Sell globally from the UK without losing money — IOSS, customs forms, and the cheapest couriers for 2026.
Shipping Internationally from the UK in 2026 Post Brexit, international shipping needs more paperwork. Here's the 2026 reality. Customs Declarations (Mandatory) Every parcel leaving the UK needs a CN22 (under £270) or CN23 (over £270) customs form. Most platforms generate these automatically — but you must: Declare contents accurately (no 'gift' for sold items) Declare the sale value in GBP Include the right HS commodity code (Royal Mail's lookup tool helps) IOSS (Import One Stop Shop) for EU Sales For EU orders under €150 : Marketplaces (Etsy, eBay, Vinted) collect IOSS VAT at checkout and provide an IOSS number You include this IOSS number on the parcel — buyer pays no extra fees on delivery Without IOSS , your buyer gets hit with handling charges and may refuse the parcel Best Couriers by Destination EU (Germany, France, Netherlands): Royal Mail International Tracked: £8 £14 small parcel Evri International: £6 £10 (slower, less reliable) DHL Express: £15 £25 (fast, premium) USA: Royal Mail International Tracked: £10 £18 DHL Express: £20 £40 (worth it for items £100) Australia/Asia: Royal Mail International Tracked: £12 £25 (10 15 day delivery) DHL Express: £30 £60 (3 5 days) Pricing Tip Always price international items 20 30% higher to absorb potential customs hassles Add a clear note: 'Buyer responsible for any local import duties' (legally important even though IOSS often handles VAT) Avoid These Mistakes Marking items as 'gift' (illegal — and HMRC checks) Under declaring value (parcel can be seized) Skipping tracking on items £20 (no recourse if lost) Ignoring weight