Does Amazon Ship Internationally? (Guide To Buying From A Foreign Country)

Amazon is available throughout the United States, and its shipping options offer customers convenient shopping from the comfort of their own homes.

But what if you live outside of the U.S. and want to purchase items from Amazon, does Amazon ship internationally? And what can you buy from Amazon if you don’t live in the United States?

Amazon ships internationally to over 100 countries using Amazon Global shipping. International customers should be aware that only some products can be shipped internationally, and there are terms, conditions, and additional fees involved when items are shipped internationally through Amazon.

Amazon has an impressive 13 stores that are country-specific, and even if your country does not form part of this list, you can still purchase from Amazon USA.

There are so many reasons why customers choose to buy from Amazon if they reside in another country, but one of the biggest reasons is that Amazon offers an incredible range of products that aren’t available in most countries. Also, you can usually find better prices in Amazon.com.

Can I Shop Online From Amazon In Another Country?

According to this survey, two of the biggest benefits of Amazon.com are fast delivery and a wide product selection. But what if you don’t live in the US?

Will Amazon ship internationally?

It is possible to shop online from Amazon and deliver worldwide, if you’re based in another country. But, there are a few restrictions when shopping from a different country. One of the biggest restrictions is only some products can be shipped to different countries (continue reading to learn how to bypass this).

There is no guarantee that the product you’re looking for can be shipped to your country. The best way to determine if the product can be shipped internationally is to browse the products listed, and all amazon products that can be shipped to your country will be labeled under each product in the search results.

But, are there other Amazon shipping overseas options?

The following guide works for almost every country but you can also find the specific guide for your country in the list below.

Guide to Buying From Amazon.com From a Foreign Country

How do you shop from Amazon.com and ship it to another country? Below we’ll see a few ways to ship amazon internationally.

Visit Your New Amazon Global Page

A few of the other benefits that Amazon offers to international customers include:

Competitive pricing on products

24/7 customer service

Secure tracking of your parcel

Estimates of customs duties, taxes, and fees

To only see items that ship to your country, you’ll need to use the Amazon international page. Here’s how to see products that ship internationally with Amazon.

1. Go to the Amazon international page (link). To only see items that ship to your country, only shop using this page.

When you are at your new Amazon homepage press Ctrl + D or Command ⌘ + D to save it to your browser, so you can find it easier later.

2. Add your international address. First go to “your account” and scroll down until you find “Your Addresses”.

From there add your international address details and make it your default shipping address.

Before you save it don’t forget to tick the “Make this my default address” box.

3. Set up one-click access. From your account again go to “1-click settings” and enable it.

You don’t actually have to use the one-click ordering feature, but having it enabled will allow you to see only items shipped in your country.

In order to get free international shipping for your amazon order, identify eligible items with the ‘free shipping’ label. But keep in mind that for International delivery, order minimums also apply and they vary by country (around $45).

That’s it! Amazon will now only display products that can ship to your country.

But.. I can’t find my favorite [insert item], you say.

Even with the amazon global option, there are limitations. Not all products are eligible for direct shipment outside of the U.S. due to a myriad of reasons.

Electronics, for example, often face restrictions due to different voltage requirements or local regulations in the destination country. Similarly, items that are bulky or very heavy may not be available for international shipping for obivious reasons.

When you are at your new Amazon homepage tap the three dots -> Add to Home Screen, so you can find it easier later.

Fortunately, there’s a solution: package forwarding. Continue reading to find out how do you use a package forwarder to shop on Amazon from another country.

Shop From Amazon With A Package Forwarder Service To Ship Worldwide

There are some products that Amazon won’t ship to you if you are outside of the United States, like a Kindle or Echo.

Package forwarding is when international customers use a shipping service that receives their packages and then forwards them to their local address.

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to get your package delivered through a reshipping company:

• Step 1: Sign Up For A Package Forwarding Service

Sign up with a parcel forwarding service, so you can send your Amazon package to their warehouse, so they can forward it to you. A package forwarding service will provide a U.S. address for your Amazon product to be shipped, before it’s shipped to your international shipping destination.

There are many services to choose from, but I highly recommend Planet Express. They have simple pricing, excellent reviews and my experience with them has been great.

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You can also consolidate multiple orders from amazon or other retailers in order to save more money on shipping. Check their rates with their easy to use shipping calculator.

• Step 2: Shop On Amazon And Use Your New U.S. Address

Shop like normal on amazon.com. When checking out, give the address your parcel forwarder provided you already (see above). Amazon ships and delivers your package to the address provided.

• Step 3: Forward Your Package + Fees

Once the package is received by the forwarding service, it will be weighed and measured, and handling and international shipping fees will be determined, depending your international shipping destination.

The forwarding service may also provide an estimate on duty fees and tax and import fees which you may be required to pay once the package arrives in your country. The parcel forwarder will notify you and you just have to confirm forwarding to your real address.

• Step 4: Package Arrives

Once all the additional duty fees, tax, and import fees have been paid, your package will be delivered to your international address.

With most forwarding companies you can choose to have an address with your forwarder in a state that does not charge US sales tax. You can also save on shipping fees by consolidating multiple packages. With these two features you can save a lot of money.

Advantages of Using a Package Forwarder

• Wider Product Range: No product is off limits. They give you a local US address, opening up the entire Amazon US catalog for you to explore and shop from.
• Cost Savings: Who doesn’t love saving a bit of cash? You can bundle multiple buys into one shipment. This means you could pay a lot less in shipping fees, especially when you’re ordering from various stores.
• Skip the Sales Tax: Some forwarders have addresses in states without sales tax, like Oregon and Delaware. Send your stuff there first, and you could save around 6-10% on your shopping.
• Shipping Options: With package forwarding, you’re not stuck with one shipping option. You can pick from different carriers and shipping methods to fit your budget and how quickly you need your items.
• Security and Privacy: These services make sure your items are securely stored and handled. Plus, they often offer extras like insurance and photos of your items when they arrive, for that added reassurance.
• Customer Support: They usually have customer service teams ready to help out with any questions or issues, making the whole process a lot smoother than going it alone.

What Are The Fees When You Buy From Amazon In A Different Country?

When shopping on Amazon from another country, you may be surprised to find that international shipping costs aren’t the only costs you’ll be paying to receive your package. You should take into account the possible import taxes depending the country you’re in.

Amazon Currency Conversion Rates

One of the main fees you’ll need to be aware of when shopping internationally on Amazon is the currency conversion rates. If you’re purchasing from outside the U.S., you’ll be shopping in a different currency. This currency needs to be converted into dollars for you to make a purchase.

When Amazon needs to convert your money to make a purchase, you may pay more for your product than you expected.

To avoid that it’s always best to pay in dollars when shopping on Amazon.com. You can easily do that with card like Wise or Revolut.

Amazon International Shipping Costs

Another facet of international shopping on Amazon to consider is the shipping costs.

These are determined by a variety of factors, including the weight and size of the items, the destination country, and the shipping option chosen. Whether you select standard, expedited, or priority shipping will significantly influence the final cost.

It’s usually more cost-effective to consolidate your purchases into one large order rather than several small ones.

When you place an order with Amazon, there are various shipping options depending on how quickly you want your products delivered. You’ll naturally pay more if you want a faster delivery option. 

Amazon has a conversion table with estimates per country for international shipping.

The exact shipping cost is calculated when you checkout and are based on factors like the type of item, weight, and volume of the items in your Amazon cart.

Sales And Import Taxes

When you want Amazon to deliver internationally, there are often sales and import taxes that need to be paid. These are also known as import fees.

One benefit that can’t be overstated is the handling of customs duties and import taxes. Amazon Global offers an ‘Import Fees Deposit‘, which estimates the potential taxes and duties that might be applied on the products when they arrive in the destination country.

When purchasing from outside the U.S., Amazon will generally collect this ‘Import fee deposit’ from you to cover the costs of importing your package to your country.

When the import fees are less than the deposit, Amazon will refund you. Should the fees be more than the deposit, Amazon will cover the additional charges. 

Amazon International Delivery Times

Something else to consider when shopping form amazon from abroad is delivery times.

Delivery times can also vary significantly when it comes to international shipping with Amazon.

Amazon Prime makes domestic shipping super fast, with one- or two-day delivery, but international shipments are subject to longer transit times.

Opting for Standard shipping can save you a noticeable amount of money. It might be slower, but the savings can be substantial, especially for heavier items, unless you’re in a rush.

Factors such as distance from the US, customs clearance processes, and local delivery systems in the destination country can all play a role in determining just how quickly a package arrives

At least, Amazon provides tracking information for your package, allowing you to follow it every step of the way, from dispatch to delivery.

FAQs About Amazon International Shipping

Conclusion

We learned how to shop from Amazon worldwide. Amazon does ship internationally to eligible countries through Amazon global shipping. The best way to buy something on Amazon and ship it to another country is to use the Amazon international shopping page.

Amazon also provides estimates on shipping fees and additional charges that may be applicable to ship products to your country.

Another solution, if you can’t find what you’re looking for on the Amazon Global page, is using package forwarders.

This guide is meant for international buyers who don’t live in countries that have Amazon. But you can take advantage of the package forwarding services even if you are in the US. For example, RVers, digital nomads, or privacy-focused people can benefit from forwarding services.

Happy Amazon shopping!

➜ Check the best forwarding companies here