Selling Globally from India
A complete overview: compliance foundation, operational pieces, market-specific rules, and a path to scaling.
Selling globally from an Indian base is more accessible today than it's ever been, largely because courier-mode export (simplified shipping bills, bundled customs clearance, standard KYC) removed most of the operational complexity that used to require a dedicated export department. This guide pulls together the full picture for a business considering it.
The foundation: compliance, once
- IEC from DGFT — the mandatory registration for any commercial export. See IEC Code.
- GST/LUT setup for export sales.
- Courier KYC completed with a partner that supports commercial international shipping. See KYC Requirements.
This is genuinely a one-time setup — once complete, shipping internationally becomes an operational process, not a compliance project, for every subsequent order.
The operational pieces
- Documentation per order: commercial invoice + CSB-V shipping bill. See Export Documents.
- Accurate cost estimation: understanding chargeable weight, courier surcharges, and destination-country duty before you price a product for international sale. See International Courier Charges and Duties and Taxes.
- Choosing the right courier: reliable coverage in your target markets and clear duty-handling options (DDP vs DDU). See How to Choose an International Courier.
Market-specific considerations
Rules differ by destination country and by product category — always check both before expanding into a new market. The US, currently the largest single destination for Indian sellers, has a materially different customs landscape since 2025 than it did before: the $800 duty-free de-minimis exemption is gone for every country, meaning every US order now carries a duty assessment. See the full Shipping by Country: USA hub before scaling US sales specifically.
If you sell a specific product category — jewellery, clothing, electronics — check the relevant Shipping by Product hub, since customs and documentation requirements are often driven more by product type than destination.
A realistic path to scaling
- Start with the one-time compliance setup (IEC, GST/LUT, courier KYC)
- Ship a small number of orders manually to learn the documentation flow and real costs for your specific products
- Build accurate international shipping costs (freight + likely duty) into your product pricing
- Automate invoice and shipping-bill generation once volume justifies it
- Expand market-by-market, checking destination-specific rules each time, rather than assuming one country's rules apply everywhere
Where to go next
Check Check Shipping Rates to see live courier options for your actual products and target markets before committing to a specific pricing or courier strategy.
Ready to ship internationally?
Check available shipping options and estimated rates.