To accept orders from overseas on Shopify, a store needs more than an enabled sales destination. It also needs a delivery method that can actually reach that address, a shipping rate, and customs information. Availability and conditions vary by country or region and by parcel contents and size. Choose the destination first and check current conditions instead of relying on old rate tables or service names.
Start by separating domestic and international shipping: Click Post is for Japan and cannot send parcels to overseas addresses. Choose another international postal or courier service for overseas orders.
Click Post is a domestic shipping service
Click Post is a Japan Post service for domestic shipments. It cannot be used for international destinations, so configure overseas delivery methods, rates, and conditions separately when setting up international sales on Shopify.
For domestic Click Post exports and tracking-number registration, see the guide to shipping Shopify orders with Click Post. Keep domestic shipping settings separate from the conditions for international destinations.
Choose a service for the destination and parcel
Japan Post offers services such as EMS, International Air Packet, small packets, and international parcels. Availability, tracking and compensation, rates, and delivery estimates depend on the destination and parcel. The table is a starting point for choosing; it does not guarantee availability or compare current prices.
| Option | When to consider it | What to check before applying |
|---|---|---|
| EMS | When speed matters | Acceptance for the destination, size and weight, rate, and compensation terms |
| International Air Packet | Small packets sent by air when tracking is wanted | Destination, size and weight, delivery method, rates, and estimates |
| Small packet | Small, lightweight items | Available mailing method, tracking, size, and weight |
| International parcel | Parcels outside small-packet conditions | Air or surface options for the destination, size and weight, and rates |
Japan Post ended “International ePacket” on September 30, 2023, as described in its notice. “International ePacket Light” was renamed “International Air Packet” on June 1, 2026. Do not treat old names, rates, or delivery estimates in older articles and comparison charts as current.
To narrow down options, check the Japan Post service comparison, then use the rate and delivery-time search and country- and region-specific conditions. Rates vary with the destination and packed weight and dimensions, so check using the parcel you intend to ship before setting a fixed rate.
Check a specific order before offering it
Suppose a customer orders one resin keycap to Canada. This is a hypothetical workflow, not a claim that a service accepts this item to Canada or a statement of its rate. It shows the checks to make after choosing a destination and product.
- Measure the packed parcel and check Japan Post’s country information for services available to Canada. If there is a candidate, look up rates and estimates; if none fits, reconsider which countries the store sells to.
- Check Japan Post’s prohibited-items list and Canada-specific conditions for restrictions on the resin keycap or its packaging. Consider components and accessories, not just the product name.
- After confirming an available service, enter the actual description, quantity 1, packed weight, and actual value in the item details on Japan Post’s International Mail My Page—for example, “resin keycap.” Do not copy an example description without checking the parcel.
- In Shopify, configure an active market that includes Canada, a shipping zone, and a rate. Test checkout with a Canadian address and confirm that the intended method and rate appear before beginning sales.
This separates two questions before you enable the market: whether the parcel can actually be sent and whether checkout displays a shipping rate.
Check customs details and restrictions before shipping
Describe the contents accurately
A customs declaration is required when sending goods by international mail. When creating a label in Japan Post’s International Mail My Page, enter each item’s name, quantity, weight, and value accurately. Japan Post asks senders to use specific descriptions in English or French. Avoid vague wording such as “goods”; name the actual item.
Electronic customs data about the sender, recipient, and contents must be sent for international mail containing goods. Follow Japan Post’s current label-creation process rather than relying on handwriting alone. Some destinations may require additional documents or HS-code details, so also check the country-specific conditions.
Check both the product and the destination
International mail has items that cannot be sent anywhere and items that are restricted only by a destination country or region. Products containing lithium batteries, for example, may be handled differently depending on the conditions; do not decide based on the item name alone.
Before each shipment, check Japan Post’s prohibited items for international mail and the destination-specific conditions. Even when the product itself can be sent, the service, packaging, or quantity may be restricted.
Align Shopify sales markets and delivery conditions
Enabling a country as a Shopify sales destination and configuring its shipping rate are separate checks. Shopify says that a country or region can be added to a shipping zone only if it is included in an active market. Enable the market that includes the destination, set that region and rate in the shipping profile, and verify the rate at checkout.
See Shopify’s guidance on shipping zones and markets and test checkout for the destination country. If you use a flat rate, compare it with the actual shipping cost for the parcel’s expected weight and dimensions to avoid undercharging or overcharging.
Duties and import taxes may be collected at checkout or requested on delivery, depending on destination rules and shipping terms. Checkout collection in Shopify has requirements for the store and shipping method. Do not assume the customer or merchant always pays; check Shopify’s duties and import taxes guidance and your shipping contract, then explain the arrangement to customers.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can I use Click Post to ship internationally?
No. Click Post is for domestic Japan shipments. Choose an international service that fits the destination and parcel.
Q. Can I still use the “International ePacket” I saw in an older guide?
Japan Post ended International ePacket on September 30, 2023. International ePacket Light was renamed International Air Packet on June 1, 2026. Check Japan Post’s current comparison and destination-specific information for available services and conditions.
Q. Does the customer pay duties and import taxes?
There is no single rule. Charges may be collected at checkout or requested on delivery, depending on store settings and shipping terms. Confirm who pays and when before selling, then explain it to customers.
Summary
Before starting international shipping on Shopify, check destination-specific acceptance, rates and delivery estimates, and restrictions for the product. Prepare accurate customs information, align Shopify markets and shipping zones and rates, then test checkout for the destination.
International shipping conditions can change. Check official information for the destination and parcel each time instead of relying on old rates or service names.
Japan Post and Shopify information in this article was checked on 2026-10-14. Rates, mailing conditions, and service names can change, so check the latest official links before shipping.
