Creating international shipping labels in the Stamps.com Mobile app follows the same process as creating domestic shipping labels.
The difference is the type of label that is printed and if any additional forms are necessary, like Customs Declarations, Commercial Invoices, or Certificates of Origin. Whether any additional forms are required will depend on which carrier you are using to ship the package, where it is going, and the value of the goods it contains.
Fortunately, you won't need to worry about making these decisions in most cases since Stamps.com takes care of it all for you! Stamps.com sends all the shipment and customs details to the postage provider when you create the label. The provider then determines which form must be used and automatically sends back the correct forms.
Stamps.com offers several carrier and service options for you to choose from when shipping internationally so that you can compare rates and transit times and select the best service for your international shipment. You can ship internationally with the following carriers (click to view their available services and details):
Sender Pays Duties & Taxes
When using the GlobalPost Plus service, the sender is responsible for any duties or taxes assessed by the destination country's customs authority. These fees will be charged to your account as an adjustment after delivery.
Duties and taxes are typically assessed based on characteristics like the shipment's total value, destination country, and tariff code. Learn more about Duties & Taxes.
A Customs Form declares all the items contained within a shipment when that shipment crosses international borders. Customs agencies require customs forms to help them regulate the flow of goods in and out of each country.
USPS
The most common types of customs forms used by the USPS are the CN22/23 and CP72. USPS customs declarations are printed directly on the label. There are no additional forms to print through Stamps.com. Depending on which service you've selected, you may receive several copies of the label. When this occurs, affix a USPS customs declaration form envelope to the package and insert the copies of the label into the envelope. Learn more about the USPS customs requirements and forms.
Other Carriers
Other carriers, like UPS or DHL Express, include customs declarations on a Commercial Invoice. A commercial invoice is the official transaction record between a shipper and a recipient and is often used by customs offices in the same way as CN22/23 and CP72 forms.
Customs forms typically include the following information:
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Package contents (like merchandise or documents)
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Item description
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Item quantity and value
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Country of Origin
All of these details can be added to your international orders in Stamps.com. Stamps.com then sends the details to the carrier when you create the label. The appropriate forms are then returned to Stamps.com so you can print them.
As a reminder, creating international shipping labels in the Stamps.com Mobile app is the same as creating domestic shipping labels. The only difference is that international shipping labels require customs forms.
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Tap Customs Form from the Shipping Details.
The Customs Information screen will open.
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Tap Package Contents from the Custom Form screen.
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Select the option that best describes the contents of your package from the Package Contents drop-down menu.
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If required: Enter your IOSS tax identification number in the designated field.
IOSS Numbers VS. VAT Numbers
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For orders delivered to the United Kingdom, the IOSS number field will be labeled as VAT number in the Customs Form.
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If you are selling through a marketplace, such as eBay or Amazon, be sure to include that marketplace’s IOSS number in the Customs Form. If you do not, the receiving EU country will assume VAT has not been collected.
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If required: Enter your Internal Transaction Number (ITN) into the ITN field for your shipment.
An ITN may be required if any of the following are true:
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The total value of goods contained in the package exceeds $2,500
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Any of the goods in the package require an export license under US law
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The destination country is Iran, Syria, or Sudan
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The destination country is Cuba or North Korea and does not qualify as humanitarian aid
Country Specific Requirements
Item information requirements may vary depending on the country you are shipping to. Check out our Country Specific Shipping Requirements help article for more information.
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Tap the Add Item button from the Customs Form screen.
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Enter the item Description, SKU, Weight, and Unit Price. Enter the HS Tariff code, select the country where the item was Made In, enter the Value, then click Save.
Look up the HS code for your item by clicking the HS Tariff column header. The GlobalPost HS Classification Tool will open.