DHL Express
Generally prohibited items
These items cannot be shipped via DHL Express regardless of destination.
- Currency (cash, coins, banknotes)
- Dangerous goods without hazmat classification
- Live animals (with limited exceptions)
- Human remains or ashes
- Counterfeit goods
- Cannabis and derivatives (most destinations)
- Firearms and ammunition
- Ivory and CITES-listed wildlife products
- Pornographic material (destination-dependent)
Restricted items (require declaration)
These items can be shipped but require special declaration, permits, or packaging.
- Lithium batteries (UN 3480 / UN 3481 — Class 9)
- Perfumes and alcohol-based products (limited UN 3082)
- Foodstuffs (perishables restrictions apply)
- Medical samples and diagnostic specimens
- Tobacco products (destination-dependent)
- Pharmaceutical products (requires documentation)
- Dual-use technology items
Prohibited by destination
Items prohibited by DHL Express for specific destinations.
| Destination | Prohibited Items |
|---|---|
| saudi-arabia | Alcohol, Pork products, Non-Islamic religious materials, Playing cards |
| thailand | Vape devices, E-cigarette liquid, Kratom |
| singapore | Chewing gum, E-cigarettes, CBD products |
| australia | Fresh food items, Soil or sand, Live plants without phytosanitary certificate |
| new-zealand | Raw meat / dairy from unapproved-origin countries, Fresh fruit + vegetables, Untreated wood / plant material, Bee products (honey) from non-approved origins |
| malaysia | Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| indonesia | Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| philippines | Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| vietnam | E-cigarettes + vape pods + e-liquid, Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| japan | Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| south-korea | Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| china | Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| india | E-cigarettes + vape pods + e-liquid, Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products, Drone components without DGCA approval |
| hong-kong | E-cigarettes + vape pods + e-liquid |
| taiwan | E-cigarettes + vape pods + e-liquid, Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| uae | Alcohol of any kind, Pork products + pork derivatives (gelatine, lard), Materials offensive to Islamic values, Israeli-origin products (residual boycott in some GCC + Iran/Iraq), Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| qatar | Alcohol of any kind, Pork products + pork derivatives (gelatine, lard), Materials offensive to Islamic values, Israeli-origin products (residual boycott in some GCC + Iran/Iraq), Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| kuwait | Alcohol of any kind, Pork products + pork derivatives (gelatine, lard), Materials offensive to Islamic values, Israeli-origin products (residual boycott in some GCC + Iran/Iraq), Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| bahrain | Alcohol of any kind, Pork products + pork derivatives (gelatine, lard), Materials offensive to Islamic values, Israeli-origin products (residual boycott in some GCC + Iran/Iraq), Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| oman | Alcohol of any kind, Pork products + pork derivatives (gelatine, lard), Materials offensive to Islamic values, Israeli-origin products (residual boycott in some GCC + Iran/Iraq), Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products |
| iran | Alcohol of any kind, Pork products + pork derivatives (gelatine, lard), Materials offensive to Islamic values, Israeli-origin products (residual boycott in some GCC + Iran/Iraq), Luxury goods over local threshold (sanctions context), Dual-use electronics (EAR / Annex IV restricted), Cannabis-derived products + CBD oil, Poppy seeds + papaver-derived products, Satellite receivers (effectively prohibited) |
| brazil | E-cigarettes + vape pods + e-liquid |
| mexico | E-cigarettes + vape pods + e-liquid |
| argentina | E-cigarettes + vape pods + e-liquid |
| russia | Luxury goods over local threshold (sanctions context), Dual-use electronics (EAR / Annex IV restricted) |
Notable rule pairings
Specific item × destination rules where DHL Expresscommonly intersects with customs or carrier policy.
Lithium Power Bank
🇺🇸 United States
USPS prohibits standalone lithium batteries in international mail
Lithium Power Bank
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Royal Mail restricts standalone lithium batteries
Lithium Power Bank
🇩🇪 Germany
Deutsche Post/DHL restricts lithium batteries by post
Lithium Power Bank
🇦🇺 Australia
Strict IATA limits on standalone batteries by post
Perfume / Fragrance
🇺🇸 United States
Flammable liquid; ground shipping only via USPS
Perfume / Fragrance
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Flammable liquid — surface mail only
Vape / E-Cigarette
🇺🇸 United States
USPS ban on mailing vapes; private carriers restricted
Vape / E-Cigarette
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Postal restrictions apply for vape / e-cigarette
CBD Oil
🇺🇸 United States
USPS accepts hemp-derived CBD under 0.3% THC
CBD Oil
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Legal if THC under 1mg per container
Tobacco Cigarettes
🇺🇸 United States
Postal restrictions apply for tobacco cigarettes