INITIALIZING TRANSIT SYSTEMS...
What you can and can't ship internationally from Bharat. Compiled from the policies of our courier partners — FedEx, UPS, DHL, Aramex and DTDC. Rules vary by lane, service and account, so confirm the specifics with the carrier before you book.
Prohibited items can never be shipped. Restricted items may ship only with approval, a contract, licensing or extra documentation.
Type an item to see if it's prohibited or restricted before you book.
Banned by every major carrier, under any circumstances.
Illegal drugs & narcotics
Cocaine, cannabis/marijuana products, opium, LSD and other controlled substances.
Live animals & animal remains
Including insects, reptiles and non-food animal carcasses. (Properly packaged meat/poultry for consumption may be allowed.)
Human remains
Bodies, cremated remains (ashes), body parts or embryos.
Explosives & explosive-like items
Fireworks, blasting caps and anything merely resembling a bomb or grenade — even novelty or inert versions.
Firearms, ammunition & weapon parts
Includes 3D-printed guns/parts, “ghost guns,” bump stocks, silencers and often even replica or toy weapons.
Currency & monetary instruments
Cash, banknotes, coins, bullion, traveller’s cheques and often blank/prepaid payment cards.
Counterfeit goods
Fake branded products — clothing, electronics, watches and the like.
Hazardous & medical waste
Used syringes/needles, medical waste and radioactive material.
Ivory & protected wildlife products
Items covered under CITES — ivory, shark fin, hunting trophies without permits.
Obscene or offensive material
Pornography and hate material.
Postage stamps (unused/unfranked)
Collectible or resale postage stamps that have not already been franked/used.
Lottery tickets & gambling devices
Lottery tickets and unlicensed gambling devices.
May be shippable — but only with approval, permits, correct packaging/labeling, or a carrier contract.
Alcohol, tobacco & vaping products
Alcohol, tobacco and e-cigarettes/vapes — highly carrier- and country-specific.
Lithium batteries & power banks
Standalone batteries are frequently restricted; batteries packed with the device are usually allowed with correct labeling.
Dangerous goods (IATA-classified)
Aerosols, perfumes, paints, flammable liquids, dry ice, corrosives, oxidizers and compressed gases.
High-value jewelry, precious metals & gemstones
Many carriers cap uninsured/unapproved value (e.g., watches over ~$500 or shipments over set thresholds).
Fine art, antiques & collectibles
Often capped around specific value thresholds, which vary widely by carrier and lane.
Electronics (phones, laptops)
Some carriers limit the quantity of phones/laptops per shipment or restrict used/older devices on certain routes.
SIM, gift & prepaid cards; event tickets
Treated as “financial instruments” above certain values.
Biological substances & specimens
Category B biological material and diagnostic/medical specimens.
Seeds, plants & perishable food
Seeds, live plants and perishable foodstuffs.
Knives & sharp instruments
Especially switchblades; often restricted for international shipment generally.
Drones, GPS & surveillance gear
Drones, GPS trackers and night-vision/surveillance equipment — flagged by several carriers (notably Aramex) on some routes.
Government-issued documents
Passports, green cards, work permits or driver’s licenses sent on behalf of third parties.
CBD / hemp products
Restricted or prohibited depending on THC content and destination law.
Extra considerations that apply to shipments originating in Bharat.
Bharat postal articles
Items that would infringe the Indian Post Office Act cannot be couriered.
Agricultural commodities
Edible oils, de-oiled groundnut cakes, fodder and rice bran are specifically called out as restricted.
Meal passes & gift vouchers
Sodexo/meal passes and gift vouchers.
Machinery with oil, fuel or batteries
Machinery parts containing oil, grease, fuel or batteries — residual fluid triggers hazmat handling.
Large appliances (packers & movers)
TVs, computers, printers, white goods and gaming consoles on certain domestic (packers & movers) services.
Declared-value (COD) caps
DTDC’s own services cap declared shipment value (roughly ₹25,000–₹50,000) unless additional insurance is arranged.
Country rules stack on carrier rules
An item a carrier allows globally can still be banned by a specific destination’s customs (or the reverse). Always check the lane.
Value thresholds change everything
Many restricted categories — art, jewelry, electronics, financial instruments — become prohibited above a declared value unless arranged in advance.
Never mis-declare contents
Wrong descriptions or values can mean account suspension, fines, seizure, or loss of insurance cover on any carrier.
These lists change periodically and vary by country. For the most current, lane-specific rules, always refer to the carrier's own policy.
International prohibited items, with per-country restrictions on the same page.
General prohibited list plus a lane-specific Country/Territory Regulations tool.
Prohibited & restricted commodities, plus per-country Global Import Guidelines.
Unacceptable items for carriage, a prohibited-items PDF, and country customs lookup.
Bharat restricted & banned items, international prohibited goods, and value-cap terms.
Last reviewed: July 2026.
Our team checks every package before dispatch. Tell us what you're sending and we'll confirm what's allowed on your route.