International shipping restrictions
Carriers impose their own restrictions beyond customs law. A parcel that is legal to import at the destination can still be refused by the carrier — and vice versa. This hub indexes the most common categories carriers refuse, plus mode-specific rules.
Categories most carriers refuse
- Loose lithium batteries (not installed in equipment).
- Power banks shipped by air.
- Aerosols, flammable liquids, compressed gas — unless DG-prepared.
- Perishable food without refrigeration packaging.
- Live animals (specialised pet carriers only).
- Firearms + ammunition (specialist carriers + permits).
- Currency above declaration thresholds.
- Counterfeit goods.
- Cannabis + cannabis-derived products (varies by carrier and route).
- Tobacco + vape products (varies by carrier).
Indexed carriers (28)
- DHL Expressinternational-courier
- FedEx Internationalinternational-courier
- UPS Worldwideinternational-courier
- Royal Mail Internationalpostal-service
- USPS Internationalpostal-service
- Australia Post Internationalpostal-service
- Canada Post Internationalpostal-service
- Aramexinternational-courier
- EMS (Express Mail Service)postal-express
- Yamato Transport (TA-Q-BIN)Japanese parcel carrier (domestic + international)
- J&T ExpressSoutheast Asian e-commerce parcel carrier
- DPD (Deutscher Paket Dienst)European parcel carrier
- GLS (General Logistics Systems)European parcel carrier
- La Poste / ColissimoFrench national post / parcel service
- Deutsche Post / DHL PaketGerman national post / parcel
- China Post (EMS)Chinese national post
- Japan Post (Yu-Pack)Japanese national post
- Korea Post (EMS Korea)Korean national post
- India Post (Speed Post)Indian national post
- Australia PostAustralian national post + parcel
Postal vs courier
Postal services (USPS, Royal Mail, La Poste, Australia Post, etc.) are cheapest but have the most prohibited categories and slowest customs clearance. Express couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) accept more categories, handle customs clearance themselves, and bill the recipient — but cost more.