More than 1.8 million Canadians have roots in India, and thousands of small and medium-sized businesses sell products there or have parts manufactured there. Yet, ship to India remains one of the most commonly blocked international shipments: missing KYC form, incorrectly declared value, a gift that exceeds the threshold, or a prohibited item slipped into the box.

Following our guides on Japan, Australia, France, the United Kingdom, and Mexico, this 2026 guide covers India from A to Z: shipping carriers available from Canada, actual delivery times, estimated rates, the KYC rule that holds up one in three packages, duties and IGST, rules for gifts, and a list of items you should never send.

The amounts are approximate and vary depending on the agreement, the service, the volumetric weight, and any applicable surcharges.

Which carriers ship to India from Canada?

Canada Post (via India Post), Purolator (through its partners), UPS, FedEx, and DHL Express serve India. DHL and FedEx have the most extensive domestic networks in India (Blue Dart for DHL); UPS relies on partners in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

With a negotiated account or through a platform like Expert Shipping, discounts on express shipping to India typically range from 45 to 70 %: a 2-kg DHL or FedEx shipment often costs less than 75 $, which is cheaper than Xpresspost and takes one-third the time.

The KYC Rule: What's Holding Up One in Every Three Packages

Since 2020, Indian customs has required that each recipient For a courier shipment, provide identification (Know Your Customer) prior to customs clearance: Aadhaar card, PAN, passport, or driver’s license for an individual; GST certificate and IEC (Import Export Code) for a business. The name and address on the document must match exactly on the label.

In practice: DHL, FedEx, and UPS send a text message or email to the recipient when the package arrives. If the recipient does not upload the required documents within 5 to 10 days, the package is returned at your expense (often 150 to 300 $) or destroyed. Three simple steps can prevent 90 % of these problems:

• Ask the recipient for their Indian cell phone number and email address before to create the label.
• Enter the recipient's name exactly as it appears on their Aadhaar or PAN, without nicknames or abbreviations.
• Let him know that he will receive a KYC request from the carrier and that it is legitimate.

Customs Duties, IGST, and Thresholds in 2026

No de minimis threshold for commercial shipments

India does not apply a duty-free allowance for purchased goods: all commercial shipments are subject to the basic customs duty (BCD, generally 10 to 20 % depending on the HS code), the social welfare surcharge (10 % of the BCD), and the IGST (usually 18 %, calculated on the value plus duties). For an item costing 100 $, expect to pay 35 to 45 $ in taxes upon delivery, plus the carrier’s brokerage fees (15 to 30 $).

Gifts: A Low Threshold That Is Strictly Enforced

Gifts between individuals are exempt up to 5,000 INR (approximately 80 $ CA), provided they are marked «Gift» on the customs declaration, without a commercial invoice, and are not intended for commercial purposes. Beyond that amount, the entire value is taxed, not just the excess. Clothing, chocolates, cosmetics, and toys are generally accepted; electronics are almost always taxed, whether they are gifts or not.

Shipping Parts or Samples for an SME

Samples with no commercial value must be marked «Sample – no commercial value» and must be valued at less than 10,000 INR. For regular commercial shipments, your Indian customer must hold an IEC; otherwise, customs will refuse entry.

Documents to Attach

• Commercial Invoice or Pro Forma Invoice In English, 3 copies: detailed description, 8-digit HS code (India requires 8 digits), unit value in CAD or USD, country of origin.
• CN22/CN23 Customs Declaration for mailings (generated online).
• Full contact information : Name as it appears on your ID, address with the 6-digit PIN, 10-digit Indian cell phone number, email address.
• Recipient KYC : Ideally submitted in advance through the carrier's portal (DHL and FedEx allow this).
• Specific Permits : drugs (CDSCO license), food (FSSAI registration of the importer), wireless devices (WPC certification), seeds and plants (phytosanitary certificate).

Items Prohibited or Restricted for Shipment to India

In addition to the usual prohibitions, India systematically refuses or blocks: drones and drone parts, walkie-talkies and uncertified radio devices, SIM cards, large quantities of used cell phones, gold and silver jewelry in quantities exceeding small amounts, beef products, e-cigarettes and vaping liquids, playing cards and lottery tickets, maps depicting borders in a manner that India considers «incorrect,» and bulk shipments of used clothing. Medications, even those requiring a prescription, are held without a license. A refused package is returned at your expense: please check before shipping.

8 Tips for Shipping to India More Inexpensively and Without Delays

1. Collect KYC information before creating the label : It is the leading cause of returns.
2. Report a realistic value : Indian customs compares prices to those found online and reassesses the value upward, imposing a penalty.
3. Keep it under 2 kg for mail; bundle items that exceed that weight : A 10-kg package sent via negotiated express shipping costs less than five small packages.
4. Use compact packaging : The volumetric weight (L × W × H ÷ 5,000) applies to all express services.
5. Choose DDP for your customers When the carrier offers this option: Refusal to pay duties upon delivery is common in India.
6. Avoid Diwali (October–November) and late March (tax year-end): Customs clearance times double.
7. Insure all shipments weighing more than 200 $ ; complaints about the "last mile" take longer to resolve there than in North America.
8. Compare DHL, FedEx, and UPS for every shipment : Depending on the city (Bangalore, Chandigarh, Kochi…), the gap often exceeds 30 %.

Conclusion: India prepares the shipment beforehand, not at customs

Shipping to India from Canada works very well if three conditions are met: the recipient’s KYC is complete, the value and description are accurate and include the 8-digit HS code, and the gift thresholds and prohibited items are adhered to. With a negotiated rate, a 2-kg express package arrives in 3 to 5 days for less than 75 $.

Do you send packages to India for your family or clients? Compare rates from DHL, FedEx, UPS, Purolator, and Canada Post in just a few seconds on Expert Shipping and take advantage of negotiated discounts with no minimum order quantity.