You may have international customers throughout the world or simply want to send gifts to your loved ones or relatives staying apart. When you are shipping any product across borders, you should be careful about various factors including the international laws of customs. Let us discuss some of the important factors that need to be handled carefully while shipping products internationally.
Check All the Restrictions of Shipping
You should check what and where you are shipping. Your shipment may be restricted to the amount, weight or size of the product. There may be some exceptional products that are not allowed in specific countries. Some of the restrictions may be imposed by the shipping company and some restrictions may be from the Government. As the restrictions are subject to change with time, you need to check with your local postal company for knowing the exact status when you want the shipping.
Fill Necessary Documents
Whenever the goods cross borders, customs documents are needed. The form will include information regarding the name of the sender, the recipient, and the type of shipment. When any duty fees or customs are related to the shipment, the information regarding all these should also be mentioned in the form. While describing your content, you need to be as specific as possible. Your local postal service will provide you with the forms and will also guide you accordingly. You will get to know the cheapest way to ship from the US to Canada from the local postal service provider.
Place Documents at the Right Place
Some documents are to be kept within the shipment and there are others that need to be pasted from outside. Make sure about the documents which are to be placed where and act accordingly.
Research about Duty Costs and Customs
All the fees should be known in advance. The sender or the receiver should be clear about the budget. You should do a quick research by putting the weight and size of your shipment and through the online database calculation; you will be able to know about the charges.
Ensure the Contact Information of the Recipient Is Accurate
Not only the address of the recipient needs to be right, but you should also check the contact information in case of any emergency. The goods may get blocked in the shipping process where there may be issues with customs. You will require informing the recipient through mail or by calling. Therefore proper email address and contact number should be provided by the recipient
Hire Customs Broker
Customs brokers will act as a bridge between you and the customs authority of the country where your shipment is going. They will also help in determining the charges and other fees.
Conclusion
Several factors need to be considered before shipping goods internationally. You should be extra careful about the customs of international law. The local postal service may provide several benefits starting from providing the customs form to the dispatch. They will also guide you in every step of the shipping process when you need to ship your products across borders.