Shipping & customs
What you will be charged when a piece crosses a border, country by country — and what we do at our end so none of it arrives as a surprise.
Customs, country by country
A bridal order sits well above every country's duty-free limit, so the question is not whether there is a charge but how much. The rules differ more than people expect — the same parcel is treated quite differently in Toronto and in London. Below is where things stood in August 2026.
| Destination | Duty-free up to | What to expect on a bridal piece |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Nothing | The $800 allowance was suspended and made permanent regulation on 24 June 2026, so duty is assessed whatever the value. The separate gift relief stops at $100 and does not cover a garment you have ordered. Budget for it. |
| United Kingdom | £135 | The gentlest of the four. Under the UK–India trade agreement most Indian goods now enter tariff-free, but import VAT at 20% still applies to adult clothing above the threshold. |
| Canada | CAD $20 | The strictest. That low threshold applies to anything not from the US or Mexico, and clothing duty runs high — roughly 16–18% — plus GST/HST of 5–15% depending on your province. |
| Australia | AUD $1,000 | The most generous threshold, though a bridal piece will exceed it. Above it, expect 5% clothing duty plus 10% GST, and an import declaration. |
What we can and cannot tell you
We cannot quote your exact figure — it depends on how the piece is classified at the border, and we would rather tell you nothing than tell you something wrong. What we will do is declare the parcel accurately and give you the declared value before it ships, so your courier can confirm the charge in advance rather than surprising you at the door.
Elsewhere in the EU, the Gulf and East Africa, duty and VAT are set locally; ask and we will find out for your city. Rules move — this was last checked in August 2026, and on the day your courier is the authority.
Questions
Will I pay customs duty on a lehenga shipped to the USA?
As things stand in 2026, yes — plan for it. The United States suspended its $800 duty-free de minimis allowance, and US Customs made that suspension permanent regulation on 24 June 2026, so shipments are assessed for duty regardless of value. The separate relief for bona-fide gifts is only $100 and does not cover a garment you have ordered. The rate depends on how the piece is classified, so we cannot quote it for you — but we will declare the parcel accurately, tell you the declared value in advance, and your courier can confirm what you will owe before it ships.
Will I pay import VAT on a lehenga sent to the UK?
Expect VAT rather than duty. Under the UK–India trade agreement most Indian goods now enter tariff-free, but import VAT at 20% applies to adult clothing above the £135 threshold, and a bridal order is comfortably above it. Of the main markets we ship to, the UK is the gentlest.
What will customs cost on a lehenga shipped to Canada?
Canada is the strictest of the countries we ship to most. The duty-free limit is only CAD $20 for parcels from outside the US and Mexico, clothing duty runs to roughly 16–18%, and GST or HST of 5–15% is added depending on your province. Budget properly for it, and ask us before you commit so there is no surprise.
Is there duty on Indian bridal wear sent to Australia?
Australia allows AUD $1,000 before anything is charged, which is the most generous threshold of the main markets — though a bridal piece will exceed it. Above that expect about 5% clothing duty plus 10% GST, and an import declaration at the border.
Does a chaniya choli work differently from a lehenga?
No. Customs treats them the same way — they are both adult clothing, and the thresholds and rates above apply exactly as written. A chaniya choli is simply a smaller declared value, which matters in Australia and the UK where there is a threshold to stay under, and not at all for the United States where there is no longer one.
Who pays it, and when?
You do, to the courier, usually before they will hand the parcel over. It is not included in what you pay the studio and we do not collect it. What we can do is tell you the declared value before the piece ships, so you can ask your courier what you will owe rather than finding out at the door.
Ordering from abroad, start to finish: how it works for overseas brides. Navratri: chaniya cholis shipped for garba.