Ship from the USA to India
The USA to India lane works two ways. Shoppers in India use a free ExpressBox address in the United States to buy from American stores that do not ship abroad, and we forward the parcels to their door. Families and businesses in the US also send parcels directly to receivers in India. On arrival, Indian Customs clears the shipment under the courier regulations, which means the receiver's KYC and the duty are the two things to get right.
Customs and document notes on this page were last reviewed on . Rules change; we confirm the current position when you book.
Who uses the lane from the United States to India?
Online shoppers in India
Electronics, clothing, supplements, toys and brands that only ship within the US, bought with a US address and forwarded to India.
Families in the United States
Gifts, documents and personal items to parents, children and relatives in India.
Indian businesses
Samples, spare parts and small orders from US suppliers that need express delivery rather than ocean freight.
From your address in the United States to your door in India: the steps
- Sign up for a free US address
- Shop and ship to your address
- We receive and consolidate
- Export clearance and flight
- Indian customs and KYC
- Delivered to your door
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.
Clearing your parcel into India: KYC, duty and documents
Entry into India
Courier shipments into India are cleared by Indian Customs under the Courier Imports and Exports (Clearance) Regulations. The receiver must provide KYC (usually Aadhaar or PAN) before release. Most personal parcels, including gifts, attract customs duty on the declared value; India withdrew the duty-free gift allowance for courier imports several years ago.
Duty and taxes
Duty depends on the HS classification of each item, plus IGST and any cess. We estimate the amount in the quote from the invoice or the store receipt and collect it before delivery, or the sender can prepay.
Documents we need
The store invoice or a commercial invoice, the receiver's full address, phone number and KYC document, and for business imports the importer's IEC and GSTIN.
How is forwarding from the USA to India priced?
| 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 the USA to India, based on chargeable weight and the delivery area. Published slabs are not available yet; the quote is the price. |
| Duties and taxes | Assessed by Indian Customs (CBIC) 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. |
Items that cannot enter India by express air
Supplements and protein powders need FSSAI compliance, cosmetics need CDSCO compliance for resale, drones and satellite phones are restricted, and loose lithium batteries cannot fly. Weapons, currency and dangerous goods never travel on this lane. 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.
The USA to India: your questions answered
How does the free US address work?
Sign up on the free-address page, receive a US address with your personal ExpressBox ID, and use it at checkout on any US store. We receive the parcel and forward it to you in India by express air.
Can you combine several US orders into one shipment?
Yes. Tell us which parcels to hold and we consolidate them into one forwarding shipment so you pay one chargeable weight.
Why does Indian Customs need my Aadhaar or PAN?
KYC is mandatory for courier imports into India. Without it the shipment cannot be released, so we collect it when the parcel is booked for forwarding.
Is there duty on a gift from the US?
In most cases, yes. Duty is assessed on the declared value of the contents; mark the parcel accurately as a gift but expect it to be dutiable.
Which Indian cities do you deliver to?
Pin codes across India through our last-mile network, with proof of delivery and status updates.
What does forwarding cost?
It depends on chargeable weight (actual or volumetric, whichever is higher) and the destination city in India. Ask for a quote with the store receipt and we reply with the figure, duty estimate included.