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Shipping boxes to and from Pakistan

Pakistan charges customs duty and 18% sales tax on most courier boxes, so budget before you pack. Unsolicited gift parcels worth up to PKR 30,000 (about $108) pay no customs duty, and having the receiver's CNIC number ready keeps clearance moving. If you're moving home after two years or more abroad, ship your household goods as unaccompanied baggage to use the transfer of residence allowance.

Typical transit: 2-4 business days from the Gulf; 3-6 from the UK and Europe; 4-8 from North America and Australia
Currency: PKR
Duty-free up to: Post and courier imports worth PKR 1,000 (about $3.60) or less pay no duties or taxes
Receiver ID: CNIC (Computerized National Identity Card)

Price a shipment to Pakistan

From

Boxes

Weight each (lb)

Box size

Choose where it's from and where it's going.

What it costs to ship boxes from the US to Pakistan

1 medium box (16 × 16 × 16 in, 20 lb)$186.08delivered in 4 to 7 business days
5 medium boxes (30 lb each)$930.38 totalabout $186.08 a box

Includes pickup at your door, express delivery, fuel and prepared customs paperwork. Import duties and taxes, if any, are set by Pakistan and paid by the receiver. Prices updated November 2, 2026.

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Sending to Pakistan

Duties and taxes1 2 3 4 5 12

Duty-free threshold: Post and courier imports worth PKR 1,000 (about $3.60) or less pay no duties or taxes. Unsolicited gift parcels worth up to PKR 30,000 (about $108) per parcel pay no customs duty under tariff heading 9909, but sales tax may still be charged. Other boxes, including your own used belongings, are normally taxed.
Import tax: Sales tax at 18%, charged on the customs value plus customs duty. Customs duty in the 2026-27 tariff is mostly between 0% and 20%: for example 20% on garments and household articles, 5% on most printed books, and 0% on laptops. Some goods also pay regulatory or additional customs duty, and customs may collect withholding income tax of 1-5.5% at import (2-11% for people not on the Active Taxpayers List).
How value is worked out: CIF: the customs value is the price paid or payable, plus transport to the port or airport of arrival, loading and handling charges, and insurance. For used belongings with no sale price, declare a fair second-hand value. Foreign currency is converted at the exchange rate in force on the day before the relevant date; for low-value post and courier items, the official rate of the previous day. Customs can examine or hold goods to check the declared value. Amounts here use about PKR 277 per USD, the State Bank of Pakistan weighted average rate on September 25, 2026.
Who pays: Shipments are sent DAP. The receiver pays any duties and taxes before or on delivery. The courier may add a clearance or disbursement fee.
Moving there?: Pakistani nationals, including dual nationals and Pakistan Origin Card holders, returning after two years or more abroad can bring household goods generally used by a family, plus other items (not mobile phones) up to USD 1,500, free of duty and taxes. The goods must be shipped from the country where you lived, declared on the unaccompanied baggage form, and reach Pakistan within 60 days of your arrival. Shorter stays abroad get personal clothing, one laptop, and USD 400-1,200 of other items, on the first visit of the year. These allowances are claimed on a baggage declaration in the passenger's name, so ask the courier whether it can clear your boxes as unaccompanied baggage; otherwise they are taxed as ordinary imports.

Worked example

Illustrative: a courier box of used clothes, not a gift, with a customs (CIF) value of PKR 100,000 (about $360), including shipping and insurance. Assumes customs applies the 20% garment rate from the 2026-27 tariff (for example heading 6109.1000, cotton T-shirts) and that no regulatory or additional customs duty applies. Withholding income tax is left out because it depends on the goods and the receiver's tax status.

Customs duty: 20% x PKR 100,000 = PKR 20,000. Sales tax: 18% x (PKR 100,000 + PKR 20,000) = PKR 21,600. Total PKR 41,600.

About PKR 41,600 (about $150), plus any withholding income tax (1-5.5%, or 2-11% if the receiver isn't on the Active Taxpayers List) and courier fee. A genuine unsolicited gift worth PKR 30,000 or less would owe no customs duty.

How customs clearance works in Pakistan1 2

Express couriers present each shipment to Pakistan Customs electronically, and customs uses risk-based selection to decide which boxes to examine. Items worth PKR 1,000 (about $3.60) or less clear without a goods declaration or duty. Other boxes are assessed on a goods declaration; duties and taxes are paid through the courier, which bills the receiver, and for e-commerce parcels the receiver can also pay online with a payment ID.

Formal entry: The rules we checked set no separate value ceiling for courier clearance. Goods in commercial quantities, and anything that needs a permit (such as medicines, plants, or animal products), go through a full goods declaration, often with a licensed customs agent. Unaccompanied baggage is cleared on its own baggage declaration.
How long it takes: Often 1-3 business days after arrival when the CNIC and values are in order. Longer if customs examines the box, questions a value, or DRAP or a quarantine department must approve something first.
Inspections: Customs selects shipments for examination by risk and can examine or detain even low-value items to check the declared value. Baggage in commercial quantities pays full duty plus a redemption fine of 30% of the value. Counterfeit, obscene, or infringing goods are seized, and anything needing a DRAP or quarantine permit is held until it is approved.
If duties go unpaid: Under the Customs Act, goods should be declared within 20 days of arrival or penalties can apply. After notice, uncleared goods can be sold at auction, and they become liable to confiscation if no declaration is filed within 30 days of arrival. In practice the courier holds an unpaid box for a limited time, then returns it or abandons it to customs.

Moving to Pakistan: claiming duty relief1 9 10

01
Check which allowance fits
Transfer of residence is for Pakistani nationals, including dual nationals and Pakistan Origin Card holders, returning after two years or more abroad. Short visits home totaling up to two months (four with justification) can be excused if you haven't used the concession in the last two years. Shorter stays abroad get the regular baggage allowance instead.
02
Know what's duty-free
Household goods generally used by a family, plus other items (excluding mobile phones) up to USD 1,500. Registered professionals, such as doctors, can add used professional equipment with proof of registration abroad and an inspection certificate. Couples traveling together can combine their allowances.
03
Get your paperwork
Keep your passport and NICOP, and ask your nearest Pakistani mission about a transfer of residence certificate. The Los Angeles consulate, for example, asks for an application, passport and NICOP copies, two years' proof of income, and a notarized undertaking.
04
Ship from where you lived, on time
The goods must be shipped from the country where you lived and reach Pakistan within 60 days of your arrival. Customs can excuse up to 60 days' late arrival if the goods were booked within 15 days of your arrival.
05
Declare and clear
File the unaccompanied baggage declaration form with your passport and airway bill at the customs station. Anything over the allowance pays duty and taxes, and goods in commercial quantities also pay a 30% redemption fine.

Documents to have ready1 6 7 8 9 10

Receiver's CNIC number (or NICOP or passport details if the receiver has no CNIC)
Itemized packing list with a fair value for each item, marked as used personal effects or unsolicited gift
For unaccompanied baggage: passport, airway bill, and the baggage declaration form; for transfer of residence, proof of two or more years abroad, such as a transfer of residence certificate from a Pakistani mission
For medicines: DRAP import permission, the original prescription, and a copy of the patient's CNIC
For plants or animal products: import permits from the plant protection or animal quarantine departments (best left out of personal boxes)

CNIC (Computerized National Identity Card): Couriers ask for the receiver's CNIC number to clear a box with Pakistan Customs, and customs rules require it for courier e-commerce parcels. Overseas Pakistanis may be able to use a NICOP, and foreign nationals their passport, so tell the courier before you ship if the receiver has no CNIC. We ask for it during booking.

Onvoyo prepares the commercial invoice from your contents list. You print three copies, sign them, and send them with your boxes.

Official forms1 9

Baggage Declaration Form for Unaccompanied Baggage (Appendix-B, Baggage Rules, 2006) (opens in a new tab)
Declares unaccompanied baggage so customs can apply the passenger's allowances and assess any duty.
Customs Declaration Form for Passengers (Appendix-C, Baggage Rules, 2006) (opens in a new tab)
Travelers' declaration of restricted goods, gold and jewelry, foreign currency over USD 10,000 on arrival, and any foreign currency taken out.
Transfer of Residence Certificate application (Consulate General of Pakistan, Los Angeles) (opens in a new tab)
Mission certificate that supports a transfer of residence claim for Pakistanis moving back from the US, with the list of documents required.

What you can pack, category by category1 3 4 6 7 8

What you can pack, by category
Category	Status	What to know
Clothing and shoesMore on clothes	Allowed	Used clothes are fine. By courier, garments pay 20% customs duty plus 18% sales tax, unless the box is an unsolicited gift worth PKR 30,000 or less. Personal clothing in your own baggage is duty-free.
Books and papersMore on books	Allowed	Printed books pay 5% customs duty (0% for dictionaries and the Holy Quran) and no sales tax. Obscene or subversive material is banned.
ElectronicsMore on electronics	Conditions	Laptops pay no customs duty but 18% sales tax by courier. Mobile phones are excluded from all duty-free allowances and pay set duties and taxes. Batteries must be installed in the device.
MedicationMore on medicine	Conditions	Small personal quantities with DRAP permission, the original prescription, and a copy of the CNIC. Apply before you ship.
FoodMore on food	Conditions	Send only sealed, shelf-stable, commercially packed food and declare it. Fresh produce, meat, seeds, and other plant or animal products need quarantine permits.
Cosmetics and toiletriesMore on cosmetics	Conditions	Personal quantities are fine. No aerosols, nail polish, or perfume, which couriers treat as flammable.
Alcohol and tobaccoMore on alcohol or tobacco	Not allowed	Alcoholic drinks can't be imported as baggage and couriers refuse them. Leave out tobacco too.
Sports and outdoor gearMore on sports and outdoor gear	Conditions	Clean off soil and plant matter. No fuel canisters, flares, or weapons of any kind.
Children's items and toysMore on toys and baby gear	Allowed	Used toys are fine. Remove loose batteries, and leave out toy guns that look real.
Documents and photosMore on documents and photos	Allowed	Personal papers, certificates, and photos are fine and carry no duty.
Other	Conditions	Gold, jewelry, and precious stones must be declared by travelers and don't belong in courier boxes. Satellite phones are restricted, and antiques face export controls.

Quantity limits1 2 3 6 12

Quantity limits for Pakistan
Item	Limit
Low-value post and courier items	Worth PKR 1,000 (about $3.60) or less: no duties or taxes.
Unsolicited gift parcels	Up to PKR 30,000 (about $108) per parcel sent by post or courier: no customs duty. Sales tax may still apply.
Baggage for Pakistani nationals (travelers only)	Personal clothing, one laptop, and other items (excluding mobile phones) up to USD 400 after a stay abroad of up to 30 days, USD 800 after 30-60 days, or USD 1,200 after more than 60 days. First visit of the year only. Does not apply to courier shipments.
Transfer of residence	After two years or more abroad: household goods generally used by a family plus other items up to USD 1,500, excluding mobile phones. Unaccompanied baggage must reach Pakistan within 60 days of your arrival.
Foreign nationals (travelers only)	Personal clothing plus other items up to USD 800, excluding mobile phones.
Cash (travelers)	Declare foreign currency over USD 10,000 on arrival. Leaving, adults may take up to USD 5,000 per visit and USD 30,000 per year (USD 1,000 per visit to Afghanistan). Couriers won't carry cash.
Medicines	Small quantities for personal use, with DRAP permission and a prescription.

What you can't send to Pakistan1 2 5 6 7 8

Not allowed

Aerosols, spray cans, and compressed gas cylinders
Flammable liquids and solids: fuel, lighter fluid, paint, nail polish, matches
Loose or spare lithium batteries and power banks not installed in a device
Cash, gift cards, checks, and other negotiable items
Firearms, ammunition, replicas, and weapon parts
Perishable food, and meat, dairy, or fresh produce
Cannabis, CBD, and THC products, even where they are legal at origin
Counterfeit currency and counterfeit products
Obscene books, images, films, and recordings, and subversive literature
Goods with fake trademarks or that infringe copyright, patents, or designs
Alcoholic beverages
Narcotics

Allowed with conditions

Mobile phones: Excluded from every baggage duty-free allowance. They pay set duties and taxes on import, and a phone may need registering before it works on Pakistani networks.
Medicines: Small personal quantities only, with import permission from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). Apply with a simple application, a copy of the patient's CNIC, and the original prescription.
Plants, seeds, and plant products: Need an import permit from the Department of Plant Protection and a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin, applied for through Pakistan Single Window.
Animals and animal products: Need an import permit and release order from the Animal Quarantine Department, processed through Pakistan Single Window.
Gold, jewelry, and precious stones: Travelers must declare them on arrival. Don't send them in courier boxes.
Satellite phones: Listed with arms and narcotics as prohibited or restricted goods on the customs declaration. Don't ship one without prior approval.
Goods in commercial quantities: Baggage allowances don't apply. They pay duty and taxes at full rates, and baggage in commercial quantities also pays a redemption fine of 30% of the value.
Goods from certain countries: Pakistan's import policy restricts goods from some countries. If you're sending from Israel or India, check with the courier first, as service may not be available.

Sending from Pakistan

Shipping boxes out of Pakistan1 2 11

Sending your own things out of Pakistan by express courier is routine, and it's how many students ship clothes and books to their new university. Personal baggage and household goods may leave freely unless a law restricts them, and the courier handles the export paperwork. The destination country decides what the receiver pays.

Documents

Itemized packing list with fair values, marked as used personal effects or gift
Sender's CNIC or passport; the courier will usually ask for it
An export license from the Director General of Archaeology for any antiquity

Can't leave the country

Antiquities, meaning objects of historical or cultural interest at least 75 years old, need an export license from the Director General of Archaeology, granted only for purposes such as exhibitions or exchanges
Counterfeit currency and goods, obscene material, and goods that infringe trademarks or copyright can't be taken out of Pakistan
Goods restricted under the Customs Act or the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, 1950 need the relevant permit before they leave
Foreign currency limits for travelers: adults up to USD 5,000 per visit and USD 30,000 per year, under-18s USD 2,500 per visit, and USD 1,000 per visit to Afghanistan. Couriers won't carry cash

Before pickup

Check the destination's customs and biosecurity rules before packing food, spices, seeds, or medicines.
Sending medicines abroad? Check with DRAP whether you need a no-objection certificate.
Buying crafts, carpets, or old-looking pieces to send? Keep receipts that show they are modern, so they aren't mistaken for antiquities.
Carrying a laptop or camera abroad and bringing it back? Ask customs at departure to endorse it on your passport or issue an export certificate so it re-enters duty-free.

Addresses, delivery and timing

Writing the address

Write the house number, street, and block or sector, then the area, city, and five-digit postal code, then the province. Add a nearby landmark if the street is hard to find, and always give the receiver's mobile number: couriers call before delivering.

Ayesha ExampleHouse 24, Street 5, Block CModel TownLahore 54700PunjabPakistan

Example only; not a real address.

Delivery coverage

Fastest to: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Hyderabad, Quetta.

Remote areas: Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the northern valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and much of interior Balochistan can add several days and surcharges. Mountain roads can close in winter snow or during monsoon flooding.

International express shipments usually clear at Karachi, Lahore, or Islamabad, then travel on the courier's domestic network. Give the receiver's mobile number so the courier can arrange payment and delivery.

When things slow down

Expect slower service around Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha, which move about 11 days earlier each year, and shorter office hours during Ramadan. Public holidays such as Pakistan Day (March 23), Independence Day (August 14), and Quaid-e-Azam Day (December 25) also slow clearance. The July-September monsoon can delay road deliveries, winter fog can disrupt flights in Punjab, and August-September and January are busy with students heading abroad.

Advice for your situation

Students

Leaving for the UK, US, Canada, or Australia? Couriers can send your clothes, books, and bedding from Pakistan: list every item with a fair value, and check the destination's rules on food, spices, and medicines before packing. Carry your laptop, phone, and papers with you, and if you plan to bring valuables back, ask customs at departure for a passport endorsement or export certificate so they return duty-free. Coming home after less than two years away, you get personal clothing, one laptop, and up to USD 1,200 of other items duty-free (after more than 60 days abroad) on your first trip of the year, with mobile phones excluded. After two years or more, which is typical for a bachelor's degree, you can claim transfer of residence: used household goods plus USD 1,500 of other items, shipped as unaccompanied baggage that arrives within 60 days of you.

Returning home

Pakistanis back for good after two years or more abroad, including dual nationals and Pakistan Origin Card holders, can bring household goods generally used by a family plus up to USD 1,500 of other items (not mobile phones) free of duty and taxes. Couples traveling together can combine allowances. Ship from the country where you lived, declare the goods on the unaccompanied baggage form, and make sure they reach Pakistan within 60 days of your arrival. Many Pakistani missions issue a transfer of residence certificate; have your passport, NICOP, and proof of time abroad ready. The personal and household goods of a Pakistani who dies abroad are exempt from duty and taxes when the next of kin imports them.

Expats and relocations

Foreign nationals may bring personal clothing plus up to USD 800 of other items (excluding mobile phones) duty-free as baggage. The Baggage Rules also count foreigners moving to Pakistan for two years or more as transferring residence, so ask customs how your household goods will be treated before you ship. Visitors can bring professional tools, computers, and cameras temporarily against a passport endorsement or bank guarantee, for re-export within 30 days.

Tips for a smooth delivery

Get the receiver's CNIC number before you book. Couriers need it to clear the box.
Sending a present? Mark it as an unsolicited gift with an honest value. Up to PKR 30,000 per parcel, it pays no customs duty.
Moving home after two years or more abroad? Ship household goods as unaccompanied baggage from the country you lived in, and make sure they land within 60 days of you.
Keep mobile phones, alcohol, fresh food, plants, and seeds out of your boxes.
Sending medicine? Get DRAP permission first, with the original prescription and a copy of the CNIC.

Shipping to and from Pakistan: questions

Is there a duty-free limit for parcels to Pakistan?

Only a very small one. Post and courier items worth PKR 1,000 (about $3.60) or less pay nothing. Unsolicited gift parcels worth up to PKR 30,000 (about $108) pay no customs duty, but sales tax may still be charged. Most other boxes pay duty and 18% sales tax.

How much will the receiver pay on a box sent to Pakistan?

Customs duty on the CIF value (mostly 0-20%, for example 20% on clothes), then 18% sales tax on the value plus duty. Some goods add regulatory or additional customs duty, and customs may collect withholding income tax of 1-5.5% (2-11% for people not on the Active Taxpayers List).

Does the receiver need a CNIC?

Usually, yes. Couriers ask for the receiver's CNIC number to clear the box, and customs rules require it for e-commerce parcels. If the receiver doesn't have one, check with the courier before you ship.

Can I ship my belongings home duty-free when I move back to Pakistan?

Yes, if you've lived abroad for two years or more. Transfer of residence covers household goods generally used by a family plus up to USD 1,500 of other items, excluding mobile phones. Ship the goods as unaccompanied baggage from the country where you lived so they arrive within 60 days of you, and declare them on the baggage declaration form.

Can I send medicine to Pakistan?

Small quantities for personal use are allowed with permission from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). Apply with the original prescription and a copy of the patient's CNIC before shipping.

Can I send a mobile phone to Pakistan?

Yes, but it won't be duty-free. Mobile phones are excluded from every baggage allowance and pay set duties and taxes, and a phone may need registering before it works on Pakistani networks.

How do I ship boxes from Pakistan to the UK, US, Canada, or Australia?

Book an express courier, list every item with a fair value, and have your CNIC or passport ready. The receiving country decides duties and its own food and medicine rules, so check them before you pack.

What can't I send out of Pakistan?

Antiquities (objects of historical or cultural interest at least 75 years old) need an export license that is granted only for purposes such as exhibitions. Counterfeit or obscene goods can't leave, and couriers won't carry cash, aerosols, flammables, loose batteries, or weapons.

Official help in Pakistan

Federal Board of Revenue Helpline (opens in a new tab)
Phone 051 111 772 772 (from abroad +92 51 111 772 772), 8:00 am to 11:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Email helpline@fbr.gov.pk.
Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) (opens in a new tab)
Import permission for personal-use medicines is handled by DRAP offices in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta.

Official sources

Every section above is checked against these official pages. Rules change, and customs in Pakistan makes the final decision on every shipment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

1.
Federal Board of Revenue (Pakistan Customs)
Customs Rules, 2001 (S.R.O.450(I)/2001), including the Baggage Rules, 2006 (S.R.O.666(I)/2006), updated August 31, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
2.
Federal Board of Revenue, via The Pakistan Code (Ministry of Law and Justice)
The Customs Act, 1969 (IV of 1969), as amended up to 30th June, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Legislation · checked September 26, 2026
3.
Federal Board of Revenue (Pakistan Customs)
Pakistan Customs Tariff FY 2026-27 (opens in a new tab)
Customs · checked September 26, 2026
4.
Federal Board of Revenue
The Sales Tax Act, 1990, as amended up to 30th June, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Tax authority · checked September 26, 2026
5.
Federal Board of Revenue
Withholding Income Tax Rate Card, updated up to June 30, 2026 as per Finance Act, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Tax authority · checked September 26, 2026
6.
Press Information Department, Government of Pakistan
PR No. 184 DRAP allows patients to import medicines for personal use (opens in a new tab)
Government · checked September 26, 2026
7.
Pakistan Single Window
Department of Plant Protection (opens in a new tab)
Government · checked September 26, 2026
8.
Pakistan Single Window
Animal Quarantine Department (opens in a new tab)
Government · checked September 26, 2026
9.
Consulate General of Pakistan, Los Angeles
Transfer of Residence/Importing of Vehicle (opens in a new tab)
Embassy · checked September 26, 2026
10.
Embassy of Pakistan, Ankara (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
NADRA Services (opens in a new tab)
Embassy · checked September 26, 2026
11.
Department of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Pakistan
Antiquities Act 1975 (As amended in 1992) (opens in a new tab)
Legislation · checked September 26, 2026
12.
State Bank of Pakistan
State Bank of Pakistan (opens in a new tab)
Government · checked September 26, 2026

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