How to Send a Parcel from Ludhiana to Canada or the USA

Plenty of Ludhiana families send parcels to relatives in Brampton, Surrey or California, and exporters here ship samples to buyers across North America every week. The process is straightforward once you know what customs wants. Here's how it works from our counter.

Choosing the carrier

We book across FedEx, DHL, UPS and Aramex, and they don't all behave the same on every route.

• FedEx and UPS have strong, direct networks into the USA and Canada and are usually the steadiest choice for those two countries.
• DHL is often sharp on speed and document handling, and strong for Europe and the Middle East if your parcel routes that way.
• Aramex can work out economical on certain lanes and lighter parcels.

For Canada and the USA specifically, FedEx and UPS are typically the front-runners, but the best pick on the day depends on your destination city, weight and how fast you need it. We compare live rates across all four before booking.

Packing and weight

• Use a sturdy double-wall carton; reused thin boxes get crushed in international transit.
• Cushion the contents so nothing shifts - customs may open and repack the box.
• Tape all seams; don't tie with string.
• Carriers price on actual or volumetric weight, whichever is higher: (L x W x H in cm) / 5000. A big light box costs more than people expect, so pack compactly.
• Individual parcel weight limits and oversize surcharges vary by carrier - check with us if your box is large or over about 30 kg.

The customs invoice and KYC documents

This is where most delays happen, so get it right. For a parcel to Canada or the USA you'll generally need:

• A commercial or proforma invoice listing each item, quantity, material, the correct HSN code and a truthful declared value. Even for gifts and personal items, customs needs a value.
• KYC of the sender - PAN card and Aadhaar (or passport) are the usual identity and address proof.
• GSTIN if you're a business shipping commercially, plus an IEC (Import Export Code) for commercial exports.
• Receiver's full details - name, complete address, postal/ZIP code and a working phone number. A wrong ZIP causes a return or a held parcel.

Declare honestly. Under-declaring value to save on duty tends to trigger inspection and delay rather than savings, and the receiver still pays duty and taxes per the destination's rules (often handled on delivery).

Prohibited and restricted items

Some things simply can't go, or need special handling. Commonly restricted or prohibited in international courier:

• Currency, gold and jewellery
• Lithium batteries loose or in bulk, and most power banks (strict air-safety rules)
• Flammables, aerosols, perfumes and many liquids
• Perishable food; many countries restrict spices, seeds, dairy and meat products
• Medicines without proper documentation
• Anything counterfeit or branded without authorisation

If you're unsure about an item - homemade food, a gadget with a battery, supplements - ask before you pack. It saves a rejected booking.

Indicative transit and cost

To set rough expectations:

• Transit time: express international parcels to the USA and Canada commonly clear in around 3-7 working days, subject to customs at the other end.
• Cost: international rates are billed per kg with fuel surcharge and GST on top, and they vary a lot by weight, box size and city. A small parcel and a 10 kg box are in very different brackets.

These are indicative only. For an exact figure we need the real weight, the three box dimensions and the destination city - then we quote the cheapest carrier for that route.

Tracking

Every international booking comes with a tracking number (AWB). You can follow it on the carrier's site - FedEx, DHL, UPS or Aramex - from pickup through customs clearance to delivery. If a parcel sits at customs, it usually means a document or duty query; bring us the tracking number and we'll help chase it.

When you're ready, bring the packed (or unpacked) parcel, the receiver's full address and your KYC to our Transport Nagar counter, or message us first. Call or WhatsApp Soni World Express on 8288952100 or 8288952200 and we'll quote the best carrier to Canada or the USA and walk you through the paperwork.