How To Ship USPS International Packages and Fill Out a Customs Form

Looking to ship overseas? We’ll take a look at the 5 international shipping services USPS offers and show you how to ship USPS international packages!
Shipping international packages can be intimidating, but once you know how to fill out a customs form, you’ll be set to do as much shipping internationally as you want.
Of course, you’ll have to do some extra work of weighing your items and researching what that country’s restrictions are, but you’ll find it’s not as hard as you may have thought.
And USPS makes it easier by offering 5 international shipping services: Global Express Guaranteed (GXG), Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, First Class Package International Service and Airmail M-Bags.
00:00 - How To Ship USPS International Packages
00:18 - What international shipping services do USPS offer?
00:34 - What do they have in common?
00:53 - USPS International Tracking
01:08 - What am I allowed to send internationally?
01:33 - How to Schedule a USPS Package Pickup
01:53 - How to Ship USPS Global Express Guaranteed (GXG)
02:22 - What is a DOC and NON-DOC package?
04:23 - How to Ship USPS Priority Mail Express International
05:17 - How to Find USPS Price Groups
06:29 - How to Ship USPS Priority Mail International
07:28 - How to Ship Packages with First Class Package International Service
08:07 - How to Ship USPS Airmail M-Bags
09:30 - How to Pack an Airmail M-Bag
10:11 - How to Fill Out a Customs Form
10:30 - Where can I get a Customs Form?
10:42 - Customs Form step by step walkthrough
We hope this helped and you have fun sending packages internationally!
As always, if you have any questions or ideas for other how-to's, please let us know in the comments below!
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For more information on shipping check out some of our other how-to’s!
How To Write US & International Address Formats:
• How To Write US & Inte...
How To Buy USPS Postage Online & Print Your Own Shipping Labels:
• How To Buy USPS Postag...
How To Ship USPS Priority Mail:
• How To Ship USPS Prior...
How To Mail USPS First Class Envelopes & Packages with Stamps:
• How To Mail USPS First...
How To Send USPS Certified Mail and Return Receipts:
• How To Send USPS Certi...
How To Get a Refund for USPS Shipping Labels:
• How To Get a Refund fo...
How To Ship Your Items On eBay:
• How To Ship Items On e...
How To Ship Home Video Game Consoles:
• How To Ship Home Video...
How To Ship Handheld/Portable Game Consoles:
• How To Ship Handheld o...
Disclaimer: Innominate Kraken is not held responsible for any damages that may occur to your envelopes and packages in the mail when you choose to mail and ship them using the United States Postal Service. You choose to mail and ship them at your own risk.
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USPS:
www.usps.com
Customs Forms:
bit.ly/3rTSVps
Schedule a Package Pickup:
bit.ly/3yliLnu
USPS Postage Calculator:
bit.ly/3GAjnIP
USPS Price Groups:
bit.ly/3pN1WOn
International Shipping Restrictions and Prohibitions:
bit.ly/3dFbSUw
Index of Countries and Localities:
bit.ly/3DBvmE0
Country Price Groups and Weight Limits:
bit.ly/3pMI0Lm
GXG Index of Countries:
bit.ly/3oHgf7D
GXG International Rate Tables and Rate Groups:
bit.ly/3lRixiR
GXG Shipping Kit:
bit.ly/3yemkM1
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[@twinkie911]

Very thorough and easy to follow. I have shied away from international shipping my entire adult life with no one to show me, didn’t think I would be able to understand or do it thank you. ***

[@InnominateKraken]

Thank you! We're glad our video helped and gave you some confidence to ship internationally now :)

[@_justinprojects]

saved me loads of time. thanks for the great summary! ✌

[@InnominateKraken]

We're glad we could simplify everything and be of help!

[@muamelanie]

Thank you so very much for this. I have to send a package to New Zealand to a winner for my KZbin channel and I've never sent anything outside of the US much less thought about what I have to do. I appreciate your details for us. I'm less anxious now.

[@InnominateKraken]

That's awesome! Glad we could help :)

[@miaa7365]

That was super useful, thanks!

[@InnominateKraken]

Glad we could help :)

[@sueschohan5768]

Very informative! Thank you!

[@InnominateKraken]

Glad it was helpful!

[@casuallyworked4698]

amazing video! thank you!

[@InnominateKraken]

Happy it helped :)

[@neishastovall2463]

Excellent video!! Thank you!

[@InnominateKraken]

Glad it helped!

[@alexmardiaz1663]

Thank you!!! Great video

[@InnominateKraken]

Glad it helped! :)

[@evanpschneider]

very helpful, thank you!!

[@InnominateKraken]

Glad it helped :)

[@SaveTheEarth8202]

Thank you for your lesson and now I'm ready... So yeah your information is still helpful now in 2023.🙏💯🗽🇺🇸

[@InnominateKraken]

Glad it was helpful!

[@audreyk.2442]

super helpful thank you!

[@InnominateKraken]

Glad it helped :)

[@friedapartlow]

Thanks for your help this is very helpful

[@InnominateKraken]

Happy it helps!

[@LILJOKER2341]

This video was very informative, seen the yellow mailer (Same one that I have now) on the thumbnail and knew I was gonna get the answers I needed 😅 Thanks!!

[@InnominateKraken]

Glad we could help! And yay for using similar shipping supplies :)

[@kpm4809]

@@InnominateKraken have a question

[@tanchamalimbu]

I did Usps International from usps . I didn’t do custom form . It was 4.5 oz. From Maryland to Ireland . It is going to PA distribution and took 4 days . I am assuming from PA they will send to Ireland . Good luck to me. Any experience and knowledge is appreciated .

[@Bluepear412]

Hi thank you so much for the video! I tried recently mailing a priority international small rate flat box with the customs formed filled out online however the clerk at the P.O said that I needed a different box. I’m really confused

[@a7xfanben]

Nice video!

[@FreedOrDieTrying]

Great job 👍👍

[@InnominateKraken]

Thank you! :)

[@samroller5788]

My issue is Im having trouble figuring out where to fill out my item as a warranty claim. I am returning it to the Czech republic so they can repair an item that i bought from them. I originally bought the item for thousands of dollars so im worried if i fill out the information wrong then customs will charge percentage since it’s expensive

[@765934]

Good job.

[@InnominateKraken]

Thank you :)

[@JM-ee1ln]

You did great and should definitely keep up the videos!

[@InnominateKraken]

Thank you!!! :)

[@avrinrose5457]

Can you make How To Do Joker's Scar (Kaitou Joker)?

[@midknight9584]

great video.

[@InnominateKraken]

Thank you! :)

[@evolveup]

Great videos. Question: I am shipping a small gift from California to Estonia thru USPS and using priority Express Int. Value around $60 I was told by USPS that the recipient will need to pay a fee of around $50 dollars to receive the package. is this correct? What category can i send as a gift for the recipient not too pay any fees.

[@JasonCrozier-gx5pw]

Thank u

[@user-ce8ts6vn3c]

what i wanna know is, my package was sent from nc to nigeria by 1st class package intl service and made it through usa customs, and i have tracking #,so how will i know once it reaches nigeria that it actually made it through there customs and will be delivered? they told me at post office 7-10 days.Help!! I have my phone # on customs paper but dont have international calling so thats no good. how will they reach me? how will i know if its gonna be delivered? will my tracking # work for international ?

[@Yasmin-ds3eu]

Can I use USPS whiles in Ghana?

[@Bluegrass-Lawncare-LLC]

Hi there, great video. We want to start offering shipping to Canada but being a family owned business with no experience this has been something we have struggled with. My question is, can we use our own boxes to ship to Canada like we do into the US through USPS? Does Shopify have all the forms available through their shipping features? We use Shopify, and there is nothing on KZbin explaining how to do it on shopify. This could be something you can do a video for, just a suggestion. Again thank you for the info. And great replies as well. Very engaged. That made me subscribe. Thank you

[@InnominateKraken]

Oh that's exciting! But yes, you can use your own boxes to ship to Canada like we do here. I haven't used Shopify in quite awhile (used to work for an ecommerce that used it), but I think Shopify has the forms...Actually just looked through their help center and you can print the labels and fill out customs forms on there: bit.ly/3F4aGb8 And thank you for subscribing, we really appreciate it :) Hope your business flourishes even more with the shipping expansion to Canada! Good luck!

[@slimjimmichael]

I dont know how it happened but i had to pay $99 for shipping 6 pound package to Poland. Coffee, chocolates, candle, christmas card. Declared value i had was $24. What i also want to know is since this is a gift, will there be an import fee? Because at USPS it said there "may" be a $12 import fee which is ridiculous since it is a gift, and not worth that much ... its almost like it wasnt even worth sending it ...

[@user-fv6lk3iu2x]

Informative and easy to understand videos! I may be moving from New York, USA to Tokyo, Japan and was trying to determine the best way to ship additional clothes and shoes to Tokyo, Japan after I arrive. I'm estimating it'll be around 50-65 pounds. I don't care about the speed. What do you think would be the cheapest method to do this? Thank you

[@InnominateKraken]

My friend shipped some clothes to relatives overseas not too long ago and we put everything in one big box and shipped it with Priority Mail International. I think it weighed around 30 pounds and cost us a little over $100. I think Priority Mail International is the only option you could really go with and it's the cheapest out of the others (minus First Class International Packages which you'd be over the weight limit for).

[@Samuel-wf1sm]

My package was send august 10 and now is Sept 25 it reach Jamaica but it don't cum to my destination

[@reagraphie6126]

please i want to shipping from china (epacket) But I don't live in China. I want to buy from a Chinese site and send it to the warehouse USPS. Done to another destination Can this be done

[@sandrakluey1856]

How long does first class international take

[@jacksona654]

Hey I loved the video and I had some questions for u. I wanted to shipped an Nintendo switch from USA to China what is the best way you think I should take and what kind of box should I get. Is there extras forms I need to filled out?

[@InnominateKraken]

Hi there! Here is where you can see what you can and cannot ship to China: bit.ly/3qui9bJ As far as the mail service and boxes go, it all depends on how fast you need it to get there. Then once you figure out which one, on that same page, scroll down to see if there are any additional forms you need to fill out for that specific service and what the max dimensions and weight the box could be. I'd make sure the box has enough room to fit packaging protectors.

[@Polaniar]

Hey there! I appreciate your time and effort put into this video. We are trying to send a package to Spain and have around 30ish items (mostly for newborns in the family). Do we actually need around 8 custom forms filled out with each item? (4x per form). Will my family in Spain have to pay fees for these items?

[@InnominateKraken]

Thank you! With the items you'll still have to list them all even if it's a lot of custom forms. But let's say you have 2 of the same item you can list it once and put 2 under the quantity. I don't know if that's the case for any of your items, but it'd help shorten your list. As for the fees, I'm not entirely sure. Usually the recipient is responsible for paying those, but I'm not sure what Spain's policy is on that.

[@PolishAndPoly]

I have a question, do you use the normal priority mail envelopes or padded priority mail ones to ship internationally? Just have an international label? I can’t find international priority mail boxes. Sorry if this is a dumb question I’ve never done this before and I have someone who’s waiting on me to send something to them and I’m lowkey nervous. Edit: I’m nervous because they’ve waited months already 🥲

[@InnominateKraken]

Ah, I'm sorry you're feeling so nervous and there are no dumb questions! You can definitely use the regular Priority Mail boxes and envelopes for international shipping. If you wanted to ship with the Global Express Guaranteed service, then they have envelopes for that. You can get the boxes/envelopes at the post office. Sometimes they have them out, if not, you'll have to ask the cashier if they have any behind the counter. You can also order them for free on their website here: tinyurl.com/2w3b27ns

[@venator7889]

Does USPS First Class International Shipping pack Packages well? My country's postal service is quite rough with parcels so I'm worried the expensive product I bought on eBay will arrive broken 😬🥶

[@InnominateKraken]

From my experience, I haven't received a damaged package that USPS handled domestically or internationally yet. At least in my area, they're not rough. Not to say that what I've ordered from eBay or Amazon hasn't come damaged before. But on those occasions it was because the seller neglected to put in any package protectors or didn't secure the product in packaging enough (the boxes weren't damaged at all for those, and if they were, it wasn't reinforced with tape).

[@awgeeeee]

Everytime I put first class package international shipping label it takes me to click n ship and makes me put in a state and city when I’m shipping to a different country

[@InnominateKraken]

Just to make sure, I just logged into Click-N-Ship selected a country, put in an address and package info for a First Class International package and got the option to select that service. Once you select a country, there should no longer be any info boxes for state and city. I'm not sure why the website is doing that for you, but when I pick a country, it never shows state and city. It might be a glitch on your end.

[@Avishka6750]

Hello dear sir! I need your help! I bought an item on eBay, and he shipped it to USA address. But I’m in Sri Lanka at the moment. So is there any chance to usps, to pick up this item from Texas,USA and ship it out to my country of Sri Lanka? First class package international. I really appreciate your kindly reply sir! Thanks! Have a great day! And god bless you all!

[@DorkDynasty.]

I’m trying to purchase trading cards from Europe shipping to the US and I was just wondering what the shipping pricing could be?

[@InnominateKraken]

As with any other purchase, you'll need to check with the seller how much they're charging for shipping and if they're going to pay for customs duties, fees or taxes. Sometimes the buyer can end up paying for that. Other than that, it's kind of out of your control how much that amount would be.

[@tuffmoma2302]

If i have a box that contains a necklace and earings, how would i write that on the customs form? Does it need to be 3 different items or what?

[@InnominateKraken]

You could list it once saying it's a "box with 1 necklace and 1 pair of earrings." When I sent Christmas gifts last year, for one of them I put "gift wrapped box with 2 hot wheels cars."

[@clouds5762]

I was wondering if there exists a way to include an envelope with postage for a reply back from the person you send the mail to internationally? I know I can’t include a postage from the US for someone in the UK to send me a reply back via mail, so is there a way to go about that? I’ve been searching but it seems like it’s impossible, which kinda seems ridiculous.

[@InnominateKraken]

There used to be International Reply Coupons that you can purchase where they'd cover whatever the postage would be overseas for prepaid reply back letters (bit.ly/3x2xrIk). I'm not sure if USPS still does that, but it wouldn't hurt to ask at the Post Office if they do.

[@ruthvela9605]

Hi there I had a question can I ask for a refund if the form was not filled out properly because they did return the package to me and I want to reship it again however I would like to get a refund and wanted to ask you if that is possible

[@InnominateKraken]

I don't believe you can get a refund for a form not being filled out properly, but you can try to request a refund just to see if you get one. More info on international refunds can be found here: bit.ly/3NNg83D

[@jerocaldon429]

Saved me pain of asking annoyed post officer workers for the proper forms... Great tutorial.

[@InnominateKraken]

Glad it helped!

[@AnaF-pw9bq]

Do you know why it’s giving me a landed cost estimate when I am filling out the forms online for first class package international service? I didn’t think it would be applicable to what I’m sending because it’s just a gift, but it’s telling me my recipient would have to pay $14 in fees and $7 in taxes

[@spaceinbetween6591]

did you ever find out? did your recipient have to pay?

[@brittyn]

What if I don’t have a scale at home to weigh the items? Can I estimate?

[@InnominateKraken]

If you have a regular scale instead of a postal scale you can try this method: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqiqgZiudst2ptU (You want to have the most accurate weight so that you pay the correct postage).

[@artjimeneziii8499]

How fast are they to deliver to lasaka Zambia Africa? I did priority mail express international from Chicago Illinois USA

[@InnominateKraken]

Apparently it's 1-5 business days, give or take. Anything international, I always assume a week (sometimes despite the service chosen).

[@cssbr9359]

How to send a book to Indonesia, how much is the shipping cost?

[@InnominateKraken]

To find the most accurate price, you'll have to enter some information into USPS' Price Calculator: postcalc.usps.com

[@Alrightythen628]

I still dont get it. When i go to click and ship, it only gives me the option to choose USA States

[@InnominateKraken]

Hmm I'm not sure why you're not seeing it :( I just checked on Click-N-Ship and for the recipient's address there's a dropdown menu with the countries. From our Click-N-Ship international shipping how-to this is what it should it look like: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2XYm5ytbr6KmK8si=1kUOVmlBM8FWqzoo&t=70

[@nycdweller]

I want to ship 2 tee shirts to Israel and the shipping costs more than both shirts combined. Crazy!😢

[@ranelgallardo7031]

I just sent 2 Astros 2022 World Series Championship shirts to my family in Toronto and it cost me $30. Which isn’t past the shirts costs. I’m guessing this is based on how far the country you’re sending it to.

[@monicagage8579]

Tryibg to ship food items and hot sauces how can i word that in the box description

[@InnominateKraken]

This website gives a good guide on sending food overseas (just ignore all the advertisement for JustShip though): tinyurl.com/53r63ff7 For example they say to not give a vague description, like "biscuits." Instead write something like, "Lotus Original Caramelized Biscuits."

[@xViperLily]

if i’m shipping candy do i have to list each candy ???? IM CONFUSED SOMEONE HELP

[@InnominateKraken]

Is the candy in a box or bag? Then you can just list those.

[@CaptainOverLoad]

I'm trying to send my mexican friend a gift. It's a used video game console. How do you deal with customs on the value on used gift items.

[@InnominateKraken]

For used gifts, honestly put the current market value of them. So I'd look up the average price a used Switch goes for and put that in for the value.

[@RebellionNight_97]

I want to send a bracelet to my bff who moved overseas years ago but im a minor and my parents dont like mailing things overseas... how can i send her her bracelet?

[@InnominateKraken]

There's no age restriction to shipping, so you should be fine to ship it. After putting it in a small shipping box that fits it and using clear packaging tape to seal the box, just follow along with the instructions in our video with how to fill out the customs form. You can find one for free at the post office. Then you'd take the box and form to the post office and the clerk would do the rest of putting the label on and figuring how much money it'd cost.

[@shainamadai]

Hey I’m curious what type of postage stamp I’d use?

[@shainamadai]

I’d probably choose first class package the one that was 14.95. It’s just a simple couple pieces of paper

[@InnominateKraken]

If it's just a couple pieces of paper and it doesn't weigh more than 15.994 oz and fits in a large envelope then you can send it as First Class International Mail instead of a package. We have a how to on international mail here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/apuoc3h8iJ2AldE

[@yourmom-pp2fd]

do you have to be 18+ to send a package internationally?

[@InnominateKraken]

There are no age restrictions on mailing/shipping.

[@nagasako7]

USPS should just rename it. Express Mail. Priority Mail. 2nd Class. Lol

[@dpmn9789]

Not helpful at all since nobody really accepts these custom forms anymore and want it done online. They keep changing the way on how to do it online ( 3 times so far in the last year or two ) and make it more difficult each time. So maybe you need to update your video

[@InnominateKraken]

That must be specific post offices or people not wanting to do their jobs. We shipped 3 separate international packages using physical customs forms a week prior and after this video was published. We wanted to make sure we had the most updated information and even talked with the post office clerk to double check the forms were filled out correctly. I've only ever used physical forms, so I'm sorry your post office is making you do online forms and won't accept the physical ones.

[@dpmn9789]

@@InnominateKraken no, not specific ones, i send packages from all over, that was in CO, MI, MS, TX... all over, maybe yours is a small town and they just take it and put it in themselves, but when packages arrive overseas they do have the digital copy printed on them, not the hard copy.

[@InnominateKraken]

​@@dpmn9789 Oh that's pretty interesting. I guess New York City has a lot of catching up to do. The only other way I've shipped overseas was using Click-N-Ship and printing up a customs form with the shipping label there for them to put with the package and that's been fine too here. Definitely have to look into the digital form.

[@deadxjimin1107]

Are you boy or girl?

[@whosman817]

That’s what I was wondering

[@deadxjimin1107]

@@whosman817 bro💀😭

[@chinchilla6109]

Literally doesn't matter. They made the video to help people out don't be weird 😐

[@ranelgallardo7031]

They’re non binary

[@krazykillar4794]

I am a former top rated power seller on ebay , im based in UK and I've got experience sending packages to USA and I've bought alot of products From usa . USPS is a incompetent American courier for American people. They can't operate to UK standards , they are way too slow . Their website is difficult to navigate and their service is shit . UPS are much better .