International shipping from India: How it works, costs, and more

Selling to customers outside India is much simpler than it used to be. India's exports reached a record USD 860 billion in the 2025-26 financial year¹, and more businesses are finding customers beyond their home market. But sending a package abroad involves more than choosing a courier.

You need to prepare the right documents, understand customs rules, estimate shipping costs, and decide how you'll receive payment. Small mistakes can lead to delays, extra charges, or less money reaching your account than you expected.

This guide explains how international shipping from India works. It covers the steps involved, the documents you'll need, the costs to plan for, and the courier services available.

What is international shipping?

International shipping is the movement of goods or documents between countries by courier, air, sea, or land. The best shipping method depends on what you're sending, how quickly it needs to arrive, and your budget.

Businesses use international shipping to sell products globally, while individuals use it to send gifts, personal items, or documents abroad.

Unlike domestic shipping, international shipments must clear customs in both countries and may be subject to duties, taxes, longer delivery times, and additional paperwork. Missing or incorrect documents can delay or prevent customs clearance.

Types of international shipping

There are four main ways to ship goods across borders, and each suits a different need.

• Air freight: The fastest option, ideal for urgent, perishable, or high-value goods, but also the most expensive.
• Sea freight: The most cost-effective choice for heavy or bulky shipments when delivery time is flexible.
• Courier services: Best for documents, samples, small parcels, and e-commerce orders. Most include door-to-door delivery and customs clearance.
• Land and rail: Used mainly for shipments to neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. Suitable when goods can travel overland.

Documents required for international shipping from India

Getting your paperwork right is just as important as packing your shipment. Missing or incorrect documents can delay customs clearance, lead to extra charges, or even result in your shipment being returned. Here are the documents most exporters need.

• Import Export Code (IEC): A 10-digit code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Most businesses need an IEC before they can export goods from India.²
• Commercial invoice: This is the primary document customs uses to assess your shipment. It includes details such as the goods being exported, their quantity, and their value.
• Packing list: Lists the contents of each package, along with their weight and dimensions. It helps customs and carriers verify the shipment.
• Shipping bill: The main export customs document in India. It is filed electronically through ICEGATE before your shipment leaves the country. Courier exports are typically filed using the CSB-IV or CSB-V forms.³
• Bill of lading or air waybill: Issued by the carrier, this serves as the transport document and proof that your shipment has been accepted for delivery.
• Certificate of origin: Confirms the country where your goods were manufactured. Depending on the destination, it may help reduce import duties under applicable trade agreements.⁴
• AD Code: Your bank's Authorised Dealer Code, registered with customs so export payments can be linked to your shipment.

Some products may require additional documents or licences. For example, electronics may need BIS certification, while agricultural and plant-based products often require a phytosanitary certificate. It's worth checking the requirements for your product and destination before you ship.

Step-by-step guide to international shipping from India

Sending a shipment overseas involves a few key steps. Here is how a typical export shipment moves from India to a buyer abroad.

1. Choose a shipping provider and delivery method

Decide how you want to ship your goods based on your shipment size, budget, destination, and delivery timeline. Express couriers are best for small, urgent shipments, while air and sea freight suit larger consignments.

2. Complete the required export registrations

Before you can ship commercially from India, you'll need an Import Export Code (IEC) and an AD Code linked to the bank where you'll receive export payments. These are one-time registrations that allow you to export legally and process foreign payments.

3. Pack and label your shipment

Package your goods securely so they can withstand international transit. Every shipment should be clearly labelled with the destination address and the necessary shipping information to help it move smoothly through the courier network.

4. Prepare your export documents

Most shipments require a commercial invoice, packing list, and any certificates needed for the destination country or the goods being exported. Having these documents ready before booking helps avoid delays during customs clearance.

5. Book your shipment and review the charges

Once your shipment is ready, compare rates and choose a service. International shipping costs depend on factors such as weight, dimensions, destination, delivery speed, and applicable surcharges. Couriers usually charge based on whichever is higher: the actual weight or the volumetric weight of the parcel.

6. Clear Indian customs

Your shipping bill is filed through ICEGATE for customs processing. Once Indian Customs issues the Let Export Order (LEO), the shipment is cleared to leave the country.

7. Track the shipment until delivery

After departure, the shipment travels to the destination country, clears local customs, and is delivered to the recipient. Most carriers provide tracking updates throughout the journey.

8. Receive payment and reconcile your e-FIRC

The shipping process doesn't end when the parcel is delivered. Once your overseas buyer pays, the funds reach your bank in foreign currency and are converted into rupees. Your bank then issues an electronic Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate (e-FIRC).

This document plays an important role in India's export compliance process. Every export shipping bill remains open in the Reserve Bank of India's Export Data Processing and Monitoring System (EDPMS) until the payment is matched against it.⁵

Your bank uses the e-FIRC to reconcile the payment and close that shipping bill. If a shipping bill remains open beyond the permitted period, it can lead to regulatory issues, including being caution-listed by the RBI. Exporters must also realise export proceeds within the timeline prescribed by the RBI, so it's worth confirming the current requirement with your bank before shipping.

How much does international shipping cost?

There is no flat rate for international shipping. Several factors shape the final price. Here are the main ones.

• Weight (actual and volumetric): Couriers charge on whichever is higher: the actual weight, or the volumetric weight, which reflects the space a parcel takes up. The formula is (Length × Width × Height in cm) ÷ 5000. A box measuring 50 x 40 x 30 cm has a volumetric weight of 12 kg, so you pay for 12 kg even if it actually weighs 3.
• Package dimensions: Bulky, low-density parcels increase the volumetric weight, which can raise the shipping cost.
• Destination: Shipping to distant or less-served countries typically costs more than shipping to major markets.
• Shipping speed: Express services cost more than economy, and air freight costs more than sea freight.
• Fuel surcharge: Couriers apply a fuel surcharge that changes with global fuel prices.
• Customs duties and taxes: These are usually paid by the recipient. If you ship under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), you pay them upfront. Under DAP or DDU, the recipient pays them when the shipment arrives.⁶
• Insurance: Optional protection against loss or damage during transit.
• Remote area surcharge: An additional fee for deliveries outside a courier's standard service network.
• Currency conversion: When your overseas payment is converted to rupees, your bank applies an exchange rate that is marked down from the real market rate. This markup is easy to miss because it is built into the rate rather than shown as a fee.

Some of the best international shipping companies in India

Several courier and logistics companies help businesses ship internationally from India. The right choice depends on your destination, budget, and delivery timeline.

• DHL Express: DHL Express offers door-to-door delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. It is a strong choice for urgent or high-value shipments where speed and reliability matter.
• FedEx: FedEx ships to more than 220 countries and territories. It offers express and economy services, making it suitable for both time-sensitive shipments and lower-cost e-commerce deliveries.
• Aramex: Aramex has a strong network across the Middle East and North Africa. It provides express, freight, and e-commerce shipping, and is often a cost-effective option for Gulf destinations.
• DTDC: DTDC combines extensive domestic coverage with international shipping to more than 220 countries through global partners. It is a good option for businesses that ship within India and overseas.
• India Post (International Speed Post / EMS): India Post offers international shipping to more than 97 countries at government-regulated rates. It is often the most affordable choice for documents and parcels that are not time-sensitive.

Common challenges in international shipping from India

• Customs delays: Often caused by missing or incorrect paperwork. Even small errors can delay clearance.
• Documentation errors: Mistakes in export documents can lead to inspections, delays, or the shipment being returned.
• Lost or damaged shipments: Uncommon, but possible. Postal services usually offer limited compensation, while courier insurance provides broader cover at an extra cost.
• Currency conversion costs: Banks typically add a 1-3% markup⁷ when converting foreign payments to INR, and may also charge SWIFT fees, handling fees, and 18%⁸ GST on those fees.

Together, these costs can reduce the value of an export payment by 2% to 5%. On a USD 10,000 payment, even a 1.5% exchange rate markup works out to around INR 14,000.⁹

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FAQs

1. How is volumetric weight calculated for international shipments?
Multiply the parcel's length, width, and height (in cm), then divide by 5,000¹⁰. Couriers charge whichever is higher: the actual weight or the volumetric weight.

2. How do I wrap furniture for international shipping?
Dismantle the furniture if possible, protect the corners, and wrap each part with moving blankets and bubble wrap. Label loose parts and avoid wrapping wood directly in plastic.

3. What items are restricted or prohibited from being shipped internationally from India?
Items such as currency, precious metals, firearms, explosives, narcotics, wildlife products, and hazardous materials are prohibited or restricted. Always check the DGFT's ITC(HS)¹¹ schedule before shipping.

4. Do I always need an Import Export Code (IEC) to ship goods internationally?
Not always. An IEC is required for most commercial exports, but exemptions apply for personal, non-commercial shipments, government departments, and certain low-value trade with neighbouring countries.

5. How do I obtain an e-FIRC for international export payments?
Your bank issues an e-FIRC after matching your foreign payment with the relevant export documents. Some international payment providers can also issue a digital e-FIRC.

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Sources:

1. India's exports - FY 2025–26
2. DGFT IEC Profile Management
3. CBIC Courier Regulations and forms
4. DGFT Certificate of Origin guide
5. EDPMS
6. DHL's guide to DDP vs. DDU
7. Forex markup
8. 18% GST
9. 2% to 5% reduced export payment
10. Volumetric weight
11. Prohibited items