About Goods Across Borders
A neutral, sourced reference for customs rules, import duties, and international shipping restrictions. Built for travelers, senders, and importers who need reliable facts — not sales pitches.
Mission
The customs and import information that people actually need — what you can carry through an airport, what you can post internationally, what duties apply to a commercial shipment — is scattered across hundreds of government websites, in multiple languages, updated at unpredictable intervals, and almost never presented with clear sourcing.
Goods Across Borders exists to consolidate that information into a single, plainly written, fully sourced reference. Every data point links back to its official source so you can verify it yourself. When we do not have a reliable source, we say “unknown” rather than guessing.
We have no financial interest in where you ship, which carrier you use, or which broker you hire. Our only interest is in the accuracy of the information.
What this site covers
Personal travel customs
Duty-free allowances, prohibited and restricted items, cash declaration thresholds, and medication rules for travelers crossing international borders. Rules are indexed by item and by destination country so you can look up exactly what applies to your situation.
Explore the Traveling section →International posting
Carrier-specific prohibited and restricted items lists, weight and dimension limits, declared value requirements, and country-level posting restrictions. Covers postal services and major international parcel carriers.
Explore the Posting section →Commercial importing
De minimis thresholds, standard duty rates by HS chapter and origin country, import documentation requirements, Incoterms reference, and country-level import profiles for commercial shipments. Includes a duty calculator for CIF-basis estimates.
Explore the Importing section →How to use the three modes
The site is organized around the three situations in which people most commonly need customs information:
For individuals crossing a border in person — arriving at an airport, land crossing, or seaport as a passenger. Use this mode to look up what you can carry in your luggage, how much alcohol or tobacco you can bring duty-free, and what medications require documentation. Start at /traveling or use the “Can I bring…” lookup on the home page.
For individuals and small businesses sending parcels internationally by post or parcel carrier. Use this mode to check whether an item can be sent to a specific country, which carriers accept it, and what documentation or declarations are required. Start at /posting.
For businesses and individuals receiving commercial shipments from overseas. Use this mode to estimate duty and tax liability, understand de minimis thresholds, look up Incoterms, classify goods by HS chapter, and identify the import documents required for a destination country. Start at /importing.
What this site does not cover
- Legal advice. Nothing on this site constitutes legal advice. Rules and their application to specific goods and circumstances require professional judgment. Consult a licensed customs broker or trade lawyer for commercial decisions.
- Customs brokerage. We do not file customs entries, prepare import declarations, or act as an agent before any customs authority on your behalf.
- Shipping and freight services. We do not sell, book, or arrange the movement of goods. We reference carriers to explain their rules, not to sell their services.
- Real-time duty calculations. The duty calculator on this site provides estimates based on standard tariff rates. Actual duties depend on precise HS classification, valuation method, applicable trade agreements, and determinations by the destination customs authority.
- Export controls and sanctions. We focus on destination country import rules. Export controls (EAR, ITAR, EU dual-use) and sanctions compliance are outside our scope and require specialist advice.
Editorial independence
Goods Across Borders accepts no advertising, sponsorship, affiliate commissions, or paid placements. No carrier, customs broker, freight forwarder, or government body has editorial influence over the content. Data is sourced exclusively from official customs authorities, international organisations (WCO, UPU, IATA, WHO), and carrier published policies.
Correction policy
Customs rules change without notice. When an error is reported or a rule change is identified, the affected data is updated and the "last verified" date is reset. Material corrections are noted in the changelog. To report an error, email corrections@goodsacrossborders.com.