YOUR GUIDE TO
SENDING

TO CHINA FROM THE UK

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YOUR GUIDE TO SENDING TO CHINA FROM THE UK

China, the world's most populous country, is an undisputed favourite among British students looking for a culture-shock adventure. In fact, around 36,000 Britons live permanently in China, many of whom are young adults teaching English in the country's two biggest cities: Beijing and Shanghai.

This fascinating place has so much to offer for inquisitive minds, but it's easy to get a little homesick when on the other side of the planet. For those who miss the UK's quirks and niceties, a care package from a loved one can make a world of difference.

If you're considering sending a gift to a friend or relative in China, take a look at our guide to make sure it gets there safely and without any delays.

Cost of sending
to China

Prohibited &
restricted

Packaging parcels

How to address
parcels

Customs advice
and support

Duties & taxes

Cost of sending to China

It may be cheaper than you think to send a parcel to China. Our parcel delivery prices start from Temporarily unavailable and your parcel could be delivered in as little as 6 days.

Worldwide Air Prices

Weight of parcel being delivered to China	International Economy Prices
1kg	Currently Unavailable
5kg	Currently Unavailable
10kg	Currently Unavailable
25kg	Currently Unavailable

*Prices quoted in the table above are based on 10 x 10 x 10cm dimensions and all pricing quoted in this article is based on a Depot Drop off and International Economy delivery from mainland UK to China, with £50 contents cover included.

Prohibited and restricted items

Before packing your parcel, you’ll need to check that the item you are sending is allowed in to China. Chinese customs can be a lot stricter than other international destinations – so don’t assume that your item is fine just because you’ve sent it elsewhere without any issues. DVD’s and goods which are labelled ‘Made in China’ are not allowed in to the country. These restrictions are updated on a regular basis so it’s a good idea to check the General Administration of Customs People’s Republic of China website each time you send a parcel to China.

Some examples of items you can’t post to China include:

	Firearms
	Meat
	Alcohol
	Precious metals

	DVD's
	Anything labelled 'Made in China'
	Political literature

In addition to checking country specific restrictions, please also check our list of prohibited and restricted items before sending to ensure your items are allowed through our network.

Packaging your parcel for China

Your parcel will travel thousands of miles to China and will be handled at many stages throughout its journey so it’s important you package your parcels correctly to avoid any damages during transit. Here’s our top tips for securing your parcel:

What you’ll need: A sturdy box | Bubble wrap | Packaging chips (or newspaper) | Parcel tape

Use a sturdy box: double-walled boxes work best. If re-using a box make sure it isn’t damaged and remove all labels.
Wrap items in bubble wrap: wrap each item inside the box in plenty of bubble wrap. If you don’t have any bubble wrap to hand, then old newspaper is a great alternative.
Fill any unused space in the box: surround your items with packaging chips or screwed up newspaper to stop it moving around in transit.
Seal with packaging tape: Apply strong parcel tape along the opening and seams. We also recommend putting tape on each of the corners to reinforce the parcel.

How to address parcels to China

It’s important you get the recipient’s address right in order to avoid delays. However, it can be difficult to know how to address parcels to China. Common queries include:

Should addresses be written in English or in Chinese and Mandarin characters?

Should the UK addressing format (name first and country last) or the Chinese format (country first and name last) be used?

Our shipping labels use the UK format and are written in English. This will reach your recipient safely, but for added confidence, you can write the address in Chinese or Mandarin characters on the box (just as long as the shipping label is prominently displayed).

Customs advice and support

When sending a parcel to China you will need to include a customs invoice. Don’t let this put you off – it may sound complicated, but we’ll use all of the information you provide during the booking process to generate a customs invoice on your behalf.

Some examples of items you can’t post to China include:

	Your details We’ll ask for your name, address (even if you’ve chosen to drop off at one of our ServicePoints or depots) and telephone number. This will allow us get in touch with you in the unlikely event that there is an issue with your shipment.
	Recipient details You will be asked for the recipient’s name, address, email address and telephone number. The telephone number is a mandatory requirement for Chinese customs so you will need to ensure you have this information from your recipient before placing your booking. Giving your own telephone number or an invalid telephone number, such as 123456789, will cause your parcel to be delayed at customs.
	VAT status If you are a business and are sending a parcel to China, you will need to select ‘Company – VAT Registered’ or ‘Company non-VAT registered’ from the drop-down. Alternatively, if you are not a business, choose ‘Personal individual’.
	EORI number This field will only appear for business senders. If you do not have an EORI number already, you can register for one on the HMRC website.
	Reason for sending Choose a reason for sending from the drop-down menu. Possible reasons include: gift to recipient, sold item, returning item to retailer and repair.
	Country of origin Let us know the country where the item was originally manufactured, produced or grown. This information can usually be found on the label.
	Description Provide as much information as possible in this section - vague or incomplete descriptions risk getting delayed at customs. Your description should include what it is, what it’s made from and what it is used for, for example ‘Apple iPhone 5 - 16 GB - Smartphone’.
	Tariff code (or commodity code) In order to overcome language barriers and vague descriptions, tariff codes were introduced. Every item has been assigned an 8 digit number which is universally recognised by customs agents around the world. The code tells customs officials in the exactly what’s inside your parcel and is used to calculate the duties to be paid. Don’t know the tariff code you need? Don’t worry, it’s easy - we’ve listed some of the most common items which are sent through our network in our booking form. Simply select the item you are sending. If your item doesn’t appear in our list, click ‘Other’ and you will be taken to the HMRC website to search for it.

Once you’ve paid for your booking, you’ll be able to print your shipping label as well as 5 copies of the customs invoice. Securely attach all paperwork to the outside of your parcel. We recommend using a waterproof pocket to protect your paperwork from the elements.

Duties and taxes for parcels sent to China

Depending on what you are sending, the reason for sending and the value, duties and taxes may apply. These will be charged to your recipient and will need to pay before the parcel can be delivered to them. However, as the sender you are ultimately responsible for paying duties and taxes should the recipient refuse the package.

If you are sending a gift, it will be exempt from duties and taxes as long as it’s worth less than 1000 Yuan (around £113). Just make sure you select ‘Gift’ as your reason for sending and this will be clearly displayed on the customs invoice.

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