How to Ship Orders from Nepal to Customers Abroad: A Guide for Online Sellers and Small Exporters

Getting the sale is the easy part. The parcel is where most Nepali sellers lose money.

Most delays at customs do not come from distance. They come from a vague product description, a wrong value, or a packing list that misses one item. All three can be fixed before the parcel leaves Kathmandu.

Namaste Cargo Nepal has handled courier and cargo from Kathmandu since 2017, with shipments to 200+ countries. This guide covers how to ship products from Nepal to customers abroad, step by step. It covers the paperwork, courier or cargo, who pays duty, and the new EU duty rule that started on 1 July 2026.

Short answer: how to ship products from Nepal to customers abroad 

1. Register your business and get your PAN and EXIM code.

2. Use courier for single customer orders. Use cargo for bulk stock.

3. Pack the order to survive transit.

4. Declare it honestly with a commercial invoice and a matching packing list.

5. Decide who pays import duty, and tell the buyer before checkout.

6. Send the tracking number and keep your records.

Can a small business export from Nepal?

Yes. Commercial exports go through a registered business. Here is what you need. 

Two more points:

• Keep a copy of the commercial invoice, packing list and export declaration for every order. Your bank can ask for these documents when the export payment arrives, and they protect you if a parcel is lost or questioned. 

• The Exim code is compulsory for every commercial shipment. Some claims that it is not necessary for small shipments, which is completely false.

Courier or cargo: which is right for online orders? 

These are different services. Courier is door to door. Cargo is airport to airport, so the receiver or their agent clears and collects it. 

Typical transit times from Kathmandu

All times depend on the destination and customs queue. Read our express vs economy guide and courier vs cargo explainer before you pick. 

How to declare your shipment so customs does not hold it

The commercial invoice is the document customs reads first. Put these on it:

• Seller and buyer name, full address and phone number

• Plain product description, for example "hand-knitted wool scarf, 100% wool"

• Quantity, unit value, total value and currency

• Country of origin: Nepal

• HS code, if you know it. We can confirm it.

Rules we follow on every shipment:

• Declare the real sale value. Under-declaring risks seizure and can break a valid claim if the parcel is lost.

• Write what the item is. Words like "gift," "goods," or "items" invite questions.

• Mark samples as samples, with a value.

• The packing list must match the box, item by item.

We have seen the cost of a missing line. An experienced customer once prepared his own packing list and left some items off. The cargo was held at customs. Our team noticed within 2 days that it was not moving and called the customs office directly. They told us which documents were missing. We prepared and submitted them, and the cargo was released. Normally we prepare all documents ourselves, so this was an exception. 

For the full list, see documents needed for shipping from Nepal and our customs clearance guide. 

Who pays customs duty on orders shipped from Nepal? 

Duty is charged by the destination country. You choose who pays it. 

Latest rule: the EU. From 1 July 2026, the EU removed the duty exemption for parcels under €150 and applies a flat €3 duty per product category, as a temporary measure until 2028. After that, standard tariff rates by product type apply. Import VAT and carrier fees come on top. 

What this means for you: 

• Three identical scarves in one parcel can count as one category, so one €3 charge.

• A scarf, a bowl and a necklace can count as three categories, so three charges.

• Tell EU buyers about import charges before they pay.

United States: small parcel duty rules have changed over the last two years. Check the current US customs rule for your product before you promise duty-free delivery. 

Packing orders that survive international courier 

• Use a strong double-wall box. Do not reuse a box with old labels.

• Fill empty space so nothing moves. Protect corners on bowls, statues and ceramics.

• Wrap textiles like pashmina in waterproof plastic.

• Seal tea, spices and herbs in airtight packs.

• Keep the box small. Couriers charge by the higher of actual weight or box size weight, so extra space costs money. See what affects cargo rates.

Our packing team can pack your parcels, including fragile and high-value orders. 

What you can and cannot ship 

See the full prohibited items guide. 

Set delivery promises you can keep 

Tell the buyer: your handling time + transit time + customs time.

• Share the tracking number as soon as the parcel leaves.

• Collect the full address, postal code and a working phone number.

• Ask the buyer to confirm the address before dispatch.

A wrong address is a common cause of late delivery. One customer wrote an address in a different city than intended. The courier could not find the recipient. Because we keep contact records for both sender and receiver, our team called the sender, corrected the address and rerouted the parcel. It arrived 2 days later than planned, not lost.

Plan returns before you sell 

A parcel coming back to Nepal can go through customs again as an import. That costs time and money.

• For low-value items, many sellers offer a refund or replacement without a return.

• For high-value items, state the return rules on your product page.

Checklist before you book 

• PAN and EXIM code confirmed for your product

• Permits ready for regulated goods

• Commercial invoice and matching packing list

• Real value and plain description

• Duty terms stated to the buyer

• Order packed, weighed and measured

• Buyer address and phone confirmed

Frequently Asked Questions

Can an individual export goods from Nepal?

Yes, for personal items. No, for goods you sell.

• Personal items: an individual can send gifts, personal belongings and documents abroad by courier without a registered business or EXIM code. Customs still needs an honest list and value.

• Goods for sale: if you sell the product, even online or through messages, it counts as a commercial export. It must go through a registered business with a PAN and an EXIM code.

• Not sure which one you are? Message us your product and destination. We will tell you which side of the line it falls on before you book.

Should I use courier or cargo for online orders? 

Use courier for single customer orders. Courier is door to door, so the parcel is delivered to your customer's address. Use cargo for bulk stock sent to a distributor. Cargo is airport to airport, so the receiver clears and collects it. 

Who pays customs duty on goods shipped from Nepal?

The destination country charges import duty. You choose who pays it:

• Buyer pays on delivery: the buyer may get a bill at the door.

• You pay upfront: the buyer receives the parcel with no extra charge, and you build the duty into your price.

State your choice before the buyer pays.

How long does shipping from Nepal take for customer orders?

Express courier takes 3 to 7 days and economy courier takes 10 to 15 days. Exact time depends on the destination and customs clearance. Add your own packing and handover time when you promise a delivery date to the buyer. 

Can I send product samples abroad from Nepal? 

Yes. Samples still need a commercial invoice. Mark the items as samples and write a real value, because customs needs a value even when the sample is not for sale.

Does Namaste Cargo Nepal handle customs paperwork? 

Yes. Our team prepares the customs documents and handles clearance for your shipment. You give us the accurate product details and the real value, and we prepare the rest.

Ship your orders with Namaste Cargo Nepal 

Send your product details and destination on WhatsApp. Our team will confirm the paperwork, the right service and the timeline, and give you a quote.