It’s already challenging sending and receiving domestic packages. When traveling, knowing the best practices for posting and couriering minimizes confusion and ensures your important mail reaches its inbound or outbound destination.
Sticking to the provided guidelines and tips can assist you in this quest.
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What to Do When Sending Parcels From Abroad
When posting from a post office in your overseas city or town, the mail clerk or courier company representative will likely request that you complete a customs declaration.
If you’re sending multiple packages, you only need to attach this declaration to one. However, it may be wise to attach a customs declaration to each parcel for speedier inspection and release of your mail items. Depending on the nature of your mail, you’ve certain stipulations to adhere to.
Gift Packages
If you send a gift to a loved one or friend in the United States, mark the package as an “unsolicited gift” somewhere in plain view on the wrapping and indicate its value. A gift to several people within the same package means you’ll mark it as a “consolidated gift package,” instead, with the recipient names and contents value for each party visible.
Depending on how and where you post from, you’ll either list the individual items alongside their values on the outer wrapping or do so on the documentation provided. If the parcel value exceeds $100, you may be liable to pay duties.
Commercial Packages
Supplying a U.S. customer with goods from abroad might mean that sending the package is more complex. Firstly, be aware of the import rules for the U.S. and what duties, taxes and fees you’ll incur.
Securely attach a bill of sale or invoice displaying an accurate description of the merchandise’s purchase price to the parcel. If the invoice pertains to more than one package, include a copy within each and mark each parcel as “invoice enclosed.”
If you’re couriering the goods, consider consolidating individual items into one parcel, as it cuts down on the shipping costs. Also, assess how your packaging impacts the environment by choosing your parcels in a way that will reduce waste and space for optimized transportation efficiency. Be aware of international shipping restrictions and which items are prohibited from entering.
Personal Packages
Should you have new purchases you’ve bought on your trip for personal use to post home, mark your package as “personal purchases,” and list the goods with their respective values on the parcel.
You can generally send the package duty-free if the combined value is under $200, with anything more valuable undergoing a duty assessment. If you’re returning some used items to the U.S., mark the package as “personal goods returned.”
Receiving Parcels While Traveling
There are several ways to receive packages when traveling abroad. Investigate which option serves you best depending on your travel plans and location.
Post Restante
A popular choice for Europe-based travelers to receive packages from home is the general delivery or Post Restante method. Most of the best European travel and tourist destinations have post offices and will cater to international travelers using this method. The package sender only needs your full name and the address of the destination post office to ensure successful delivery.
If you contact the post office in the country you’re in, check how long it holds on to parcels and plan your travels around that time frame. When collecting, ensure you know any charges involved and have a valid form of identification to present.
Care-Of
You may have friends or family members you’re visiting during your travels. Getting packages delivered to their homes can bypass many potential mail-receipt headaches.
Ask the parcel sender to address the delivery to you, but to include “care of” and the person you’re visiting’s full name and address under your name on the package. Doing so means that if the named person has to collect the mail at a post office, they can do so by presenting identification.
Hotel or Guest House
Being in a hotel or guest house for an extended period means likely arranging your parcel delivery and acceptance through the establishment. Check with the front desk staff to ascertain whether this is an option.
If so, ask about any guidelines you should adhere to. Many hotels will extend this service to international guests, but may have different mailing addresses for such deliveries.
Courier
If you know where you’ll be on a specific day, you can easily receive packages from an international courier. Another option — if you’re traveling to a location where they’re available — is to collect from a courier pickup point.
Top courier services have specified pickup points around many European locations. Some might have them on different continents, from Asia to Africa.
With many available travel and navigation apps and widespread internet access, relying on technology to arrange a package delivery is easy and accepted by senders, couriers, and receivers alike. Ensure you know the pickup venue and that you’ll be close to the location, though.
Sending and Receiving Packages While Traveling Overseas Is Possible
While much of sending parcels from locations abroad depends on the types of packages and the costs, regulations, and restrictions involved, successfully receiving them depends more on your ability to collect them. You can easily send and receive if you know the intricacies and can plan accordingly.
