How to Ship to Italy from the USA

Italy and the USA have always been strong business partners. It’s not a surprise that hundreds of packages travel between the two destinations daily. Regardless of your package type – a personal gift or e-commerce export – you need to find a reliable shipping partner.

Additionally, it’s important to understand how exactly the import into Italy works and how to prepare your parcels for international travel. In this guide, we will explain every step of the process and address potential challenges to help you prevent possible delays.

Understanding Shipping Costs

The cost of sending a package abroad depends on quite a few factors. Its weight and dimensions will greatly influence the rate, as heavier and bulkier boxes are always more expensive than small envelopes. You will also have to choose how your parcel will be delivered. The cheapest way to ship to Italy from the USA is by sea freight. If it’s priority mail, you can request air delivery, which is more costly.

Note that the location also matters – remote and rural villages incur higher fees as a final destination. Additional services, such as courier delivery to the door, also rack up in fees. Online calculators, such as the one Meest provides on its website, can help you calculate the estimate of your delivery. Don’t forget to add possible customs duties and VAT to the price of the package.

Preparing Your Package

High-quality, sturdy packaging will ensure that the parcel arrives at the destination in good condition and without delay. So, it is crucial to use suitable packaging materials when wrapping your items. Here are some step-by-step packing tips you can use:

1. Assess your items – if they are fragile or highly valuable, choose a sturdy box or a plastic container. Make sure it is suitable – avoid boxes that are too big.
2. Pick suitable cushioning materials, such as crumpled paper, bubble wrappers, packing peanuts, etc. Use more depending on the fragility of your items.
3. Tape the box securely, so all seams are covered. Wrap the box additionally if it needs to be waterproof, especially for sea delivery.

Your parcel is ready in terms of packaging, but it still needs to be clearly labeled. So, print out or write the recipient’s full name, phone number, email, and complete address in Italy, including the postal code. Include the sender’s name, address, and contact details, too. These will be used by the delivery company in case the parcel has to be returned. Sometimes, the packaging gets damaged. Please put another label inside the box just in case.

Navigating Customs and Documentation

All international shipments have to pass through the local customs to be delivered to the country of destination. Filling out all forms and providing proper documentation can also influence the price. Thus, it’s a big part of every “how much to ship to Italy from the USA” topic.

All personal shipments require a customs declaration. This form can be filled out online in the Meest portal, and it states the content, value, and purpose of the parcel according to regulations. Business shipments also need a commercial invoice with similar details. Depending on the items, customs representatives will ask for proof of value, like receipts.

Provide accurate and truthful information about your items, as all inaccuracies and lies can result in delays, fines, and even confiscation. Avoid labeling your items with vague words like “gift” or “care package”. For instance, it is better to write “used clothing” for clothes you are passing down to your friends.

The recipient is responsible for paying all customs duty and tax upon delivery. Most VAT and import duties are incurred on packages valued between €45 and €150.

Tracking Your Shipment

All reliable delivery services provide tracking for their packages. Whether you are a trendy shop or an individual wondering how to ship to Italy from the US, this add-on helps you have peace of mind when shipping. On the Meest website, you can easily use your order number to see where the package is. The recipient can also use it to monitor when the packaging will arrive at the destination:

1. Receive a tracking number once the parcel is shipped.
2. Go to Meest’s website and paste the number into the relevant tracking field.
3. Press the confirmation button to view the shipment details.

There, you will see each step, from departure and customs processing to arrival and delivery attempts. Ask the recipient to pay close attention to the final drop-off date, especially if it requires their signature.

Why Choose Meest for Shipping to Italy?

Meest is a reliable logistics company on the market with a lot of experience in international shipping, including Europe. It offers dependable delivery solutions and countless benefits to anyone searching for how to send a package to Italy from the USA.

Flexible Delivery Options

Meest has multiple delivery options to suit its customers’ needs. You can request both air and sea delivery, depending on the urgency of the shipping and cost. Air shipping is the fastest, taking up to 14 days, while sea freight is an economy variant. Furthermore, parcels can be delivered to the nearest Italian post office or straight to the door by the courier. Meest also provides consolidation shipping for businesses.

Convenient Tracking

Every parcel sent with Meest carrier receives a tracking number. By entering it on the company’s website, both the sender and the recipient can see the state of the shipment. That helps understand if the package is stuck in transit or will be delivered on time.

Reliable Support

Meest has a multilingual customer support team that is ready to assist if a problem occurs. You can contact the representatives by filling out a form on the website, calling the phone number, or sending an email.

Practical Size and Weight Limits

The maximum dimensions and weight of the parcel depend on the delivery type, but all Meest parcel limits are practical. For instance, it can be up to 70 cm on the longest side and up to 30 kg for courier services.

Partner with Meest to leverage the company’s extensive services and appealing rates.

Addressing potential Shipping Restrictions

Not all international shipments are allowed to cross the border. So, before searching how much is shipping to Italy from the USA, every sender should check if their package is not prohibited from entering the country. Common prohibited and restricted items are:

• perishable items like meat and dairy;
• alcoholic products;
• tobacco products;
• medicine and prescription items;
• weapons and their replicas;
• flammable materials;
• plants, seeds, and soil;
• cultural artifacts or art requiring permits.

Even the items the sender deems innocent like cosmetics, vitamins, and supplements may be questioned at customs. So, consult the local customs representatives and postage services to confirm that your parcel will be allowed into Italy.

Summary and Key Takeaways

Shipping from the US to Italy can go smoothly if you are prepared for the process. So, following this guide, packaging your items properly, collecting the required documents, abiding by rules, and picking a suitable shipping method is the best way to send a package to Italy from the US. Properly plan all the steps and your items will be delivered on time and intact.

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