Are you a seller looking to sell overseas? Read our article on selling internationally

When purchasing items located overseas, keep in mind that international delivery can sometimes take longer and cost more than buying from a seller in your own country. In most cases, you'll also have to pay GST on your purchase. If you have any questions about postage, contact the seller before you go to checkout.

Either your seller or their international postage service will manage the customs forms.

Where to find the cost of international postage

You'll find the estimated cost of postage in the Postage and payments section of every eBay listing. You'll also see the postage service the seller offers and where the item will be sent from, as well as a list of countries the seller posts to.

The final postage cost will be confirmed at checkout, once you confirm your delivery address.

GST, customs and import charges

As a buyer, it's your responsibility to check which customs and import charges may apply to items being sent from overseas, and to pay them. Import charges are generally based on the item's price, weight, dimensions and country of origin, as well as any taxes, duties and fees added by your country.

For orders up to $1,000 being imported to Australia or New Zealand, any applicable GST will be added at checkout, once you've confirmed your delivery details. You'll see the charges and the final total before you pay for your order.

If your order is over $1,000 or if additional duties apply to your order, you may still have to pay customs duty or import taxes when your item arrives. Check the Australian Border Force - opens in new window or tab or New Zealand Customs Service - opens in new window or tab website for more specific details.

If your delivery address is in a different country, different taxes or other charges may apply. Your seller might be able to give you some information about import charges, but before you bid on or buy an item, it's a good idea to check with your country's customs office.

Buying from sellers using eBay International Shipping

If your seller is sending your item through eBay International Shipping, you'll pay for postage charges at checkout, as well as any GST or other applicable taxes that eBay is required to collect.

If any other customs charges, import fees or taxes apply to your purchase, you can choose to pay these either at checkout or when your item arrives. You'll see the following options at checkout:

Pay import charges now – select this option to pay all taxes and duties at checkout
Defer import charges until delivery – select this option to pay applicable taxes and duties when your item arrives

If you're buying more than one item from the same seller, the postage will automatically be combined at checkout if the items are eligible. If you choose to pay import charges at checkout for some items in your order and defer them until delivery for other items, your postage won't be combined. Combined postage is also not available for auction-style listings.

Once you've completed checkout, the seller will send your package to the shipping hub, and from there it's posted internationally to you. Tracking is automatically added so you can track your order from the hub to your door.

Items sent by eBay International Shipping can be returned up to 30 days from the delivery date. If you need to return an item, go to our Return an item for a refund page.

Tip
International purchases are covered by eBay Money Back Guarantee as long as all other eligibility requirements are met. Learn more about eBay Money Back Guarantee.

Buying from sellers using the Global Shipping Program

If your seller is sending the item through the Global Shipping Program, you'll see the GSP logo on the listing.

Benefits of the Global Shipping Program for buyers:

You'll pay all postage, taxes, and import charges (including processing charges and any applicable GST or other import charges) up front, and you won't have to pay any extra charges when your item is delivered
Tracking is always included so you can track your item right to your door
International deliveries made through GSP include customs clearance so you don't need to handle any extra paperwork

Once you've paid for your item, the seller sends it to the global shipping provider. From there, it's sent to you.

When you pay, your payment will be split into two transactions:

The first payment goes to the seller to cover the item price and any domestic postage costs to send the item to the global shipping provider
The second payment covers the international postage cost, processing charges and any import charges (including any applicable GST)

After you've completed payment, you'll be able to see both the total cost and the amounts paid to the seller and the global shipping provider on the Order details page.

Postage and delivery for buyers