Complete Guide fo Sending Gifts Internationally in 2025

If you’re an individual with friends or family living abroad or a business owner with international customers, you can think of strengthening your connection with loved ones by sending gifts. Sending gifts is a heartwarming gesture that can deepen your bond with them. 

Whether it’s a birthday present for a friend living abroad, a package to celebrate festive moments, or a gift to show appreciation to business partners, sending gifts across the border is a good idea. 

Sending gifts internationally may seem difficult. However, it is not as complicated as you may have thought; you need perfect planning and hire the correct international courier service. Read on to learn more about the processes of sending gifts internationally. 

Key Considerations for Choosing an International Courier Service for sending gifts

Choosing the right international courier service is essential in sending gifts internationally. It ensures your gifts reach the recipient within the expected time. Several factors must be considered when choosing a courier service for your gifts:

Tracking capability of the courier service 

Hire a courier service that allows you to track your package. Tracking of your gifts keeps you updated about the parcel’s movement, allowing you to know the condition and the estimated time the gifts will reach the recipient. 

Shipping time and cost

Shipping time and cost can vary depending on the courier service you are hiring, the destination of the gift, and the shipping method you choose. 

Express courier offers delivery within a few days but is expensive. Contrarily, standard courier service usually takes days for the parcel to get to the recipient, and the cost is affordable. 

When time is not a constraint, go for a standard courier delivery service. But when a specified deadline must be met, an express courier delivery service might be the best option for your gifts. 

The insurance policy of the courier service 

Insurance policy is an important factor to consider, especially when a fragile gift is involved. The policy covers loss due to theft or damage during transit.

By hiring a courier service offering a high insurance policy, you can be assured compensation as per the terms agreed upon in the contract in case of damage to the gift. 

Customer service of the company 

Customer service is also a key factor when choosing a courier service for sending gifts internationally. Hire a courier service that offers reliable customer support and fosters timely assistance with tracking gifts, resolving delivery issues, and handling custom inquiries. 

Choosing a courier service with reputable customer service can help with good shipping experience and make sure your gifts get to their destination on time. 

How to Track Your Gift and Handle Delays or Losses

Sending gifts internationally is sometimes associated with delays, losses, or other issues in transit. To avoid delays or losses, it is important to plan carefully and track shipments during the transit. Here’s what you can do:

• Choose a reliable courier 

Choose a reliable international shipping courier that generates a package number to track your shipment online and get delivery confirmation. It will also provide insurance in case the gifts get damaged or lost.

• Get a Tracking number 

Once the gift is packed and ready to be shipped, generate a tracking number from the courier’s website. The tracking number allows you to track the package as it moves through all the required stages before reaching the recipient. You can get it from the carrier’s website, your shipping confirmation email, or from your receipt. 

• Use the tracking number on the carrier tracking system 

After getting the tracking number, enter the digits onto the carrier’s website to get up-to-date details on your shipments. The system will provide you with all the information you need, from the current location of the gifts to the estimated delivery time. You can also get info about the gifts via email notifications or text. 

• Stay informed and monitor regularly 

Delays can occur due to various reasons, such as weather conditions, customs inspections, etc. Check the status of your shipment regularly to stay informed. In cases where there’s no news or update after a long time, it is advisable to contact the carrier to inquire about the parcel’s whereabouts. 

• Report immediately 

In case of losses, report to the courier immediately. It is important to record the transaction history (i.e., the receipt) and the tracking number. So in cases where your parcel is lost or damaged, the receipt will facilitate the claiming process. 

By following these steps you can effectively track your gifts and stay informed about possible delays and loss. 

Commonly Prohibited Gifting Items in International Shipping

When sending gifts internationally, you must know about prohibited gifts to avoid problems with customs. 

Some countries prohibit certain items, while some items are generally and universally restricted from shipping internationally:

• Counterfeit goods

Counterfeit items, including pirated media, fake designer products, fake watches, handbags, and software, are prohibited in international shipping. Sending any counterfeit goods can lead to severe legal consequences such as fines. 

• Alcohol

Due to some cultural and religious beliefs, the import of alcohol in some countries is prohibited. Prohibition of alcohol can often apply to its quantity, content, and type. 

• Perishable foods 

Perishable foods are prohibited because they have high risks of getting spoiled during transit, contaminating and introducing harmful organisms into the local ecosystem. 

The Value of Insuring Your Gift When Sending It Internationally

Sending gifts internationally without insurance places risk on the sender or the receiver in case anything goes wrong during transit. It might seem like an additional expense, but the value of insuring your gift overshadows the cost of insuring it. 

Why should you insure the gift you’re sending internationally? Here are the key reasons why insurance is important when shipping gifts abroad:

Protection against losses and damages

Even when shipping with the most reliable courier, accidents are sometimes inevitable. Imagine going through the stress of getting your gift to its destination, only to find out it didn’t reach the recipient in one piece or got lost. 

If the gift has not been insured, then that will be a financial loss to you (the sender). But if it has been insured, you will be compensated for the value of the gifts damaged or lost. 

Covers various happenings 

If you buy into the idea of insuring gifts and packages you are shipping internationally (i.e., birthday presents) and it got delayed and could not meet specific requirements and/or deadlines, some insurance policies may provide compensation for the time wasted and inconveniences caused. 

Insurance covers losses due to theft or misplacement of materials during customs inspection. 

Helps with international regulations

Each country has its own unique rules for importing goods. You can avoid legal issues or problems with international regulations by insuring your gift.

When sending gifts internationally, it is important and advisable to insure them to protect your gifts against any unexpected occurrences. 

Ensuring On-Time Delivery of Your International Gift

Ensuring on-time delivery of your international gift is important and requires proper planning and execution to meet up with special occasions at specified times, such as birthdays or holidays. 

Plan and select the right courier 

Planning is very important. Shipping goods internationally requires multiple steps, and some of these steps can cause unexpected delays. Choosing a reputable and reliable courier service helps with this process.

Research custom regulations 

When sending gifts internationally, unexpected delays can sometimes be inevitable due to customs regulations. Ensure you complete all necessary customs documents and research about prohibited gift items in the country you’re sending the gift to. 

Communicate with the recipient 

Inform the receiver about the incoming gifts and provide them with the tracking number and other important details about the gift you are sending so the recipient can make necessary arrangements and be available at the specified time of receiving the gifts. 

Tips for Hassle-Free Customs Clearance

Here are some tips for hassle-free customs clearance ;

• Provide accurate and detailed information on custom forms. 

• Know the policies, rules, and regulations of the country you are shipping the gift to. 

• State the value of the gift.

• Pay all taxes.

• Seal and label your package properly.

By following these tips, you can ensure that your gifts will get to their destination without customs delay and problems.

ShiprocketX: Making International Gifting Simple and Reliable

With ShiprocketX, sending gifts across borders has never been more convenient. Covering 220+ countries and territories, ShiprocketX offers a seamless and trustworthy solution for international gift deliveries. From offering affordable shipping options and advanced parcel tracking to providing insurance and customs support, ShiprocketX takes the worry out of global gifting. Whatever the occasion, ShiprocketX ensures your gift arrives safely and on time, making it easy to stay connected with the people who matter, no matter where they are.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sending gifts internationally can be tiring and consume much time before it reaches the recipient. To avoid delays or loss of gifts being shipped overseas, you need to choose the right courier, use the tracking number given to stay informed, and monitor the location and status of your packages. 

It is also important to know about prohibited gift items in the country you are shipping the gift to and make sure to meet the customs requirements to avoid delays and complications.