International Shipping Country Guide

Send2Hub ships to virtually every country in the world from our UK warehouse in Stoke-on-Trent. Every destination has its own customs rules, import duty rates, VAT or sales tax requirements and documentation requirements. This guide links to detailed country-specific information for every destination we serve — and explains the key customs concepts you need to understand before shipping internationally.

For an instant estimate of customs duties and taxes for your specific shipment, use our worldwide customs duty and tax estimator.

Key Customs Concepts

De Minimis Threshold

The de minimis threshold is the minimum declared value below which a country does not collect customs duty or import tax. Shipments below this value typically clear customs faster and with fewer formalities. Thresholds vary enormously by country — from USD $800 in the USA (now suspended) to as little as EUR 27 in Turkiye. Some countries such as Norway apply no de minimis threshold for VAT at all. Always check the current threshold for your destination before shipping.

Customs Duty

Customs duty (also called import duty or tariff) is a tax levied by the destination country on imported goods, typically calculated as a percentage of the declared CIF (cost + insurance + freight) value. Rates are determined by the product's HS (Harmonised System) tariff code and vary by country and product type. Trade agreements between the UK and many countries can reduce or eliminate these rates for qualifying UK-origin goods.

Import VAT and Sales Tax

Most countries apply their equivalent of VAT or sales tax on imported goods in addition to any customs duty. This is calculated on the CIF value plus any applicable duty. Standard rates range from 5% in Japan and Singapore to 25% in Norway and Sweden. EU countries apply VAT to all UK imports regardless of value following the removal of previous exemptions.

CIF vs FOB Value

Most countries calculate customs duty on the CIF (Cost + Insurance + Freight) value of a shipment — meaning the cost of the goods plus the cost of shipping and insurance to the destination. Some countries, such as New Zealand and Australia, calculate duty on the FOB (Free On Board) value — the cost of the goods only, excluding shipping. This distinction significantly affects the tax base for your shipment.

UK Trade Agreements

Since Brexit, the UK has concluded trade agreements with many countries that provide reduced or zero customs duty rates for goods genuinely originating in the UK. Key agreements include the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), UK-Australia FTA, UK-New Zealand FTA, UK-Japan CEPA, UK-Turkiye FTA, UK-Israel TPA and UK-Kenya EPA. To benefit from preferential rates, accurate documentation and a statement of origin must accompany the shipment. Goods manufactured outside the UK and forwarded via Send2Hub do not qualify for preferential rates under these agreements.

Required Documentation

Standard customs export documentation includes a commercial invoice with accurate item descriptions, HS tariff codes, declared values and country of origin, a packing list and an air waybill or bill of lading. Send2Hub prepares all standard customs export documentation for every outbound shipment from our UK warehouse. Some destinations require additional documents — such as a certificate of origin, import licence or recipient tax identification number. Individual country guides below provide destination-specific requirements.

Europe

EU member states apply unified customs rules since Brexit. All UK goods are subject to EU customs duties and local VAT. Previous duty exemptions for low-value goods have been removed under EU customs reform. The UK-EU TCA may reduce or eliminate customs duty on genuinely UK-origin goods.

France — VAT (TVA) 20%, EU customs duty 0-12%, UK-EU TCA applies

Germany — VAT (MwSt) 19%, EU customs duty 0-12%, DHL headquarters advantage

Greece — VAT 24%, EU customs duty 0-12%, island delivery available

Ireland — VAT 23%, EU customs duty 0-12%, Northern Ireland treated as domestic UK

Malta — VAT 18% (lowest in EU), EU customs duty 0-12%, Gozo delivery available

Netherlands — VAT (BTW) 21%, EU customs duty 0-12%, major European logistics hub

Norway — EEA but not EU, VAT (MVA) 25% on all imports, VOEC scheme applies

Poland — VAT (PTU) 23%, EU customs duty 0-12%, DPD excellent coverage

Spain — VAT (IVA) 21%, Canary Islands apply IGIC 7% instead, EU customs duty 0-12%

Turkiye — VAT (KDV) 20%, very low de minimis EUR 27, UK-Turkiye FTA applies

Middle East

Israel — de minimis USD $150, VAT 18%, UK-Israel TPA applies, 72-hour rule for parcels

Saudi Arabia — no de minimis, VAT 15% on all imports, 5% customs duty, GCC member

United Arab Emirates — 5% customs duty, 5% VAT, approximately 10% total for most goods

Asia

China — personal imports under CNY 2,000 simplified, parcel tax 25% above threshold

Hong Kong — free port, zero duty on most goods, no VAT or GST

India — BCD 10-20% plus SWS and IGST 18%, total charges 30-50%+ of CIF value

Japan — de minimis JPY 10,000, JCT 10%, UK-Japan CEPA applies

Malaysia — de minimis RM 500, LVG SST 10% above threshold, no UK-Malaysia FTA

Singapore — zero duty on most goods, GST 9% above SGD $400, fast customs clearance

Americas

Argentina — 0-35% duty plus 21% VAT, de minimis effectively eliminated, CUIT required

Brazil — complex multi-layer taxes, Remessa Conforme scheme, CPF/CNPJ required

Canada — de minimis CAD $40 for UK shipments, GST/HST varies by province, UK-Canada TCA

United States — de minimis $800 suspended, 10% tariff on UK goods, customs charge collected upfront by Send2Hub

Africa

Kenya — EAC CET 25% average, VAT 16%, IDF 3.5%, RDL 2%, UK-Kenya EPA applies

Seychelles — duty-free allowance SCR 3,000, Trades Tax 0-25%, VAT 15%, UK-ESA EPA

Oceania

Australia — de minimis AUD $1,000, GST 10%, UK-Australia FTA January 2023, strict biosecurity

New Zealand — de minimis NZD $1,000, GST 15%, UK-NZ FTA February 2024, strict biosecurity

Eastern Europe and Russia

Russian Federation — EAEU de minimis EUR 200, 15% duty above threshold, Royal Mail and Parcelforce only

Customs Duty Estimator

Use our free interactive tool to estimate customs duties and import taxes for your specific shipment and destination before you ship. Enter your goods value and destination country for an instant indication of likely import charges.

Open the Worldwide Customs Duty and Tax Estimator

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