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Since 2013, we have been helping companies and individuals to easily ship internationally.
Shipments sent to India via ParcelParcel
The business landscape between Europe and India is rapidly evolving. For many SMEs and manufacturers, shipping goods to Mumbai, New Delhi, or Bangalore is becoming a daily routine. Yet, the logistical complexity of this massive market still deters many entrepreneurs. With the right preparation and knowledge of local legislation, this doesn't have to be a barrier. Here is everything you need to know to ensure your B2B shipments flow seamlessly.
Thanks to ongoing negotiations surrounding a comprehensive EU-India trade agreement (Free Trade Agreement), economic ties between Europe and India are strengthening. The goal of this treaty is to reduce trade barriers and streamline both import and export processes. This presents massive opportunities for European manufacturers and e-commerce businesses. However, while tariffs may decrease in the future, the stringent customs procedures remain fully in effect for now.
When preparing to ship a package to India, there is one specific rule you absolutely cannot ignore: the KYC policy. While in many countries the responsibility for smooth customs clearance lies primarily with you as the sender, in India, the receiver plays a critical role. The failure to provide the correct KYC documents India on time is the single largest cause of delayed shipments worldwide.
The Indian government mandates that the identity and residential or business address of the receiver must be verified before a shipment is allowed across the border. This applies to every shipment, regardless of its value or whether it is B2B or B2C. The golden rule: the carrier (such as DHL, FedEx, or UPS) must have these documents in their possession before the package lands in India. Therefore, always ensure that your receiver's email address and local mobile phone number are correctly stated on the waybill.
For the identity verification of the receiver (or the contact person at a company), Indian customs requires an official ID. The most widely used and accepted document for this is the Aadhaar Card, linked to the unique Aadhaar number (a 12-digit identification number for Indian residents).
For B2B shipments, a PAN Card (Permanent Account Number - a tax ID) and business registration documents are also frequently requested. Does the delivery address differ from the address on the ID? Then the receiver must also provide a recent proof of address (such as a bank statement or utility bill).
B2B Pro Tip: Proactively inform your business partner in India about this requirement on the day you dispatch the package, so they have the documents ready when the carrier reaches out.
Customs rules India are known for being strict and bureaucratic. Every flow of goods must be accompanied by a flawless Commercial Invoice in English, featuring correct HS codes and highly detailed goods descriptions (avoid vague terms like "samples" or "parts").
Furthermore, you will almost always encounter import duties India. These mainly consist of the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). The exact rate depends on the HS code of your product. Through ParcelParcel, you can typically send your shipments under the DAP Incoterm (Delivered At Place, meaning the receiver pays the duties). Make sure you calculate the expected import duties India in advance. For the most up-to-date and official legislation, always consult the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) website.
It's not just exports that are booming; business importing from India is also taking off. Many European companies source textiles, automotive parts, or IT hardware from Indian industrial hubs. The import process requires just as much attention to proper custom duty clearance and documentation.
Through ParcelParcel's shipping platform, booking an import shipment is just as easy as an export shipment. We dispatch our premium carriers to your supplier in India, arrange the pickup, and ensure your goods arrive quickly and safely. Check out our comprehensive guide on shipping from India to the Netherlands (and the rest of Europe) for more detailed information.
Shipping a package or importing goods doesn't have to be a headache. At ParcelParcel, you can compare real-time rates and transit times from top carriers like FedEx, DHL, UPS, and TNT in one clear overview. Our platform automatically generates your customs invoices based on your input, and our team of logistics specialists monitors your shipments to proactively prevent KYC issues in India.
You can both export (e.g., Netherlands/Belgium to India) or import (India to Netherlands/Belgium) via ParcelParcel.
Well, very simple. At ParcelParcel, we make international shipping easy. Here's how it works:
The Aadhaar number is a unique 12-digit identity number for residents of India. Indian customs requires this number (or a local PAN number) as part of the mandatory KYC documents India to verify the identity and address of the receiver. Without this verification, your shipment will not be released by customs.
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The primary customs rules India include the strict KYC requirement for the receiver, the necessity of a flawless English Commercial Invoice with correct HS codes, and a highly detailed description of the goods. Discrepancies in paperwork lead directly to the shipment being held in a Customs Bond.
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Import duties India are calculated based on the customs value of your goods and their corresponding HS code. They usually consist of a Basic Customs Duty (BCD) plus the Goods and Services Tax (GST). For standard DAP shipments, the receiver is responsible for paying these charges upon arrival.
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Negotiations for a comprehensive EU-India trade agreement (Free Trade Agreement) are currently underway to reduce trade barriers. While this is expected to lower import tariffs on specific product groups in the future, the current strict customs procedures and KYC obligations remain fully in effect for now.
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Absolutely. Business importing from India is very simple through our platform. You book the shipment in our system, and we ensure that one of our premium couriers (such as DHL, FedEx, or UPS) picks up the goods from your supplier in India. We also provide full support with the necessary import documentation.
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You can instantly check the shipping costs through our rate calculator. Enter the weight, dimensions, and destination country of your shipment, and you will see all available shipping options along with their respective delivery times. The calculator can be used to compare shipping rates for both export and import shipments.
If you need help calculating a shipping rate, watch the video below. Click on the 
button to play the video and the 
icon to view the video in fullscreen.
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Shipping costs are calculated based on dimensions (LxWxH in cm), weight (in kg), and the destination country. Both the actual weight (as shown on the scale) and the volumetric weight are considered.
The volumetric weight is the weight calculated based on the space your shipment occupies in the plane. The higher of the two weights (volumetric or actual weight) is used to calculate the shipping rate. You don't need to calculate this yourself; our calculator does it for you.
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You can use the discount code PP10 for 10% discount on the transportation costs of your first shipment to India. You can apply the discount code during the checkout process (instructions).
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Whether additional costs apply depends on whether your shipment stays within the European Union or is sent to/from a country outside the European Union. Below, you can see the additional costs for each situation.
Within the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to Italy (within the EU), there will be an additional 21% VAT on the shipping costs.
Furthermore, if your shipment stays within the European Union, you won't have to deal with any import duties or customs clearance fees because your shipment doesn't go through customs. Please note that the European Union is not the same as Europe.
View here all the countries that are part of the European Union. For example, Switzerland is part of Europe but not part of the European Union.
Outside the European Union (India)
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to the United States, there will be no VAT (0%) applied to the displayed shipping rates.
However, there might be import duties levied by customs in the destination country if you send a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union. Typically, customs costs are charged to the recipient. This is known as Delivered At Place (DAP) in logistics terminology.
Customs is a government agency that levies import duties in certain cases to protect the local market. As a company, you can also ship using Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), which means any customs costs will be charged to you as the sender.
If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to contact us. Additionally, you can read everything about import duties, VAT, and the customs clearance process in this blog.
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Yes, India is a country outside the European Union, and therefore, a customs invoice is required.
A customs invoice is a form where all the goods you want to ship are specified. This invoice includes an English description of the goods, along with their corresponding value and weight.
The contents of your shipment must be specified per type of product you're sending to avoid delays at customs. A customs invoice is always prepared in quadruplicate in accordance with customs guidelines.
When is a customs invoice required?
A customs invoice is only required for shipments to/from countries outside the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - United States). If your shipment stays within the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - Italy), your shipment will not go through customs, and therefore, a customs invoice is not required.
Additionally, document shipments are not subject to customs, so if you're sending a document to a country within/outside the European Union, no customs invoice is needed.
Please note that not all goods can be shipped to every country. You can find a list of goods that cannot be sent via ParcelParcel on this page.
Do I need to create a customs invoice myself?
If you're sending a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union, it's mandatory to include a customs invoice with the shipment. We provide free support in creating a customs invoice.
You can easily generate a customs invoice through our shipping platform. The customs invoice will be automatically generated based on the content you specified during your booking.
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You can import just as easily as export via ParcelParcel. In short, importing a shipment from India to the Netherlands or Belgium is no problem at all.
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You can find a list of goods that cannot be shipped via ParcelParcel on this page. Additionally, you can read more customs information specific to India on this page.
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