costs |
| Duties & Taxes | Paid by buyer | Paid by buyer | Paid by shipper |
| Tracking | Door-to-Country | Door-to-Door | Door-to-Door |
| Supported Destination Countries | 220+ countries and territories | 220+ countries and territories | CA, MX, UK, AU, NZ, HK, |
*Note: Weights are rounded up to the nearest pound, so anything over these weights will be considered too heavy for the service.
INTERNATIONAL TRACKING
GlobalPost shipments have either door-to-door tracking or door-to-country tracking. How do these tracking options differ? Door-to-door tracking is when a shipment can be tracked throughout its entire journey. Door-to-country tracking is where a package can be shipped until it reaches US customs.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING RESTRICTIONS
International shipping has more restrictions than domestic shipping, so it’s crucial to know which international regulations need to be followed. GlobalPost adheres to the same international shipping restrictions as USPS, so anything deemed illegal or hazardous to ship by mail in the United States, or in the destination country, will not be accepted.
Customs forms
The last major component of international shipping involves the documentation or customs forms required with your shipments. Customs forms provide the information about the items you are shipping and are what customs officials reference when importing them.
One of the biggest benefits of using GlobalPost is that you won’t need to print customs forms and attach them to shipments. We’ll generate and attach these forms at our facilities or submit them electronically for you as needed. To create these documents, GlobalPost does require you to apply customs descriptions for any item you’re sending. Luckily, we provide tools to help you declare items and search for HS codes.
What are HS codes?
Harmonized System (HS) codes are six-digit codes that identify items in order to streamline international shipping. HS codes are included on customs forms to classify an item and its attributes, material, and intended function. Being a universally recognized numerical code allows HS codes to avoid potential language barriers, helping shipments move through customs smoothly and efficiently.
While HS codes aren’t required for all international shipments, they’re required for all shipments moving through or going to the EU. Knowing your products’ HS codes allows them to pass through customs more quickly and with fewer potentials for added penalties or duty fees. To help with international shipping, GlobalPost provides tools to streamline customs clearance. One such feature we provide helps determine HS codes to make a smoother, quicker transit.
HS Tariff lookup tool
GlobalPost will add HS codes for your products based on the product description included in your customs forms. However, if you’d prefer to enter the HS codes yourself, we have a free HS Tariff lookup tool that can be used to search for up to five HS codes daily.
Taxes and duties
Customs duties and taxes are fees given to international shipments based on the destination country, the value of your products, and the items being shipped. Taxes and duties are paid by either the sender or receiver of the package, depending on either the service used or the options selected when generating the label. Because duties can be an added cost upon delivery, it’s good to anticipate these costs beforehand and prepare your customers and your business for any added costs. The good news is, you can calculate taxes and duties in advance with the help of our free duty calculator.
How to pay for taxes and duties
Duties are either prepaid or collected upon delivery and fall into one of two categories: Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) and Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU). DDP means the taxes and duties for a shipment are paid by the shipper in advance while DDU means the taxes and duties will be paid by the customer upon arrival.
GlobalPost offers GlobalPost Plus, a DDP service, so you can pay taxes and duties for your customers. GlobalPost Plus is available for shipments to the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Mexico up to 66 pounds. GlobalPost Plus also includes door-to-door tracking and a transit time of 4-8 days, so customers can track shipments throughout transit.
Expanding to global markets can lead to an increase in sales, so it’s worth the investment. International shipping doesn’t require much additional work, and GlobalPost is designed to keep the process modernized and simplified. Through our network of carriers and resources, we keep international shipping affordable and accessible. Grow your business with the help of GlobalPost.