Courier from India to the UK
The India to UK lane is used by Indian sellers with British customers, by families sending parcels to relatives across the UK, and by businesses sending samples and documents to buyers and partners. Shipments fly express and clear through HMRC on arrival. Because UK import VAT applies to most goods, we ask for an accurate invoice up front so the receiver is not surprised by a bill at the door.
Customs and document notes on this page were last reviewed on . Rules change; we confirm the current position when you book.
Who sends parcels from India to the UK with us?
Online sellers
Indian apparel, jewellery, home and beauty brands shipping single orders to UK buyers, with the invoice and HS code attached electronically.
Businesses
Samples, spare parts and documents to UK importers, distributors and service clients.
Families
Festival gifts, sweets that are permitted, clothing and personal items to relatives and students in the UK.
What happens between pickup in India and delivery in the UK?
- Quote and booking
- Pickup from your address
- Export clearance in India
- Express flight
- Customs in the UK
- Delivered with proof
Every shipment gets an ExpressBox tracking number at booking. The milestones above are the standard sequence for this lane; the status of a specific shipment comes from the tracking page.
Export paperwork in India, import clearance in the UK
Export side (India)
Personal, gift and sample shipments go under CSB-IV; commercial consignments from a registered exporter go under CSB-V with the IEC and GSTIN on the shipping bill. We prepare the filing from your invoice.
Import side (UK)
HMRC charges import VAT on most goods entering the UK, and customs duty applies above the low-value threshold set in UK law. The receiver can pay before delivery or the sender can prepay through the delivered-duty-paid option in the quote.
Documents we need
Invoice with item descriptions, values and HS codes, the receiver's address, postcode and phone number, and for CSB-V shipments your IEC and GSTIN.
What does shipping from India to the UK cost?
| What | How it is worked out |
|---|---|
| Chargeable weight | The greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight (length × width × height in centimetres ÷ 5000). A light but bulky box is charged on volume. |
| Lane rate | Quoted per shipment for India to the UK, based on chargeable weight and the delivery area. Published slabs are not available yet; the quote is the price. |
| Duties and taxes | Assessed by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and Border Force on the declared value. Estimated in the quote and billed to the sender or the receiver, as you choose at booking. |
| Included | Pickup, export documentation, express air freight, import clearance handling and delivery with tracking. |
What cannot be sent from India to the UK?
Meat, dairy and most fresh food cannot enter the UK in a personal parcel. Perfumes and aerosols are dangerous goods and are not accepted for express air. Medicines need a prescription and are checked case by case. The full list, including items that need approval first, is on the prohibited and restricted items page; where one country is stricter than the other, the stricter rule applies to this lane.
Questions people ask before shipping to the UK
Do you deliver everywhere in the UK?
Yes: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including the islands, through the carrier's UK network after customs release.
Will my receiver have to pay VAT?
Usually, yes, unless you choose to prepay duties and taxes at booking. We estimate the amount in your quote from the declared value.
Can I send homemade food or sweets?
Sealed, shelf-stable, commercially packaged sweets are normally fine; homemade or perishable food is not. Send us the list and we confirm before pickup.
Do you handle returns from the UK?
Yes. Returns from UK customers are collected and brought back to your address in India under our returns service; ask for it when you request a quote.
How is the price worked out?
On chargeable weight for the India to UK lane: the greater of actual and volumetric weight (L × W × H in cm ÷ 5000).
What tracking will my receiver see?
An ExpressBox tracking number that follows the parcel from pickup in India through export clearance, the flight, UK customs and delivery.