Customs is the single biggest source of surprise on cross-border shopping — duty thresholds vary by country, declared value matters, and the right paperwork can save you days at clearance. These guides cover the practical rules per destination, plus exactly what Selectido handles for free at our Minneapolis hub.
What Selectido does at intake
- Photographs every box on arrival.
- Hand-inspects contents against your order confirmation.
- Prepares the customs declaration with itemized values, HS-code-friendly descriptions, and the country of origin.
- Repacks (where it reduces dimensional weight or removes the original retailer's branding when that triggers extra scrutiny).
Free standard customs paperwork. A $25 surcharge applies only to complex declarations (over $500 declared or 10+ distinct items).
Pick your destination
Brazil
$50 USD (gift), $3,000 USD (personal imports, paying duty) duty-free • 60% Imposto de Importação plus state ICMS (varies 17–25%)
Mexico
$50 USD courier, $300 USD international flights (personal accompanied) duty-free • 16% IVA + variable IGI (general 0–20%)
Saudi Arabia
SAR 1,000 (~$266 USD) personal use; below that often clears without duty duty-free • 5% VAT + 5–20% customs duty depending on HS code
UAE
AED 1,000 (~$272 USD) for personal-use shipments via courier duty-free • 5% VAT + 5% customs duty (above threshold)
South Korea
$200 USD (US-origin under KORUS FTA), $150 USD other origins duty-free • 8–13% customs duty + 10% VAT on declared value above threshold
Japan
¥10,000 (~$67 USD) — but reduced when declared value × 0.6 exceeds threshold duty-free • Varies by HS code 0–20% + 10% consumption tax
Germany
€0 VAT (all goods), €150 customs duty duty-free • 19% Einfuhrumsatzsteuer (VAT) + 0–17% Zoll if over €150
France
€0 VAT (all goods), €150 customs duty duty-free • 20% TVA + 0–17% customs duty if over €150
UK
£0 VAT (all goods), £135 customs duty duty-free • 20% VAT + 0–17% customs duty if over £135
Canada
CAD $20 (gift CAD $60); USMCA may apply for US-origin duty-free • 5% GST + provincial PST/HST + 0–18% duty depending on origin and HS code
Australia
AUD $1,000 personal use (no duty, but GST often applies) duty-free • 10% GST collected by retailer if registered; 0–5% customs duty above threshold
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