Knowing international shipping deadlines is especially important, as international packages need to go through customs in transit. As a reminder, holiday shipping deadlines are the last date you can ship a package with a specific service and still have the shipment arrive by December 25th. While these cutoff dates are earlier than their domestic counterparts, GlobalPost will support you throughout the entire process. Our support team is available to all merchants, so you can think of us as your personal authority on international shipping.
What are shipping deadlines?
Shipping deadlines are released by carriers as a safeguard because of the high shipping volumes during the holiday season. While you may have to ship packages a bit sooner than usual, it’s worth the extra effort to ensure gifts and orders arrive on time. Your customers will appreciate having these dates ahead of time, boosting customer satisfaction throughout the season.
GlobalPost Domestic Shipping Deadlines
| Service | Shipping Cutoff Date |
| Parcel Select Destination Entry | Saturday, December 16, 2023 |
| First Class | Saturday, December 16, 2023 |
GlobalPost International Shipping Deadlines
| Country | First-Class Package International Service® | Priority Mail International® | Priority Mail Express International® | GlobalPost Economy International | GlobalPost Standard International | GlobalPost Plus |
| Africa | Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Thursday, November 30, 2023 | Thursday, November 30, 2023 | Not Available |
| Asia/Pacific Rim | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Hong Kong: Thursday, December 7, 2023 |
| Australia/New Zealand | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Thursday, November 30, 2023 | Monday, December 4, 2023 |
| Canada | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Tuesday, December 5, 2022 |
| Caribbean | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Not Available |
| Central & South America | Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | Thursday, November 30, 2023 | Not Available |
| Mexico | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Tuesday, December 5, 2023 | Friday, December 8, 2023 |
| Europe | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | UK: Thursday, December 7, 2023 |
| Middle East | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 6, 2023 | Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | Friday, December 1, 2022 | Tuesday, December 5, 2023 | Not Available |
Tips for international shipping
Whether your business has decided to ship internationally for the first time this season or has been for 20 years, it’s worth giving yourself a refresher on packaging international shipments. Higher shipping volumes can lead to packages being in transit longer than usual, and it’s easy to make mistakes with an influx of orders. When shipping internationally, remember to:
- Accurately complete all customs paperwork
- Confirm addresses with customers before shipping
- Package shipments for both hot and cold temperatures
- Carefully wrap fragile items and include orientation arrows for proper handling
International shipping restrictions
Additionally, it’s worth brushing up on international shipping restrictions to avoid any penalties, returned shipments, or even confiscated packages. Shipment restrictions can vary depending on the destination country, which carrier network is being used, and the import/export regulations in transit. Some items that can’t be shipped internationally through GlobalPost are:
- Aerosols
- Dry ice
- Hemp-based products (including CBD)
- Lithium batteries
- Nail polish
- Perfumes (containing alcohol)
- Perishable items
More information about international shipping restrictions can be found on our website.
Canada Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM)
If your business specializes in B2B shipping to Canada, there are some updates coming in October. Merchants will now be required to pay the taxes and duties on B2B shipments when shipping goods, and give the recipient added security through a deposit. We’ll share more information on this update as we receive it.
The holiday season doesn’t have to be stressful, and neither does international shipping. GlobalPost is working to simplify international shipping for businesses of all sizes. Let us handle the hard parts of international shipping like finding HS Codes, so you can put the focus back on your business. Ship around the globe this holiday season with the help of GlobalPost!