A seller in Bhagalpur lists silk stoles on her website. One morning there is an order from Melbourne, and another from a buyer in Leeds asking whether she ships to the UK. Domestic shipping she understands. International shipping raises new questions about paperwork, customs duty, what happens if the parcel is refused, and how to price it all without losing the margin.
This guide is for online sellers who want to send individual orders abroad, whether from a Shopify store, social media or marketplace enquiries. It covers the routes, the registrations, the paperwork, duties, packing and returns. If you have not exported before, read our guide on how to start exporting from India for the registrations in more detail.
Ways to ship orders abroad
| Route | How it works | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| International courier or express | The courier picks up, files the export declaration for your parcel and delivers door to door abroad | Individual orders, samples, time-sensitive parcels |
| Postal export | India Post carries the parcel; Dak Ghar Niryat Kendras at selected post offices help small exporters with postal exports | Lighter, lower-value parcels where speed is less critical |
| Air cargo or sea freight | A freight forwarder and customs broker move larger consignments | Bulk stock for a warehouse or distributor abroad |
| Marketplace programmes | You sell on an overseas marketplace and follow its shipping model | Sellers building a steady presence in one overseas market |
Most online sellers shipping one order at a time start with international courier. Our comparison of international courier, air cargo and freight explains when the other routes make sense.
Registrations you need before the first commercial order
IEC
For commercial exports you will generally need an Importer Exporter Code (IEC) from the DGFT. According to the DGFT portal, you need a PAN, a bank account in the firm’s name and a valid address to apply, and the IEC issued is the same as your firm’s PAN. Remember to update or confirm it every year.
GST and the Letter of Undertaking
Exports are zero-rated under GST. The GST portal states that a registered person who wants to export goods without paying IGST must furnish a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) in Form GST RFD-11 before making the export. The alternative is to pay IGST and claim a refund. Set this up with your CA before you ship.
AD code and bank account
Your bank’s Authorised Dealer code is registered with customs so that export declarations link to the account that receives your foreign payments. Your courier or customs broker will tell you what they need for this.
The 2026 changes to courier exports
From 1 April 2026, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) put in place reforms for e-commerce exports and courier trade, announced in a Government press release:
- The Rs 10 lakh value limit per consignment for commercial exports through courier was removed.
- The procedure for re-importing returned or rejected goods, including e-commerce exports, was simplified with a risk-based approach instead of consignment-wise verification, and a dedicated return module was added to the Express Cargo Clearance System.
The value limit rarely affected individual consumer orders, but the returns change matters to every online seller who ships abroad. Couriers, destination countries and marketplaces still apply their own rules.
Check the product before you list it abroad
Restrictions are the most common reason international parcels get stuck. Before you open your store to overseas buyers, check:
- Your courier’s prohibited and restricted list. Lithium batteries, liquids, aerosols, perfumes, powders and flammables are common problem items.
- The destination country’s import rules. Food, supplements, cosmetics, seeds, wood and leather products often need certificates or are banned.
- India’s export policy for the product’s HS code.
- Brand and intellectual property. Goods that resemble other brands can be seized at the destination.
Turn the answers into a simple country-by-product list, and only enable international checkout for combinations you have checked.
Paperwork for each international parcel
Every commercial parcel needs accurate customs information. Typically:
- Commercial invoice with the buyer’s full name, address and phone number, item descriptions in plain words, HS codes, quantity, unit value, currency and the reason for export (sale).
- Packing list for multi-item or multi-box shipments.
- Export declaration, which the courier or customs broker files with Indian customs using your details.
- Any product certificates the destination requires.
Describe goods honestly and specifically. “Gift” or “sample” on a paid order, or “clothes” instead of “women’s cotton kurta”, leads to delays, penalties or seizure. Undervaluing to reduce the buyer’s duty is illegal and can get the parcel held. Our guide to export shipment documents explains each document in detail, and the guide to customs clearance for international shipments covers what happens at each border.
Duties, taxes and DDP vs DAP
The destination country may charge import duty and taxes such as VAT or GST on your parcel. Who pays depends on the terms:
- DDP (delivered duty paid): You pay duties and taxes, usually through the courier, and the buyer pays nothing on delivery. Better buyer experience, but you must estimate duty correctly and build it into your price.
- DAP or DDU (duty unpaid): The buyer pays duties and taxes on arrival. Cheaper for you upfront, but buyers who were not warned often refuse the parcel, and you then pay for the return.
Whichever you choose, say so clearly on your product pages and checkout. Our guide to international shipping costs from India breaks down freight, surcharges, duties and how to price them in.
Packing for a long journey
An international parcel may pass through several hubs, flights and customs inspections.
- Use a new, strong box. Double-wall cartons for heavier items.
- Fill all empty space so contents cannot move.
- Seal liquids in leak-proof bags, if they are allowed at all.
- Keep the box size tight. International rates are also charged on chargeable weight, the higher of actual and volumetric weight, and the volumetric divisor may differ from domestic rate cards. Our guide to volumetric weight explains the principle.
- Attach the invoice in a document pouch on the outside, as your courier instructs.
Getting orders from buyers abroad? With Courier Tales you can book international shipments from your dashboard: compare carriers for the destination, see an estimated price, and send the parcel to our warehouse, where it is re-measured before the final price is set.
Tracking and buyer communication
International parcels change hands more than domestic ones, and tracking can go quiet while a parcel is in customs or on a flight. Set expectations:
- Send the tracking link as soon as the parcel is booked.
- Tell buyers that customs can add time, and that you will contact them if anything is needed.
- If you ship DAP, remind them before delivery that duties may be payable.
- Respond quickly when the courier reports a customs query, such as a request for the buyer’s ID or tax number. Delays here are a common cause of returns.
Returns from abroad
International returns are expensive, so design your policy before your first overseas order:
- Consider offering refunds or replacements without asking for the item back on low-value orders, where return shipping and re-import paperwork would cost more than the product.
- For higher-value items, specify who pays for return shipping and any duties.
- Keep every export document. Under the simplified re-import procedure, you still need to show the goods originally left India.
A pre-launch checklist for international orders
- IEC issued and kept updated
- LUT filed for the financial year, or IGST route agreed with your CA
- Bank AD code details ready for your courier or broker
- Products checked against courier and destination restrictions
- HS codes and plain-language descriptions prepared for each product
- DDP or DAP decided and shown at checkout
- Packing materials suited to long transit
- Return policy for overseas buyers written and published
Final thoughts
International shipping is more paperwork than domestic shipping, but it is not complicated once the basics are in place. Get the IEC and GST setup right, check every product against restrictions, describe and value goods honestly, choose who pays duty, and tell buyers what to expect. Start with a few countries where you already have demand, learn from those orders, then expand.
When you have your first overseas orders, create your Courier Tales account and book your first international shipment from the dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Can a small online seller ship orders abroad from India?
Yes. Many small sellers send individual orders abroad by international courier or post. For commercial shipments you will generally need an IEC and the right GST setup, plus accurate customs paperwork for each parcel.
Who pays customs duty on an international order?
It depends on the terms you choose. Under DDP (delivered duty paid) you pay duties and taxes so the buyer receives the parcel without extra charges. Under DAP or DDU terms, the buyer pays them on arrival. Whichever you choose, tell the buyer before they order.
Is there a value limit on exports by courier from India?
The earlier Rs 10 lakh per-consignment limit on commercial courier exports was removed from 1 April 2026, according to the Government's announcement of CBIC's reforms. Couriers and destination countries may still have their own limits and rules, so check with your shipping provider.
What happens if an international order is returned?
The parcel has to come back through customs as a re-import. CBIC simplified the procedure for re-importing returned or rejected goods, including e-commerce exports, with a risk-based approach from April 2026. Keep the original export documents, because you will need them to show the goods left India.
Which products are hard to ship internationally?
Lithium batteries, liquids, perfumes and aerosols, food, supplements, cosmetics, plant products and anything that looks like a brand copy often face restrictions. Rules vary by courier and destination country, so check before you list the product for overseas buyers.
Sources
- CBIC operationalises comprehensive reforms for e-commerce exports and courier trade from April 1, 2026, Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance, Government of India (accessed 2 November 2026)
- IEC Profile Management, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Government of India (accessed 2 November 2026)
- FAQs: Furnishing of Letter of Undertaking for Export of Goods or Services (Form GST RFD-11), Goods and Services Tax Network, Government of India (accessed 2 November 2026)
Courier, marketplace and tax rules change. Check the current terms with your courier, marketplace or adviser before relying on them.