If the shipment is a gift, do I need to pay duties and taxes?

Some countries permit gifts to be imported free of duties and taxes, however, they often have strict criteria which must be followed including:

• The sender must be a private individual and the recipient must accept the delivery at a private address
• The gift must be sent free of charge and of an ‘occasional nature’
• The word ‘gift’ must be marked on the air waybill and commercial invoice along with the actual detailed description of what the gift is
• All goods must be itemized with their own full description and value (note that the value of the gift may not exceed a certain amount and that the amount is limited/set per country)

Not all countries permit gifts, so check the rules and regulations on the customs website of the country you're shipping to.

Please note that items containing alcohol will incur excise duty. Items containing food or other controlled items may need additional documentation and be subject to further checks, potentially resulting in additional charges.