International Shipping
Before You Place an International Order
We ship handcrafted pieces from India to customers around the world through India Post. Customs rules changed significantly in 2026 — please read this page so there are no surprises when your parcel arrives.
Updated 10 August 2026 · Based on Department of Posts (India) instructions
The single most important thing to know
Any customs duty, import tax, VAT, handling fee, clearance charge, storage fee, surcharge or penalty imposed by the destination country is payable by the receiver — unless our checkout has explicitly collected it from you in advance as a prepaid duty (DDP) order.
These charges are levied by your own government and its postal or customs authority. They are not our charges, we do not receive any part of them, and we have no ability to reduce, waive, predict with certainty, or refund them. Product price and shipping paid to HeritageKosh do not include them unless stated at checkout.
If a parcel is refused, abandoned or returned because the receiver declined to pay these charges, the order is not eligible for a refund of shipping, duties already remitted, or return-postage costs.
Prices exclude import charges
All prices are shown exclusive of destination duties and taxes unless your checkout shows a "Duties & taxes" line.
Shipped via India Post
International Speed Post / EMS and Registered Parcel, with tracking to the destination country's postal network.
7–21 working days
Typical transit after dispatch. Customs clearance can add time and is outside our control.
Questions before ordering?
Message us on WhatsApp — +91 9819143281 — we'll confirm duties and timelines for your country.
Who pays the duties — two possible modes
Every international order travels under one of two customs arrangements. Which one applies depends on your destination country and whether that country's postal operator is ready to accept prepaid duties from India. Your checkout and order confirmation will state which mode applies.
DDP — Duties paid by us, in advance
- Customs duty, import VAT, handling fees and destination surcharges are calculated and collected at checkout.
- India Post remits them to the destination customs and postal authority on your behalf.
- You pay nothing to the postman or customs on delivery.
- Usually faster clearance and fewer delivery delays.
- Where DDP is available for your country, we use it by default.
- Exception: if destination customs later assess a higher amount than was collected — normally because of a valuation or classification dispute — the difference is recoverable from the sender and we may need to invoice you for it.
DAP — Duties paid by the receiver
- You pay postage only at checkout.
- The destination post or customs contacts the receiver and collects duty, VAT and their own handling charge before delivery.
- The receiver must pay these charges in full. They are frequently higher than the DDP equivalent, because destination operators add their own collection fee.
- Delivery is held until the receiver pays. Most countries hold parcels only for a limited period before returning or destroying them.
- Used where the destination country is not yet able to accept prepaid duties from India.
Please make sure the receiver is reachable. Give us a correct mobile number, e-mail address and full postal code for the delivery address. Nearly every duty-collection notice in 2026 is sent by SMS or e-mail. If the receiver cannot be reached, or does not respond in time, the parcel is returned to India at the sender's cost and duties already remitted are not refunded.
European Union — what changed on 1 July 2026
The EU abolished its €150 duty-free threshold for commercial imports. Every commercial parcel entering the EU is now dutiable, no matter how small the value.
Customs duty
A flat €3 per HS code, per country of origin applies to commercial consignments, until the EU revises it.
Import VAT
Charged on (CIF value + customs duty) at your country's rate — typically 17%–27%. CIF = goods + insurance + freight.
Gifts up to €45
Genuine person-to-person gifts up to €45 remain exempt. Anything sold commercially does not qualify as a gift.
Documents
Pure documents (no merchandise) remain exempt from duty and tax.
A note on IOSS numbers
If you are a business buyer with a valid IOSS number, enter it at checkout or send it to us on WhatsApp (+91 9819143281) before we dispatch. With IOSS, EU VAT is treated as already paid at the point of sale and only customs duty is collected — which usually makes clearance quicker and cheaper. Without IOSS, both duty and VAT apply.
DDP / DAP availability by EU country
Not every EU country is yet ready to accept prepaid duties from India. This table shows what is currently possible for each destination. "Prepaid at checkout" = we can collect duties in advance. "Receiver pays" = the destination post collects from the receiver, plus their own handling fee.
| Country | Prepaid at checkout (DDP) | Receiver pays (DAP) | Destination surcharge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Not available | Yes (non-IOSS) | €0.60 up to €150; €5 above |
| Belgium | Yes (IOSS & non-IOSS) | Yes | €1 up to €150; €5 above |
| Bulgaria | Not available | Yes | €1.50 up to €150; €3 above |
| Croatia | Not available | Yes | None currently |
| Cyprus | Not available | Yes | €3.50 |
| Czech Republic | Yes (IOSS & non-IOSS) | Yes | None currently |
| Denmark | Not available | Yes — up to €150 only | DKK 10 |
| Estonia | Yes (IOSS & non-IOSS) | Yes | €1.15 |
| Finland | IOSS only | Yes (non-IOSS) | €1.50 · orders capped at €150 |
| France | Yes (IOSS & non-IOSS) | Yes (non-IOSS) | €1 · orders capped at €150 |
| Germany | Not available | Yes — non-IOSS, until 31 Aug 2026 | €0.50 up to €150; €2 above |
| Greece | Not available | Yes | Not published |
| Hungary | Not available | Yes | HUF 350 up to HUF 54,000; HUF 6,500 above |
| Ireland | Not available | Yes | €4 |
| Italy | IOSS only | Yes | €7.50 up to €1,000; €15 above |
| Latvia | Not available | Yes | €1 |
| Lithuania | Expected from 1 Sep 2026 | Yes | €1.21 |
| Luxembourg | Yes (IOSS & non-IOSS) | Yes (non-IOSS) | €5 · orders capped at €150 |
| Malta | Yes (IOSS & non-IOSS) | Yes | €1 up to €150; €10 above |
| Netherlands | Yes (IOSS & non-IOSS) | Yes | €1 up to €150; €5 above |
| Poland | Not available | Yes | Not published |
| Portugal | IOSS only | Yes (non-IOSS) | €4 up to €150; €15 above |
| Romania | Not available | Yes | RON 10 |
| Slovakia | Yes (IOSS & non-IOSS) | Yes (non-IOSS) | €1 |
| Slovenia | Not available | Yes | €2 up to €150; €15 above |
| Spain | Yes (IOSS & non-IOSS) | Yes — until Oct 2026 | €0.50 up to €150 |
| Sweden | Not available | Yes — until 31 Oct 2026 | SEK 10 |
Surcharges shown are the destination operator's own fee and are in addition to customs duty and VAT. Where a country is marked "Not available" for prepaid duties, it simply means that country's postal operator has not yet completed the technical set-up; India Post is adding countries progressively, so this table changes. Some DAP arrangements are explicitly time-limited by the destination country. We re-check this table before every EU dispatch — ask us on WhatsApp +91 9819143281 for the position on the day you order.
United States — what changed on 24 July 2026
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has indefinitely suspended the USD 800 de minimis exemption for international mail. Every parcel of merchandise entering the U.S. is now liable to customs duty and a mandatory customs entry.
10-digit HTSUS classification
Every item must carry a 10-digit U.S. tariff code. Duty is assessed from that code and the declared value — the earlier flat-duty system is gone.
USD 2,500 ceiling
Only parcels with an FOB value up to USD 2,500 can move under the Postal Informal Entry process. Larger orders need a formal entry — talk to us first.
Extra declarations
Country of origin, and for metal goods the country of melt, pour, smelt or cast, must be declared. Certain goods need a Special Program Indicator.
From 22 October 2026
Goods needing a U.S. Partner Government Agency clearance, or claiming HTSUS Chapter 98/99 or FTA treatment, must move under a Type-13 entry.
What this means for a U.S. order
- Duty is collected from us at booking under DDP wherever the system determines it, so in most cases you will not be asked to pay at the door — your checkout will show it.
- Duty is real and product-specific. A textile, a brass artefact and a wooden carving will each attract a different rate.
- We must declare an accurate description, value and country of origin. We cannot mark a purchase as a gift, understate the value, or use a vague description such as "handicraft". Doing so risks seizure, penalty and permanent loss of the parcel.
- If U.S. customs reassess the duty upward after clearance, that additional duty, interest, penalty or fine is recoverable from the sender and will be passed on to the buyer.
- Regulated categories — foods, spices, cosmetics, ayurvedic preparations, certain wooden and leather goods — may need FDA, USDA or other agency clearance. Please check with us before ordering these.
All other countries
For destinations outside the EU and the U.S., orders normally travel under DAP — you pay postage to us, and the receiver pays whatever their own country charges on import.
The receiver is responsible for all import charges levied by their country of residence. This includes customs duty, GST/VAT/sales tax, excise, customs handling and clearance fees, courier or postal disbursement fees, storage and demurrage where the parcel is held, and any penalty arising from the receiver's own delay or refusal.
Duty-free thresholds vary widely — from effectively zero in some countries to several hundred dollars in others — and many countries have lowered or removed them during 2025–26. Because these rules change without notice, we cannot quote your duty in advance. Your national customs website is the authoritative source; your local post office can usually confirm the current threshold in a phone call.
Countries where extra care is needed
- Australia & New Zealand — strict biosecurity on wood, plant fibre, seeds, and untreated natural materials. Declare anything organic; undeclared items are destroyed.
- United Kingdom — import VAT applies from the first pound on commercial goods; the carrier's clearance fee is charged to the receiver.
- Canada — GST/HST plus a postal handling fee is collected at the door on most commercial parcels.
- Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain) — customs registration of the receiver may be required for parcels above the local threshold.
- Brazil, Argentina, Russia, Nigeria, South Africa — high duty rates, long clearance times, and in some cases a requirement for the receiver's tax identification number.
What we need from you at checkout
Almost every failed international delivery traces back to one of these five fields. A minute spent here saves weeks later.
- Complete postal address with postcode / ZIPInclude apartment, floor, building name and district. Customs systems reject incomplete addresses outright.
- Receiver's mobile number with country codeThe destination post sends the duty-payment link and delivery notice by SMS. Without it, a DAP parcel simply will not be delivered.
- Receiver's e-mail addressUsed for customs queries and clearance notices. A query left unanswered for three months results in the parcel being returned with no refund of postage.
- IOSS number, if you have one (EU business buyers)Enter it at checkout or send it to us on WhatsApp +91 9819143281 before dispatch. It cannot be added once the parcel has been booked.
- Tell us if the order is a genuine giftOnly true person-to-person gifts with no payment involved can be declared as gifts, and only within the destination's gift allowance (€45 in the EU). We cannot declare a purchase from our store as a gift.
How we declare your parcel
Every parcel carries a CN22 or CN23 customs declaration generated through India Post's system, showing the true description of contents, quantity, weight, HS classification, country of origin and the actual price you paid.
We cannot under-declare value or mis-describe contents. We are asked this often, and the answer is always no. Under the current India Post framework the sender is solely and personally liable for the accuracy of the declaration, and a false declaration exposes the parcel to seizure or destruction, exposes you to a penalty from your own customs authority, and exposes us to recovery action from the Department of Posts. It also voids any insurance on the shipment. We would rather lose the sale than lose your parcel.
Frequently asked questions
Can you tell me exactly how much duty I will pay?
If your country supports prepaid duty (DDP), yes — the exact amount appears at checkout as a separate line and nothing further is payable on delivery. If your order travels under DAP, no. The amount is set by your own customs authority using their tariff, their valuation and their exchange rate on the day of clearance. We can tell you the framework that applies and the destination post's handling fee, but not the final figure. Ask us on WhatsApp +91 9819143281 and we'll share what we know for your country.
The post office is asking me for money before they will deliver. Is this genuine?
For a DAP order, yes — that is the normal process, and the demand comes from your national post or customs, not from us. Pay through the official channel your postal operator provides. Be careful of look-alike SMS and e-mail scams: always go to your postal operator's own website by typing the address yourself rather than following a link, and check the tracking number matches the one on your HeritageKosh order confirmation. If anything looks wrong, send us a screenshot on WhatsApp +91 9819143281 and we will confirm.
I refused to pay the duty and the parcel was sent back. What happens now?
Where a parcel is returned because the receiver refused the charges or did not pay in time, the order is not refundable. Duties and taxes already remitted to the destination country are not returned to us, return postage due is charged to us by India Post, and outward postage is not recoverable. If the goods reach us back in saleable condition we will do what we reasonably can — usually a credit toward a future order, net of all costs incurred — but we cannot commit to a refund.
Can I cancel an international order?
Yes, if you tell us before we hand the parcel to India Post — write to us or message us on WhatsApp +91 9819143281 immediately and we will cancel and refund in full. Once booked, cancellation becomes a formal recall through the post office: it is only possible before customs assessment, and India Post refunds a reduced portion of the postage. After the parcel has been assessed by customs or has left India, cancellation is no longer possible.
My parcel was returned to you. Do I get the duty back?
Customs duties, taxes, handling fees and surcharges already remitted to the destination country are not refunded on a returned shipment, and return postage due continues to apply. This is India Post's stated position for prepaid-duty shipments. Where a return is caused by an error on our side or by a documented failure of the postal system, we will absorb the cost and make you whole; where it is caused by an incorrect address, an unreachable receiver, refusal to pay, or a prohibited item, we cannot.
Why can't you just mark it as a gift?
A gift declaration is only lawful for a genuine, unpaid transfer between two individuals. An order bought from our store is a commercial transaction, and declaring otherwise is a customs offence in both India and your country. It puts your parcel at risk of seizure and you at risk of a penalty. Genuine gifts you are sending to someone else — where you tell us at checkout — are declared as gifts, within the destination's gift allowance.
How long does international delivery take?
Typically 7–21 working days from dispatch, plus 1–3 working days for us to pack and hand over. Customs clearance is the variable: a DDP parcel usually clears quickly, while a DAP parcel waits until the receiver pays, which can add anywhere from a few days to several weeks. Peak season (October–December) and destination-country backlogs add further time.
Is my parcel tracked and insured?
Every international parcel is tracked end to end. You will receive the tracking number by e-mail on dispatch; track it on the India Post website and then on your own postal operator's site once it arrives in your country. Insurance and compensation for loss or damage follow the Universal Postal Union rules that India Post applies, which are limited in value. For high-value orders, message us on WhatsApp +91 9819143281 before you order and we will quote a fully insured option.
What can't be shipped internationally?
Anything prohibited by Indian export law or by your country's import rules — this commonly includes ivory and other wildlife products, antiques and antiquities over 100 years old, seeds and untreated plant material, perishables, aerosols and flammable liquids, and certain lac, resin and animal-derived finishes. Restrictions on wooden and natural-fibre items are particularly strict for Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. If you are unsure about a specific piece, ask us before ordering.
The tracking hasn't moved in two weeks. What should I do?
Long static periods almost always mean the parcel is sitting in customs at your end. First, check for an unread SMS or e-mail asking you to pay duty or supply information — that is the usual cause. Then send us the tracking number on WhatsApp +91 9819143281 and we will raise a formal enquiry with India Post on your behalf.
Still unsure? Ask before you order.
Tell us your country and what you're planning to buy. We'll tell you whether duties can be prepaid, roughly what your customs authority is likely to charge, and how long it should take.
WhatsApp +91 9819143281 · Monday to Saturday, 10 am – 7 pm IST
Terms applying to international orders. By placing an international order you confirm that you have read this page and that you, or the receiver, accept liability for all import duties, taxes, levies, handling fees, clearance charges, storage charges and penalties imposed by the destination country, except where our checkout has expressly collected duties in advance under the DDP arrangement. You confirm that the goods are permitted to be imported into the destination country and that the receiver's details you have supplied are accurate and current.
The information on this page reflects instructions issued by the Department of Posts, Government of India, current as of 10 August 2026, including the Standard Operating Procedure for European Union countries under the revised EU customs framework effective 1 July 2026, and the revised U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements effective 24 July 2026. Customs rules change frequently and without notice. Nothing on this page is customs, tax or legal advice; your own national customs authority is the authoritative source for charges applying to your import.
Read alongside our Shipping Policy, Returns & Refunds Policy and Terms of Sale.
Akansha Shahi
Founder & Creative Head – Heritage Kosh
With over a decade of experience in communication and brand management for leading lifestyle and FMCG brands, Akansha Shahi founded Heritage Kosh to celebrate Indian craftsmanship and culture. Passionate about art and rooted in tradition, she transformed her vision into a globally-admired home décor brand known for authentic design, quality, and heartfelt service. Through Heritage Kosh, Akansha empowers customers to bring warmth, beauty, and tradition into every home, and is committed to supporting artisans and keeping the spirit of Indian heritage alive.
Ashish Shahi
Mentor & Strategic Advisor – Heritage Kosh
With over 25 years of experience in marketing communications and leadership development, Ashish serves as the guiding force at Heritage Kosh. His expertise in strategy, innovation, and operational excellence has shaped the brand’s growth and global reputation. Known for his visionary leadership and commitment to sustainable practices, Ashish empowers the team and champions meaningful initiatives. His foresight and passion for driving positive change continue to make him an invaluable pillar in Heritage Kosh’s journey.