Shipping guide
Prohibited and restricted items for shipping
Updated October 14, 2026
Some things simply cannot travel by courier or air, and others can only ship under certain conditions. Knowing the difference before you pack saves you from delays, returns and wasted postage. Here is what is prohibited, what is restricted, and how to check your specific items.
Commonly prohibited items
Prohibited items are not accepted for shipping at all, mainly for safety and legal reasons. Explosives, fireworks and flammable liquids are a hard no, as are weapons, illegal drugs, cash and counterfeit goods. These rules apply to air transport in particular, which covers most international shipping.
If you are unsure whether something falls into this list, ask us before you pack. It is far better to check first than to have a parcel stopped, returned or destroyed after it ships.
- Explosives and fireworks
- Flammable liquids and materials
- Weapons, firearms and ammunition
- Illegal drugs and narcotics
- Cash, banknotes and counterfeit currency
- Counterfeit or pirated goods
- Precious metals, gemstones and other restricted valuables
Restricted items that need special handling
Restricted items can ship, but only with the right packaging, paperwork or declaration. Batteries are a good example: batteries, including lithium batteries, and devices that contain them can travel only under conditions, subject to the rules, regulations and customs duties of the destination country. Alcohol, some cosmetics and certain electronics also have conditions.
For restricted items, tell us what you are sending and we will confirm whether it can go and how it needs to be packed and declared. Getting this right up front keeps the whole shipment moving.
- Aerosols, perfumes and other flammable products
- Batteries, including lithium batteries
- Food, spices and other food products
- Medicines and pharmaceutical products
- Cosmetics, creams and liquids
- Alcohol and tobacco products
- Electronics and electronic devices
- Plants, seeds and animal products
- Perishable goods requiring refrigeration
Food, plants and perishables
Rules on food vary a lot by destination country. Dry, sealed, non-perishable food is often fine, while fresh produce, meat, dairy and anything needing refrigeration is usually restricted or banned. Plants, seeds and soil are tightly controlled almost everywhere.
If you are sending food as a gift, check with us first for the destination. We will tell you what is allowed and how to declare it so it is not held or discarded at customs.
Country-specific rules
On top of the general air-transport rules, each destination country has its own prohibited and restricted lists. India, for example, restricts certain electronics and requires the receiver's KYC for most parcels; other countries limit specific goods or values.
Because the rules differ by route, the safest approach is to tell us the destination and the contents, and we will check both the carrier and the country requirements before anything ships.
How to check before you pack
The simplest rule: if you are not sure, ask. A two-minute check with our team before you seal the box can save days of delay or a returned parcel. Keep an accurate content list, declare everything honestly, and separate out anything on the lists above for a quick review.
We handle these checks every day across dozens of destinations, so bring us your questions and we will give you a straight answer before you commit to shipping.