When a parcel from Lucknow is held at a gateway or at foreign customs, the reason is almost always a missing or incorrect document. The transport itself is routine; it is the paperwork that stops the clock. This guide lists what you need for the common types of international shipment from India, so that pickup and clearance go smoothly.
1. Identity of the sender (KYC)
Indian customs requires the shipper of every international consignment to be identified. For an individual, a copy of Aadhaar, PAN, passport or voter ID is normally accepted; some carriers ask for Aadhaar or PAN specifically. The name on the ID must match the name on the shipment paperwork. For a business, the KYC is the firm's GST certificate or PAN along with the authorised signatory's ID.
2. Consignee details
Full name, complete street address, city, postal code, country, and a working phone number. An email address helps, because many destination customs offices contact the receiver by email if duty is payable. A PO box alone is not enough for courier delivery in most countries. Some countries also require the receiver's tax or ID number for clearance; we will tell you if yours does.
3. Itemised contents list with values
Every international shipment needs a declaration listing each item, its quantity, its value and its country of origin. "Gifts" or "personal items" is not a description. Write "2 cotton kurtas, 1 wooden photo frame, 1 packet of packaged sweets, 500 g". Under-declaring value to reduce duty is an offence and, if the parcel is lost, it also caps any claim at the declared figure.
4. For documents only
Certificates, transcripts, contracts and application papers are the simplest shipment. You need the sender's KYC, the consignee's details and a one-line description of the documents. No invoice is required for non-commercial paper. Keep copies of anything original.
5. For gifts and personal parcels
Along with KYC and the contents list, some destinations require a non-commercial or gift declaration stating that the goods are not for sale. Gift allowances (the value below which no duty is charged) vary by country and are decided by the destination's customs, not by the courier. Food, plant products, medicines and cosmetics have their own rules in each country; ask before you pack.
6. For commercial shipments and samples
- Import Export Code (IEC): issued by DGFT; required for anyone exporting goods commercially from India.
- Commercial invoice: on the exporter's letterhead, showing exporter and importer details, IEC, GSTIN, item descriptions with HS codes, quantity, unit price, total value, currency and terms of sale (for example FOB or CIF).
- Packing list: number of packages, contents of each, gross and net weights, dimensions.
- AD code registration: the exporter's bank authorised dealer code registered with customs at the port of export, needed for remittance and shipping bill purposes.
- Shipping bill: the customs export document, usually filed by the carrier or a customs broker on your behalf.
- Product-specific certificates: certificate of origin, phytosanitary certificate for plant products, fumigation certificate for wooden packing, test reports or CE/FDA documentation where the destination requires them.
Samples of no commercial value still need an invoice marked "sample, no commercial value" with a nominal value for customs purposes.
7. For sea freight
Sea shipments add a bill of lading (issued by the shipping line), a booking confirmation, a container packing certificate for FCL, and sometimes a shipper's letter of instruction to the freight forwarder. Importers in India need a bill of entry at the receiving port. We coordinate these with the customs broker, but the exporter must supply the underlying invoice and packing list.
8. What cannot be sent at all
Currency, gold and jewellery, live plants and animals, narcotics, weapons and their parts, most lithium batteries shipped loose, aerosols, and anything prohibited under India's export rules or the destination's import rules. Some items that are legal in India (certain medicines, seeds, dairy products, some foods) are prohibited or restricted abroad. When in doubt, send us the list and the destination before packing.
Duties and taxes at the destination
Import duty and VAT or GST in the receiving country are charged by that country's customs and are normally paid by the receiver before delivery. Some destinations allow duties to be prepaid by the sender. Either way, the receiver should know a parcel is coming and that a charge may apply, so it is not refused.
Before you call us
- Sender ID copy (Aadhaar or PAN)
- Receiver's full address and phone
- Itemised list with values
- For business: IEC, invoice, packing list
- Approximate weight and box dimensions
With these ready, we can confirm serviceability for your destination, tell you if anything on the list is restricted, and quote. See our international courier in Lucknow page for pickup areas, or request a quote.
