Parents may be surprised by the costs, administrative steps, and other issues involved in shipping items to a participant overseas. AFS cannot provide specific legal, customs, or shipping provider advice. We can share an overview of common challenges and tips regarding international parcels from past participants, but in most cases, it is more realistic for the participant to attempt to obtain items locally in the host country, rather than rely on it being shipped from the U.S.
- Avoid shipping “must-have” or irreplaceable items. International shipping is generally slower, more expensive, and less reliable than domestic shipping. Shipping to some countries is not reliable.
- When AFS staff must send time-sensitive documents (for example, signed visa letters), private carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL are usually faster and more reliable than the United States Postal Service (USPS).
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All countries may inspect incoming packages.
- You must fully and accurately declare everything you are shipping and its value, following the carrier’s instructions.
- Many countries charge import duty, customs duty, Value Added Tax (VAT) or Goods and Services Tax (GST), tariffs, or other fees on some or all imported items. There may also be administrative or handling fees for customs processing charged by the carrier and/or destination government.
- If a package is inspected, customs will typically notify the recipient of any fees due, and the package would typically be released only after fees are paid. If fees are not paid, the item may be returned to the sender or destroyed. Paying such fees can be difficult due to local banking and money transfer norms.
- Estimate fees in advance. SimpleDuty offers a free import fee estimator by country: https://www.simplyduty.com/import-calculator
- Many items are restricted or prohibited. Each country sets its own rules about what may enter by parcel. Shipping prohibited or restricted items can lead to seizure, fines, or other penalties.
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Medications and other high-risk items.
- For all countries, it is generally prohibited to ship prescription medications, and as a best practice, do not ship over-the-counter medications (see article about bringing medications with you on program in the "Preparing to Depart" section. Do not ship cash, electronics, and items with batteries unless you have confirmed with the carrier and the destination country’s regulations.
- Carrier-provided prohibited lists are useful but not definitive. Carriers publish lists of items they will not accept based on the destination country; however, carrier acceptance does not guarantee customs clearance. AFS cannot confirm that any carrier list is comprehensive or up to date. Examples:
- Some countries may allow limited personal effects to be admitted and used in the country on a temporary basis without fees. However, the specific definitions and requirements for this exemption vary significantly from country to country and are difficult to rely upon.