Best Ways To Ship Packages Internationally (2026)

The eCommerce industry is becoming saturated. However, billions of consumers exist worldwide, so the opportunities for broadening your target audience and growing the business are endless. To succeed in this endeavour, you must discover the best way to ship packages internationally.

Fortunately, this blog post will provide you with pieces of advice to help you thrive. Let's dive in!

Key Takeaways

• International shipping starts with preparation. Before shipping overseas, research your destination country's import regulations, required documents, and prohibited items. It will help you avoid costly delays, returns, or penalties.
  
  
• Proper documentation is non-negotiable. Commercial invoices, Certificates of Origin, and Bills of Lading are crucial in customs clearance and smooth international delivery.
  
  
• Packaging impacts both protection and cost. Smart packaging keeps products safe, enhances brand perception, and helps control shipping expenses.
  
  
• Avoid prohibited items at all costs. Shipping banned goods can lead to seized packages, fines, and potential shipping restrictions. Don't forget to always verify before sending.
  
  
• Affordable shipping reduces cart abandonment. High international shipping fees drive customers away. You can partner with cost-effective providers to offer competitive rates without sacrificing profit.
  
  
• The right shipping partner simplifies everything. From discounted international rates and customs paperwork support to platform integrations, the right provider streamlines global fulfillment.

How to Ship A Package Internationally?

To start, you have to identify your target destination country. If you already know where to ship, don't forget to:

• Know their regulations for importing products. This ensures you don't ship any prohibited items.
  
  
• Review the required documents to prepare them before shipping the packages.
  
  
• Choose a reliable shipping partner based on your requirements. Costs vary based on package type, dimensions, and transportation mode, among many other factors. Select the option that best fits you.

In addition, we will show you a shortcut to a faster, more convenient shipping process later in this article.

Requirements and Documents to Prepare

Shippers must get the necessary documents to send their items upon shipping. While requirements may differ depending on the destination country, below are the standard documents you need to submit.

Customer's or Commercial Invoice

Many sellers interchange the customer and commercial invoices. However, these two documents serve different purposes.

The customer's invoice is one of the primary documents to ship a parcel. It should list important details, including:

• Goods or services provided to the customer
• Total value
• Preferred payment method

You can send a printed or electronic invoice to your customer.

On the other hand, a customer invoice is crucial in the export process. It facilitates customs clearance for your shipment. A well-documented commercial invoice can quickly determine whether taxes and import charges apply to your package. It includes information, such as:

• Detailed product descriptions
• HS Codes
• Country of Origin
• Package weight

Simply put, they are different but aren't necessarily opposites. They are two distinct modes of the same document, depending on the buyer and the destination of the goods.

Certificate of Origin

From the word itself, "origin" is a document in which a commodity or goods were manufactured. Similar to the commercial invoice, a Certificate of Origin (CO) discloses information about the product, the recipient's location, and the exporting nation.

Bill of Lading

The essential document used in sea transport is the Bill of Lading. It serves as a receipt for transported goods, a contract of carriage, and a title-granting instrument.

If you think about it, gathering all of these documents takes time and effort.

A shipping provider allows you to skip this step. You don't have to exert energy or time to comply with these requirements, as they will process them on your behalf.

Packaging

While the primary purpose of packaging is to ensure that the goods are safe from any damage during transport, handling, and storage, packaging also affects the viewers' perception of your products. Research indicates that a well-thought-out product package can attract more customers. It also increases brand awareness and quality.

On the other hand, packaging can also affect the shipping cost. So, you need to carefully consider the packaging design and materials used to ensure you hit your goal without exceeding the budget.

Shipping Prohibited Items Internationally

Most, if not all, shipping companies do not ship restricted or prohibited items.

Simple reason: These items require special permits that many companies don't have, or they are illegal in the destination country.

However, what happens if someone sends banned goods?

This is where things get serious. It's more than just about a lost package. This issue becomes a "digital and legal footprint" that follows you. There are three major ban categories that you should know:

1. The Carrier Ban (Private and Worldwide)

Once caught, couriers (DHL, FedEx, or UPS) don't just ban you from one city. They can flag your name, address, and credit card across their entire global network.

Let's say they don't ban you outright. They will still flag your future shipments for 100% inspection. As a result, your packages will face massive delays and additional charges for everything you send thereafter.

2. The Destination Country (Visa and Travel Bans)

If the destination country's customs decides to prosecute, your penalties don't limit to shipment bans only.

• Even if you aren't physically in that country, they can issue a warrant or "judgment in absentia."
  
  
• Most visa applications ask if you've ever committed a crime or have a case of smuggling. A "hit" in their customs database can be an automatic visa rejection, or they can turn you away at the border. Simply put, you cannot just ship to that country; you cannot also enter it.

3. The Financial Ban (Fines and Legal Costs)

Governments love to levy fines. But not just small fees. They can be CAD 10,000 to CAD 100,000 per violation. Apart from that, you can also face:

• Seizure and destruction. You don't only lose the goods. The government will also send you the bill for the hazardous waste disposal or the destruction of the items.
• If they found your business shipping banned goods, payment gateways may terminate your account for Terms of Service violations. This effectively bans you from selling worldwide.

To avoid these issues, you can check this list to know the items you cannot ship to other countries. You may also contact your chosen shipping company or customs for more information about the prohibited items.

Cheapest Way to Ship A Package Internationally From Canada

Stallion is the cheapest way to ship a package internationally from Canada. Our partnerships allow us to provide discounted rates to online sellers starting as low as $5.69 for international shipments.

Over-the-top international shipping rates are one of the biggest reasons for cart abandonment. It makes customers have second thoughts about buying items, regardless of their price and quality.

So, one leverage you can take advantage of to attract international customers is to offer affordable international shipping rates. With the right shipping provider, you can make this possible without losing any profits. International shipping does not have to be expensive!

Consider Stallion

Being the leading Canada-based shipping provider, Stallion has helped thousands of Canadian sellers ship their products securely and cheaply across countries. With APC and PostNL as our courier partners, you can guarantee that everything will go smoothly, without any hassle, and worth every penny!

Furthermore, we simplify the paperwork process mentioned above. Instead, just fill out the necessary information prompted on our dashboard.

Note that unless you are shipping to Europe, you should keep this update in mind.

How Does it Work?

Before you can take advantage of the perks our clients enjoy, you have to register an account first. Once you have already provided the details needed, you will be redirected to your Stallion Dashboard.

You can do plenty of things inside the platform, such as create an international shipment, integrate your online store (Amazon, Shopify, eBay, Etsy), schedule a pickup service (Stallion Direct Pickup or UPS Pickup), and many more!

You do not have to visit the post office and deliver your package personally. You can simply drop off the item at the nearest Stallion branch, and they will do the rest of the work for you, including customs clearance. The courier (APC and PostNL) will then hand them to local postal authorities so the package can reach your customer.

Other features include:

• Save up to 80% on shipping around the world
• Full tracking of your parcels
• Deliver packages within 6-14 business days
• Optional package protection

Final Thoughts

Shipping internationally can be challenging and sometimes stressful. So, find a partner to ease the burden of international shipping.

As always, feel free to contact Stallion's customer service at +1 877-863-7447 for any assistance you need.

Aman Chopra

Aman looks after the content marketing department at Stallion Express. He is passionate about helping businesses grow by providing informative and up-to-date trends in the eCommerce industry. Outside the office, you can find him on the soccer field cheering on Real Madrid.