Now get all your favorite Australian products on your doorstep in the United States via direct mail!

The United States is one of the easiest international destinations to receive Australian parcels into. The US Section 321 rule gives every consumer an USD 800 daily de minimis allowance, which means most personal parcels clear customs without duty or formal entry paperwork. That alone makes shipping from Australia to the US cheaper and simpler than to almost any other country.

If you live in the US and want to buy from an Australian retailer that does not ship internationally, HotSnail gives you an Australian delivery address. The retailer ships within Australia, we receive the parcel at our Gold Coast warehouse, then forward it on to your US address.

What US customers buy from Australia

Australian expats and US shoppers tend to forward the same handful of categories through HotSnail year after year:

• Genuine Australian made UGG boots (from brands like UGG Since 1974, EMU Australia and Mou) which are different from the US UGG trademark sold at Nordstrom.
• Tim Tams, Vegemite, Milo and Australian snacks not stocked by most US grocers (or sold at huge mark-ups when they are).
• Bonds underwear, basics and baby wear.
• R.M. Williams boots direct from Adelaide rather than via the limited US stockists.
• Aesop, Jurlique and Sukin skincare at Australian RRP rather than the US premium.
• T2 tea, Bundaberg ginger beer and other pantry favourites.
• Penfolds wine, Australian craft spirits and gin (subject to US state liquor rules and federal alcohol importation rules).

Shipping options and transit times

HotSnail forwards parcels to every US state and territory. Typical services we use:

• AusPost International Express: 6 to 10 business days door to door, end to end tracking, weight cap 20 kg per parcel.
• AusPost International Standard: 10 to 20+ business days, cheapest option, basic tracking.
• DHL Express Worldwide: 3 to 5 business days, the fastest option, full tracking, the right choice for time critical or high value parcels.
• FedEx International Priority as an alternative to DHL for some destinations.

Use our parcel forwarding calculator for a live quote on actual weight, dimensions and ZIP code before you ship.

US customs and the USD 800 de minimis

The single biggest reason shipping Australia to the US is straightforward is the Section 321 de minimis rule. Personal shipments valued under USD 800 per recipient per day are released by CBP under informal entry, with no duty and minimal paperwork. Practical implications:

• For most personal forwards, you will pay nothing in US import duty.
• You still need an accurate CN22 or CN23 customs declaration. Under-declaring value is fraud and risks the parcel being seized.
• Some US states now collect sales tax on imports through marketplace facilitator laws, so you may see a small state level charge regardless of value.
• Goods over USD 800 require formal entry, which usually means a customs broker. HotSnail can break a large order into multiple parcels if that makes sense for your situation.

Prohibited and restricted items

The US restricts more items than people expect. HotSnail will not forward fresh meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, raw dairy, plant material or seeds (USDA), certain wood products, ivory or wildlife products, switchblades, or counterfeit branded goods. Some food items including infant formula, supplements with novel ingredients and certain teas require FDA prior notice. Vaping products are increasingly restricted under the PACT Act. Ask before ordering if you are unsure.

Alcohol and wine

Federal law requires alcohol importers to hold a federal basic permit, and most states require an additional state level licence for direct shipment. In practice, personal forwards of wine to the US are a grey area. The Australian retailer must declare alcohol on the parcel, and the destination state must allow direct shipment to consumers. Talk to us before you order Australian wine for a US address.

Addressing your parcel

Use the standard US format: recipient name, street and apartment number, city, state (two letter code), 5 digit ZIP plus optional 4 digit suffix. PO Box addresses are accepted for AusPost services but not for DHL or FedEx Express. Include a mobile number, since DHL and FedEx will SMS the recipient for delivery.

How HotSnail helps

Sign up and you get an Australian address you can use with any retailer in Australia. We photograph and weigh every parcel as it arrives, consolidate multiple parcels into a single forward to save you postage, and prepare US compliant customs paperwork. You see a forwarding quote before anything ships.