We are a small studio in the United States, and we send art to customers in other countries. Ordering across a border is straightforward, with two differences from a domestic order. It takes longer, and your own country may charge tax or duty on the parcel when it arrives. This post explains both, so that there are no surprises.
This is general information. Rules differ between countries and change over time, so check with your own customs authority for the details that apply to you.
How long an international order takes
- Production: 2 to 7 business days. Every item is made after you order it.
- Delivery: 10 to 30 business days after dispatch, depending on the destination and on local customs.
Business days are Monday to Friday and don't include public holidays, in the United States or in your country. A parcel can sit in customs for some days without the tracking changing. That is normal.
For gifts, order early. For delivery before 25 December 2026, we recommend ordering international gifts by 30 October. See holiday order deadlines and how long a made-to-order piece takes to arrive.
What you pay us, and what you may pay your own country
At checkout you pay the price of the items and the shipping, which is calculated for your address.
Customs fees, duties and taxes, including VAT, are charged by the destination country and are the customer's responsibility. They are separate from what you pay us. We don't set them, collect them or receive them, and we can't tell you in advance exactly what they will be.
The full terms are in our shipping policy.
The terms, in plain language
Customs
The authority that checks goods coming into a country. Every international parcel passes through it. Most go through without anyone opening them.
Duty
A tax on imported goods. The rate depends on what the item is and where it was made. Each kind of product has a tariff code, and each code has a rate. Framed pictures, printed textiles and clothing are classed differently, so the duty on a canvas may not be the same as the duty on a t-shirt.
VAT or GST
Value added tax, or goods and services tax. It is a sales tax charged in many countries, including the United Kingdom, the countries of the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It is normally charged on imports as it would be on something bought in a local shop. It is usually worked out on the value of the goods, and often on the shipping cost as well.
Handling or clearance fee
A charge made by the carrier or the post office for dealing with customs on your behalf. It is often a fixed amount, and it can be noticeable on a small order.
Threshold, or de minimis
Many countries don't charge duty on parcels below a certain value. The threshold varies widely. Some countries charge VAT on everything, however small, while still waiving duty on low-value parcels. Thresholds have been changing in recent years, so look up the current figure for your country.
How the charges are collected
If your country decides that tax or duty is due, the carrier or postal service will contact you, by text, email, letter or a card through the door. You pay them, online or at collection, and the parcel is released. Sometimes the driver collects payment at the door.
Be careful with messages asking for customs payments. Fake delivery texts are a common scam. If you are unsure, don't follow the link in the message. Go to the carrier's own website and enter your tracking number there.
How to estimate the cost before you order
- Search for your country's import duty calculator. Many customs authorities have one, and so do the large carriers.
- Work out VAT. Multiply the value of the goods plus shipping by your country's standard VAT or GST rate. That gives a rough figure.
- Check the threshold. A small order may fall below it.
- Allow for a handling fee.
We can't calculate this for you, because the rules and rates belong to your country. As a rough guide, in a country that charges VAT on imports, expect to pay about the VAT rate on top of your order, plus any handling fee.
If the charges aren't paid
A parcel that is refused, or not collected, is usually sent back or destroyed by the carrier. Because each item is made for the order, it can't be put back into stock. Please check the likely charges before you order, and pay them promptly when asked, so that the parcel isn't returned. Our refund policy has the details on what can and can't be refunded.
Your address
Most problems with international parcels come from the address.
- Write it in the format your own post office uses, in Latin characters.
- Include the postal code, the province or region, and the country.
- Include a phone number. Carriers and customs use it to reach you.
- Use an address where someone can receive a parcel or where it can be left safely.
- Check it twice. An address can't be changed once the order has shipped.
Tracking
You receive a tracking number by email when each item ships. International tracking often goes quiet for a while, when the parcel is in the air or waiting for customs. It may pass from one carrier to another at the border, and you may need to use the local carrier's website for the last part of the journey.
Items of different types are made in different places and ship separately. One order may arrive as two or three parcels, days apart, and each may be assessed by customs on its own. See print on demand explained.
Sizes outside the United States
Our sizes are in inches. See inches to centimetres: a wall art size chart, which also covers how our poster sizes compare with A sizes and metric frames. A canvas or a framed poster arrives ready to hang, so the question of finding a frame to fit doesn't arise.
If something arrives damaged
The same policy applies wherever you live. Contact us within 30 days of delivery with your order number and photographs of the item and the packaging. We will arrange a replacement or a refund. Damaged or defective items do need to be returned, and we pay the return shipping. Wait for our instructions before sending anything back. See what happens if my order arrives damaged and the inspection checklist.
As with all our orders, we don't offer exchanges, but you can return an item within 30 days of delivery for a refund (you pay the return shipping, which costs more from abroad).
Sending a gift to another country
- The person who receives the parcel is the one customs will ask for payment. Warn them, or a present may arrive with a bill.
- Marking something as a gift doesn't exempt it. Most countries have a separate, low allowance for gifts between private individuals, which doesn't usually apply to an order placed with a shop.
- Order well ahead.
Common questions
Will I definitely be charged? Not always. It depends on your country's rules and the value of the parcel.
Can you mark the parcel at a lower value? No. Customs declarations have to be accurate.
Can I pay duties at checkout? Duties and taxes are collected by the destination country on arrival. They aren't part of your payment to us.
My tracking hasn't moved for a week. That is common while a parcel is in transit between countries or in customs. If it goes beyond the 30 business days, contact us.
The short version
- Allow 2 to 7 business days for production and 10 to 30 for delivery.
- Your country may charge duty, VAT and a handling fee. These are yours to pay, to the carrier, on arrival.
- Look up your country's rates and threshold before you order.
- Check your address and include a phone number.
More answers are on our FAQ page.