When shipping large amounts of cargo to other countries FedEx international freight may be too expensive, but when moving smaller packages their speed and reliability is fantastic. Unlike many shipping companies FedEx international services offer a wide range of shipping options. Many of the shipping options will be familiar to anyone that ships domestically using FedEx or any similar carrier.

The FedEx international service offers a wide range of plans and tools to help you prepare your international package. Besides their range of shipping options they also have a selection of tools to help you make the most of your shipping and prepare your package properly. Even with all of that it is sometimes a good idea to check out a secondary shipping site to make sure you are prepared for your international shipping experience. Consider the following FedEx International Services basics:

1. Many independent websites cover the do's and don’ts of international package shipping.

2. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with the federal express international shipping tools and resources available through their site.

3. Once you are familiar with the rules and processes decide what type of international FedEx shipping you wish to use.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Prepare for your FedEx international shipment by familiarizing yourself with shipping regulations

International shipping can be pretty tricky. There are several things that can't be shipped and many more that have specific requirements that must be met before they are shipped. Failure to follow both the rules in the originating country and the rules in the destination country can land both parties in serious trouble.

I recommend: How to Ship Anything is a third party shipping site filled with information on both domestic and international shipping. Chapter 9 of the Basic Guide to Exporting entitled International Legal Considerations is an informative read for any shipper.

Read over the FedEx international services website for helpful tools and tricks

Just as every country has their own rules, so do many shipping companies. The FedEx webpage has a selection of resources and tools to make shipping with their company go smoothly.

I recommend: The FedEx Global Trade Manager is your first stop on the FedEx website. This is a collection of tools that will help you get started with your shipping as well as track and monitor the shipping process. FedEx also supplies a list of countries served by their company as well as customs information.

Decide the type of international FedEx shipping you want to use

FedEx has a wide range of shipping options. The shipping types vary drastically in price and time based on how quickly your package needs to get to its destination. By finding the correct option for your particular shipment you can balance the cost and time of shipping to your perfect spot.

I recommend: FedEx has several recognizable shipping options such as Priority, Economy and Ground but they also have several other shipping options that may fit your particular shipment. Each listing has information on exactly what the specifics of that are.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Unlike many smaller shipping companies FedEx has a huge staff that can help you with any FedEx international mail service question that you may have. On nearly every page of the FedEx website they have a 'Contact Us' option where you can read detailed FAQs, send emails to customer service representatives or call for immediate answers to your questions. Don't hesitate to use this valuable service.

FedEx International Shipping gives you the option to perform all of your business’ international mailings through a company you can trust. Opening up a Federal Express International Shipping account can provide you with worthwhile business shipping services.

You’ll have several FedEx International services to choose from when shipping out letters and packages to foreign countries. For your most urgent international mailing needs, you can use FedEx International Next Flight to get it to the location during that day. Other Federal Express International methods can get your mailing to its destination within the week.

1. Open a FedEx International account to start shipping and tracking your packages. When you set up an account, you can use your business credit card to start shipping with Federal Express International.

2. Utilize the FedEx International service. Arrange for a FedEx International courier to pick up your mailings right from your office.

3. Manage your FedEx international shipment to track your mail’s progress. After a courier picks up your package, you can use the FedEx International tracking identification number to know delivery status.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get rates for FedEx International Services

When you need to ship internationally, find out the cost and how long it takes to arrive at the destination. Before you arrange pick up, research FedEx International rates.

I recommend: On the official FedEx International website, you’ll find the cost of all Federal Express International shipping services. You’ll pay the most for FedEx International Next Flight and a more moderate rate for FedEx International Economy for delivery in 5 days or less. Through the International Housewares Association, members receive discounted rates on international FedEx shipping.

Complete the forms needed for selected FedEx International Service

In order to get clearance from customs, you'll have to fill out certain government documents. Plan to complete these forms prior to sending out your FedEx International shipment.

I recommend: Get an overview on the correct forms to use for international shipping on the Multichannel Merchant site. Download the correct export forms through the International Document Assistance Program online. You can complete the required fields online and print it out prior to using Federal Express International.

Arrange for your mailing to get picked up through FedEx International

After you estimate the cost of your FedEx International services, you can schedule a pickup for your mailing. You also have the option to prepare your package and then drop it off at the nearest FedEx shipping office.

I recommend: Sign up for a FedEx International Mail Service account online and then log in to schedule a pickup of your package. Once you complete the short online form, a courier will receive a dispatch to go to your office. If you need to send an item through FedEx International Freight, you can make arrangements through the FedEx Trade Networks.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember to calculate the duties and taxes you need to pay to ship your package through FedEx International. This can change your shipping rate dramatically.

Business owners should consider using FedEx international service for their overseas shipping needs. Most of us are familiar with the television advertisements that portray a less stressful working environment because employees save time and money with FedEx. While every shipment is different, individuals who know how FedEx works and can make appropriate use of the services they offer will see effective cost savings.

Time is an important factor when deciding which Federal Express international shipping service to use. Once you determine your shipping deadline, then you need to compare FedEx international services pricing and costs and guaranteed delivery times to find the best fit for you. FedEx international shipping options include:

1. FedEx international service offers an option that delivers your overseas package the same day you ship it.

2. Less urgent packages can arrive in less than a week with priority options of the FedEx international mail service.

3. FedEx international freight also offers economy shipping for extra savings.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Send urgent packages with FedEx International Services Next Flight

FedEx International Next Flight sends your package out on the next flight available. Of course, this option is only available to those with shipments to major cities where FedEx flights land and only if there is a departing flight remaining that day. Weight doesn't change the rate of shipping costs as long as the package is less than 2,200 pounds.

I recommend: Get information on all FedEx international rates by using the FedEx Rate Tools page. Just select the FedEx services in the left drop down menu. Depending on the U.S. location of origin for package shipment and the destination, FedEx International Next Flight rates range from $312 to $587.

Use Federal Express International Priority services

FedEx International Priority assures delivery of your package to more than 220 countries and territories within three business days. The rate of your priority package varies depending on the destination location and the weight of the package. Rates to Canada start at $29.50 for a one-pound package to $227 for a 50-pound package. In comparison, the highest rated delivery zone includes Afghanistan, and rates for shipment to that location start at $48 for a one-pound package and $507 for a 50-pound package.

I recommend: FedEx International Priority runs Monday through Friday, with Saturday service available at an additional charge of $15 per shipment. According to Harvard University Office of the Controller, FedEx International Priority is the most cost effective.

Save money with FedEx International Economy shipping

FedEx International Economy assures delivery within five business days. FedEx determines the rates for this service based upon the weight of the package. The rates for smaller packages tend to be more expensive than the international priority service. However, as the weight of your shipment increases, it becomes much cheaper to ship packages through the international economy service than with priority.

I recommend: As a comparison, a FedEx International Economy shipment to Canada will cost $48 for a one-pound package, but only $180 for a 50-pound package. Using the economy service would save nearly $50 for the large package when compared to the priority service. Members of the International Housewares Association receive up to 13% in discounts on FedEx international rates.

The FedEx or Federal Express shipping company is well-known for its speedy, reliable shipping service both domestically and internationally. Even companies that only do regular business in the United States may be called upon to ship business documents or special orders internationally on occasion. When this happens, having a shipping service like FedEx on your side to handle the paperwork and international shipping regulations will make your transactions go much more smoothly. Use the following basic vocabulary to help select the appropriate FedEx international services for your company.

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Federal Express

FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight are all divisions of the FedEx or Federal Express Corporation, which handle different types of shipping. You may ship internationally with any of these divisions, with fees roughly varying in relation to the speed with which you're having the package shipped. The faster the shipping, the more expensive it will be.

I recommend: The FedEx website lists the duties and histories of the different divisions of the FedEx Corporation.

Time definite

FedEx offers international shipping services that are time definite and day definite. In other words, instead of being told that your parcel will arrive within a range of certain days or times, you're given a definite time or day by which the package will arrive.

I recommend: FedEx will give you a definite delivery day or time for most international services through their transit time calculator.

Shipping zones

FedEx has divided the world and country maps into various shipping zones. Shipping rates are calculated by where the originating and destination cities for parcels are located within the zones, with shipping to and from some zones being more expensive than shipping to and from others.

I recommend: OSCommerce offers a variety of open source software solutions for calculating FedEx Express shipping rates by shipping zones.

Custom Critical

FedEx Custom Critical service offers expedited delivery, same day or early next day, both domestically and internationally. The Custom Critical offices are open 24 hours a day. You will have exclusive use of the vehicle used to transport your shipment.

I recommend: FedEx details its Custom Critical service, including an explanatory video.

International Economy

FedEx prides itself on its reliability, but sometimes reliability comes at a cost. International Economy service is the most affordable service FedEx provides for international shipping. It's still day definite, but compromises on speed of delivery to allow for a reduced delivery cost.

I recommend: FedEx provides a news briefing detailing its International Economy service as offered through India.

NextFlight

FedEx NextFlight service is the absolute fastest shipping method FedEx can offer. If you're willing to pay a price tag well into the hundreds of dollars, FedEx will place your package or letter on the very next flight departing for its international destination.

I recommend: The FedEx website lists the international countries for which it offers NextFlight or Priority shipping services.