As an expat in China, you may always need to mail some packages abroad. Having a parcel sent can actually be a fairly easy process – provided you follow the basic rules about what can, and can’t, be mailed.
As an expat in China, you may always need to mail some packages abroad. Having a parcel sent can actually be a fairly easy process – provided you follow the basic rules about what can, and can’t, be mailed.
Penalties for mailing prohibited items abroad vary but can include a “seizure and forfeiture of assets, criminal fines, imprisonment, and civil penalties.”
So if you’re tempted to send something from China to other countries, check out this list of some popular items that cannot be mailed abroad.
Currency
Yes, it’s fun to have a lot of RMB bills to pretend you’re rich. But don’t even think about sending home a bill or two for your family scrapbook – mailing Chinese currency is strictly prohibited. And counterfeit currency? Well, I hope you enjoy Chinese prison…
Live Animals
It’s forbidden to ship any animal (your fluffy pet for example) that hasn’t been quarantined via China’s guidelines and given the appropriate shots or vaccinations back home via China Post.
Fun fact: This rule applies to all animals except leeches, bees, and silkworms. So, if the mood strikes you, go ahead and send that package full of leeches to your buddy back home – great souvenir!
DVDs
It’s a statistical fact that expats accumulate approximately 547 ½ DVD’s for each year they live in China. It’s also a fact that if you get caught trying to mail DVD’s abroad, you will never see those discs again, ever. So host a DVD swap with your friends or have a bonfire – just don’t send your DVD’s by post.
Meat & Animal Products
You’d better keep in mind that not only meat but also all animal products – including any sort of fur can’t not be mailed. Although you may love fabulous bobcat/chinchilla/panda coat you just bought, just be sure to wear it (and declare it at customs!), not mail it, over the border.
Perfume/ Hairspray
Due to dramatic and frequent changes in temperature and air pressure during the actual shipping process, sorts of items in an aerosol spray can or pressurized bottle can easily burst, potentially harming package handlers and recipients.
Nail Polish
Nail polish is considered a “combustible product” by the post office because of its finicky nature around extreme temperatures. But if you really want to take them home, you’ll have to carry it across the international border yourself.
Alcoholic Beverages
Besides the high possibility of the containers breaking in transit (either due to a fluctuation in temperatures or careless handling), alcohol is just one of those things governments don’t like being exchanged via post.
Hazardous Materials
I’m sincerely hoping that most people know they can’t mail grenades under any circumstances – either domestically or internationally. But I’d like to remind everyone that this also applies to that favorite Chinese invention, the one that expats love and fear all at the same time – that’s right, fireworks.
While China has some of the best, unfortunately you can’t share them with your friends back home.
Tobacco &Tobacco Products
Tobacco is considered a plant (another no-no for mailing abroad) and laws/taxes vary so wildly from country to country that governments want to keep tight control. And this rule also applies to cigars, roll-your-own cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco.
Counterfeit Items
The good news is that it’s perfectly legal to carry them out of the country yourself – provided they’re “intended for personal use and imported in reasonable quantities” (ie: you don’t have a suitcase full of “Prada” bags).
But mailing fake watches, bags, sunglasses, etc through the post can be a risky operation.
So when mailing packages, be careful and figure out whether they are prohibited or not!
