Keeping track of the country-specific shipping requirements when sending packages internationally can be a real challenge. This article will assist you with ensuring that you meet the cross-border shipping requirements for several of the most commonly shipped to countries. Meeting these requirements will help ensure that your packages are delivered in a timely manner and that you incur no additional surcharges or fees.
This is not a comprehensive guide for all countries. We will update this article as new regulations and requirements are introduced.
All shipments sent to Brazil must include the recipient's Tax ID number on labels and customs documents. Any shipment missing this information will be subject to either return or disposal by the Brazilian customs authorities.
When accepting an order from a customer in Brazil, be sure to collect either their CPF or CNPJ. Please check with your selling channels for the best methods of collecting this information from your customers.
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CPF (Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas, or Natural Persons Register), or Individual Tax ID.
A CPF is 11 digits long. It is comprised of 9 base digits with 2 digits at the end. Format: 123.456.789-10
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CNPJ (Cadastro Nacional de Pessoas Jurídicas), or Business Tax ID.
A CNPJ is a 14-digit number with 12 base digits and 2 digits at the end. Format: 123.456.789/0000-00
Enter the recipient's Tax ID into the Company field of the Ship To address in ShipStation. This will ensure that the Tax ID will appear on both the label and customs forms.
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Individual Tax ID Format: For a CPF (Individual Tax ID number) include CPF before the number. The number format should be 3 groups of 3 numbers separated by a period then a dash followed by the final 2 numbers.
Here's an example: CPF 123.456.789-10
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Company Tax ID Format: For a CNPJ (Business Tax ID number), enter the Business Tax ID, followed by a dash, followed by their business name.
Here's an example: 123.456.789/1011-12 - Business Name
The ShipStation process for shipping internationally to EU member countries is much the same as shipping any international package, however, there are some specific requirements for harmonization codes and customs descriptions to keep in mind.
Beginning February 2nd, 2026, the European Union will have enhanced customs description requirements. The new requirements will include a list of Stop words, which are generic descriptions that prevent customs authorities from clearly identifying the nature of the goods being imported. Using these words on their own increases the risk of delays and rejections under ICS2. They may only be used if incorporated into a clear and accurate product description.
Newly added stop words include:
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Aid products
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Comercial
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Consumption
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Ensemble
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Fake
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Item
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Headwear
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Promotional
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Oddments
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N/A
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Miscellaneous
Tips for Clear Custom Descriptions
A good description is simple and specific. It should enable easy identification of the goods and accurate HS code classification. Avoid brand names, colors, serial numbers, or internal product codes. Descriptions that are too generic or overly technical are considered insufficient. Your customs description should answer the following questions:
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What is the Product?
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What are the Product's essential characteristics?
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What is the Product made from?
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How is it presented to customers?
Creating clear customs descriptions for your products will help ensure your shipments move smoothly through customs.
As of March 1, 2023, the European Union has implemented these requirements for shipments entering member countries.
These changes are part of the EU's ICS2 reform and apply to all shipments, no matter which carrier you ship with. While ShipStation will not prevent you from creating your label without entering an HS Code or more detailed item descriptions, failure to comply with these requirements could result in delays to your shipment as well as fines or penalty fees.
For more details about this change, how it might affect your shipping, and for answers to a few frequently asked questions, please read our blog post.
Code Requirements:
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Harmonized System Codes (HS Codes): All shipments now require Harmonized System Codes (HS Codes) for all items in a shipment.
Effective July 1, 2026, the European Union removed the de minimis duty exemption for qualifying low-value imports. Previously, qualifying shipments valued at €150 or less could enter duty-free. As a result, qualifying business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments valued at €150 or less may now be subject to a €3 customs duty for each unique HS code included in the shipment.
To comply with these new customs requirements, qualifying shipments require a Movement Indicator in ShipStation .
Important Compliance & Exemption Notes
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B2B Exemption: This duty, and the Product Identifiers requirement below, only apply to business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments, where the recipient is not VAT-registered in the destination country. Business-to-business (B2B) shipments (VAT-registered recipient) are not subject to either requirement.
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Customs Risk: Providing complete and accurate PID data helps ensure smooth customs clearance. Missing or incomplete data may lead to processing delays, holds, or shipments being returned by customs authorities.
This requirement applies to shipments that:
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Originate outside the European Union.
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Are shipped to an EU member country.
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Have a declared value of €150 or less.
The Movement Indicator identifies the shipment type for customs processing. In the Orders tab, select the appropriate Movement Indicator from Other Shipping Options.
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Movement Indicator |
API Code |
Use for |
|---|---|---|
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B2B |
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Business-to-business shipments |
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B2C |
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Business-to-consumer shipments |
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C2B |
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Consumer-to-business shipments |
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C2C |
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Consumer-to-consumer shipments |
If you regularly ship qualifying orders, consider creating an Automation Rule to automatically apply the appropriate Movement Indicator.
Effective November 1, 2026, every product in a business-to-consumer (B2C) shipment to the EU, regardless of value, must carry three Product Identifiers (PIDs) for customs authorities to identify exactly what is being imported.
Important Compliance & Exemption Notes
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B2B Exemption: This duty, and the Product Identifiers requirement below, only apply to business-to-consumer (B2C) shipments, where the recipient is not VAT-registered in the destination country. Business-to-business (B2B) shipments (VAT-registered recipient) are not subject to either requirement.
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Customs Risk: Providing complete and accurate PID data helps ensure smooth customs clearance. Missing or incomplete data may lead to processing delays, holds, or shipments being returned by customs authorities.
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Product Identifier (PID) |
What it is |
Product Details Field Name |
|---|---|---|
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M-PID (Merchant Product ID) |
Your own internal product identifier, typically your SKU. |
SKU |
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NS-PID (Non-Standardised Manufacturer Product ID) |
The manufacturer's own model or part number. Does not follow an international standard. Contact your manufacturer or supplier and ask for the product's model number or part number. If they don't have one assigned yet, ask them to assign one. Important: Check the Field NameBe careful not to confuse Manufacturer Product Identification Code with the nearby Manufacturer Identification (MID) Code field. |
Manufacturer Product Identification Code |
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S-PID (Standardised Product ID) |
An internationally recognized code, such as GTIN, EAN, UPC, or ISBN. |
General/Barcode (UPC, ISBN, GTIN, etc.) |
Note on S-PID (UPS Shipments)
An S-PID is only required if a standard identifier exists for the product. If your item does not have a GTIN, EAN, UPC, or ISBN, use exception code Y081 when shipping via UPS.
Follow these steps to add or update the three PID values for a single product record.
Update PID Fields in Bulk
To update PID fields in bulk across your entire catalog, see Update Products in Bulk via CSV in our Update Product Records article.
High-level bulk update steps:
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Export your product list to a spreadsheet.
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Fill in the PID columns for each product.
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Import the file back in to apply the updates across your catalog.
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Select the record from the Product grid that you want to update.
This action will open the Standalone Product Detail popup.
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Enter the M-PID (Merchant Product ID) into the SKU field and the S-PID (Standardised Product ID) into the Barcode field on the General tab of the Product Details popup.
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Go to the Customs tab of the Product Details popup, and enter the NS-PID (Non-Standardised Manufacturer Product ID) into the Manufacturer Identification (MID) Code field.
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Optional: Choose Apply changes to open orders to automatically apply these identifiers to all open orders. This action eliminates the need to input them manually for each shipment.
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Click Save.
When shipping internationally, you choose who pays duties at delivery: the sender via Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) or the recipient via Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU).
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Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) |
Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) |
|---|---|
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Puts the customs charge on the customer. |
Merchants pay the customs fee up front. |
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DDU means EU customers will receive a charge request before they can collect their package. |
Smoother experience. Customer receives their order without surprise charges. |
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Can add friction for buyers and increase the risk of refused deliveries being returned to the sender. |
Merchants often build it into their pricing. |
With the new flat-rate EU duty applying to every qualifying B2C shipment, DDU means your EU customers receive a charge request before they can collect their package. That creates friction and, in some cases refused deliveries that come back to you. DDP keeps the experience clean: you control the cost, build it into your pricing, and your customer receives their order without surprise charges.
See the Create DDP Labels section of our Bill International Duties to Payor of Shipping Charges (DDP) page to learn more.
🇺🇸 🇨🇦 For US and Canada-based account holders, and certain ShipStation Carriers, ShipStation also offers Guaranteed Prepaid Duties and Taxes, letting you pay all applicable duties, taxes, and fees upfront so your customers never face surprise charges at delivery. As long as your shipment details are accurate, the quoted duties, taxes, and fees are locked in, with no adjustments to those charges after the fact.
Some details of these requirements are not yet finalized or binding, but are expected to be clarified as the EU confirms them:
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An additional EU-wide handling fee (on top of the €3 duty), draft range €2–4 per item. The amount and start date are not yet adopted.
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Which HS codes are excluded from the PID requirement, and require a disclaimer or exception code instead.
We'll update this guidance as soon as these points are confirmed.
Disclaimer
This is not legal advice. Please consult your customs advisor for guidance specific to your business.
Review the frequently asked questions below to understand how the new EU customs rules impact your B2C shipments and what steps you need to take in your integration to avoid delivery delays or penalties.
This update applies to shipments originating outside the EU and destined for an EU member state. Starting July 1, 2026, the EU will remove the €150 duty-free threshold: a flat €3 customs duty per HS line item will apply to B2C shipments valued €150 or less.
Starting November 1, 2026, Product Identifiers (PIDs) will become mandatory for B2C distance-sale shipments into the EU, regardless of value. This applies to B2C shipments (recipient not VAT-registered in the destination country). B2B shipments (VAT-registered recipient) will not be subject to the €3 duty or the PID requirement.
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Merchant Product ID (M-PID): your own internal identifier (SKU).
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Non-Standardized Manufacturer Product ID (NS-PID): the manufacturer's own model or part number. If you don't have one, contact your manufacturer or supplier to obtain it.
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Standardized Product ID (S-PID): GTIN, EAN, UPC, or ISBN.
ShipStation is able to transmit M-PID, NS-PID, and S-PID data to carriers. However, each carrier is enabling this capability on its own timeline.
Start setting the Movement Indicator for all B2B/B2C shipments.
Audit your product catalogue now and fill in all missing PID data across M-PID, NS-PID, and S-PID to avoid customs holds. PIDs must be assigned to every distinct product variant (color/size combination). Batch-level or lot-level identifiers will be rejected at customs.
Yes! You'll be able to provide PIDs voluntarily starting July 1, 2026, so you can start entering and testing this data once that window opens.
Shipping without PIDs before November 1, 2026 will carry no penalty, but starting early will help you avoid disruption once it becomes mandatory.
See the DDP vs. DDU for EU Shipments section of this article.
All manufacturers and retailers that sell or ship packaged goods to consumers in Germany must adhere to Germany's VerpackG (Packaging Act), which relates to the collection and recycling of packaging materials.
Packages not sent through commercial activity, such as gifts or donations, do not need to follow the Packaging Act guidelines.
When sending packages to Germany as an online retailer:
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Complete the LUCID Packaging Register to receive your identification number. ShipStation recommends appointing an authorized representative to act on your behalf when you register with the LUCID Packaging Register since it lifts the responsibility off your business.
If you choose not to use a representative, you will register as a Producer.
If there is no registration, packaged goods can no longer ship to Germany. This distribution ban also applies to downstream distributors. A producer failing to register may be subject to a fine of up to €100,000.
Important
The appointment of a representative can only be done by companies based and operating outside of Germany.
All companies based in Germany must appoint someone from within their own organization.
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Update your buyers on returns and recycling options. The Packaging Act requires sellers to provide this information to German buyers. You can communicate it in your packing slip messages or store's terms and conditions.
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Add your LUCID identification number to your Etsy and eBay stores. If you sell on other marketplaces, please contact their customer support to get more information.
What do I need to do in ShipStation?
Nothing! Germany's Central Agency Packaging Register has internal systems that match outbound packages with your LUCID identification number without you having to enter it when purchasing your label.
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LUCID Packaging Register graphic: Helps delineate between packaging subject to system participation and packaging not subject to system participation.
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LUCID Packaging Register's frequently asked questions: Review the FAQs most up-to-date answers to your questions.
The ShipStation process for shipping internationally to Mexico is much the same as shipping any international package. However, in January 2023, the Mexican Tax Authority adopted the Carta Porte requirements, which mandate that all shipments to and within Mexico include a Package Description field that accurately describes the contents of the shipment. This description is in addition to the customs forms item descriptions and applies no matter which carrier you are shipping with.
Important Dates
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March 20th, 2023: UPS began requiring the Package Description field for all shipments to Mexico. If the Package Description field is not filled in when shipping with UPS to Mexico, you will receive an error and will not be able to create the label.
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August 1st, 2023: The Mexican Tax Authority began enforcing the Carta Porte requirements. Shipments that do not comply with these requirements will be subject to delays as well as penalties from the Mexican Government.
To ensure your shipments to Mexico meet these requirements, ShipStation has added a Package Description field that will only be present when configuring customs information for shipments destined for Mexico.
When adding a description of the goods, keep the following in mind:
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The description can be a maximum of 35 characters.
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The description should be a summary of all the contents of the parcel (if the shipment contains only one item, you can use the same description used for the item in the customs declaration).
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If you create a multi-package shipment, the Package Description will be required for each parcel and should describe the actual contents of each package.
The Package Set pop-up will include the Package Description field for each parcel in the multi-package shipment.
New regulations require that all shipments to Saudi Arabia from any other country and shipments originating from within the Kingdom require the recipient's Short Address code/National Address. This requirement is already in effect and in the future, a National Address will become mandatory for all residents, citizens, and companies operating inside Saudi Arabia.
A short address consists of four letters and four numbers representing the Region Code, Branch Code, Division Code, and Building Number. Learn more about the Short Address code/National Address.
When shipping to Saudi Arabia:
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Contact the recipient and request their Short Address code/National Address.
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Add the recipient's address code to address line 3 of the Ship To address in ShipStation.
All goods shipped to the UK are subject to VAT regardless of the price of the goods in the shipment. Prior to January 2021, the threshold was only goods over £15 were subjected to a 20% VAT.
These changes are meant to address UK business competitiveness and will primarily affect merchants and shippers in the US, Canada, and Australia since the UK tends to import products from sellers in these markets.
VAT requirements differ depending on the exact method of how your goods arrive in the UK. Here are three scenarios that may affect merchants that ship through ShipStation:
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For e-commerce marketplace sales, the marketplace is responsible for collecting and remitting the VAT to the proper UK customs authority.
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Register an EORI Number to Ship to The UK: If a product is sold and exported in an ecommerce environment outside of a marketplace sale, the overseas seller might be required to register directly with the HMRC (the UK Customs Authority).
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If an overseas seller already has products in the UK (as in, with a fulfillment provider in market), then the seller will be responsible for accounting for the VAT on goods already in market and will have to account for it with the HMRC as well.
To be sure you understand the needs of your specific scenario and whether you need to register with the UK Customs Authority and apply for an EORI number, we recommend you discuss these changes with your preferred international carrier and the marketplaces on which you sell. Additionally, you may wish to consult a tax software and compliance company such as Avalara.
Review this UK.gov Import and Export Process help page to learn more about any requirements you may need to follow.
Most merchants shipping to the UK are not required to have an EORI number, though in some cases it may be beneficial, depending on your selling scenario or shipping methods.
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Marketplace Merchants
If you only do marketplace sales, then you do not need an EORI number, since collecting VAT is the marketplace's responsibility.
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Brands shipping direct to consumer (not via a marketplace)
If you ship DDP (Delivery Duty Paid), you do not need an EORI number. Your carrier will bill you for the tax on a per shipment basis. Contact your carrier to discuss how this will be billed to your account. You may still need to collect the fees from your consumer upon checkout.
If you ship DDU (Delivery Duty Unpaid), it is recommended you set up an EORI number so you can proactively pay the tax to HMRC. This has the added benefit of helping you keep shipping costs low.
Here are a few useful resources for merchants who wish to apply for EORI:
All shipments sent to South Korea must include the recipient's Personal Customs Clearance Code (PCCC) on labels and customs documents. If your recipient is a foreign national without a PCCC number, then they can enter their passport number in this field. Any shipment missing this information will be subject to either return or disposal by customs authorities.
When accepting an order from a customer in South Korea, be sure to collect their PCCC. Please check with your selling channels for the best methods of collecting this information from your customers.
Enter the recipient's Tax ID into the Company field of the Ship To address in ShipStation. This will ensure that the Tax ID will appear on both the label and customs forms.
All shipments sent to China must include the recipient's People's Republic of China Resident Identity Card (Resident ID) number on labels and customs documents. Any shipment missing this information will be subject to either return or disposal by customs authorities.
When accepting an order from a customer in China, be sure to collect either their Resident ID. Please check with your selling channels for the best methods of collecting this information from your customers.
Enter the recipient's Tax ID into the Company field of the Ship To address in ShipStation. This will ensure that the Tax ID will appear on both the label and customs forms.