How to Ship Internationally the Right Way?

An international shipment is one that travels from one country to another — whether from Mexico to the United States, Colombia, Brazil, Spain, or any other destination. Unlike a domestic shipment, this type of shipment requires you to comply with customs procedures and submit documentation such as the commercial invoice, the product's HS code, and in some cases, additional permits or documents depending on the type of goods and the destination country.

Delivery times also tend to be longer, since the parcel must go through customs checks, import processes, and other controls specific to each country.

In addition, depending on the destination, duties and import taxes may apply. Knowing all these details from the start will help you avoid setbacks, calculate costs more accurately, and plan each shipment with greater precision.

How to ship internationally, step by step

To make an international shipment, it's worth following an organised process that reduces errors and avoids delays during the import process.

1. Gather the parcel information

Before generating the label, you'll need to have the basic shipment information ready:

• Origin and destination: the full address of both the sender and the recipient.
• Contents: a detailed description of the products you're shipping, including quantity, commercial value, and, where applicable, country of origin.
• Weight and dimensions: information needed to correctly calculate the shipping cost.
• Declared value: corresponds to the product's real value and must match the shipment's commercial information.
• HS code: the international classification code used to identify the type of product to customs.

What is the HS code? It lets you classify your product with customs and helps determine which duties and taxes might apply. Verifying it correctly before generating the label helps avoid problems during the import process.

2. Compare carrier options

There are dozens of international carriers, each with different prices, delivery times, and service levels (express, standard, among others). Before choosing an option, also consider factors like coverage, reliability, and operational track record, since the cheapest alternative doesn't always offer the best experience for your customers.

3. Generate the label and documentation

Once you've chosen a carrier, generate the shipping label along with the documentation needed for customs clearance, such as the commercial invoice and any other documents that may be required depending on the product type and destination country.

4. Track the shipment

Tracking the parcel's status in real time lets you spot potential delays and keep the recipient informed throughout the entire journey.

Documentation needed for international shipments

For a shipment to cross the border without issues, you'll typically need the following information:

• Commercial invoice.
• The product's HS code.
• A detailed description of the contents, ideally in English.
• The product's real value.
• Country of origin.
• Reason for export (sale, gift, sample, etc.).
• The parcel's weight and dimensions.

Having this information ready from the start speeds up the process and reduces the risk of customs holds or delays.

Consider the total cost of importing (landed cost)

When making an international shipment, the cost doesn't always end with paying for the label. Depending on the destination country and the type of product, duties, taxes, customs fees, or other import-related costs may apply.

To offer your customers a better experience, it's important to decide from the start whether you, as the seller, will cover these costs or whether they'll be covered by the buyer, and to communicate that clearly before the purchase or shipment. This way, you avoid unexpected charges for the customer, delivery delays, or the parcel being refused at the time of import.

This calculation of the total cost of getting a product to its final destination is known as landed cost. Knowing it gives you greater clarity about the expenses of an international operation and lets you offer a more transparent experience to your customers.

If you'd like to learn more about how landed cost works, what it includes, and how you can avoid surprises with international shipments, check out our guide on Landed Cost Guarantee.

How to make international shipping cheaper

Cutting the cost of your cheap international shipments doesn't mean sacrificing quality — it's about making better decisions at every step of the process.

• Compare rates across carriers. Price can vary depending on weight, destination, dimensions, and urgency.
• Choose the right service. If your shipments aren't urgent, planning ahead lets you opt for standard services, which tend to be cheaper than express and offer an excellent way to cut costs.
• Optimise weight and dimensions. Compact packaging can lower the shipping cost, especially when the carrier calculates the price based on volumetric weight.
• Declare the product's value correctly. An accurate value helps avoid customs issues and unexpected charges.
• Take advantage of volume discounts. If you ship internationally often, some carriers or shipping platforms may offer better terms based on your shipping volume.

Tip: Sometimes the difference between an expensive shipment and a cheap one isn't the carrier — it's small adjustments like the type of packaging, the parcel's dimensions, or the service chosen.

Shipping internationally no longer has to be a complicated process. With the right documentation, comparing carrier options, and applying simple adjustments to the type of service or packaging, you can ship internationally the right way without losing reliability or reasonable delivery times.

What matters is planning each shipment with complete information and evaluating alternatives before deciding. That way, each parcel has a greater chance of reaching its destination efficiently and with costs under control.

If you're looking to ship internationally easily and quickly, Envia.com can help. From a single platform, you can get quotes from multiple carriers, generate labels, and manage the documentation needed for your shipments. Our team can also provide free guidance to answer your questions and help you start shipping abroad with more confidence.