On this page we review the various forwarding options to Israel, and answer questions about how to import from sites that do not import to Israel, how much it costs to ship products in a personal import to Israel, etc.
General Information
Transfer of packages and merchandise from country to country is performed by courier companies or international forwarding companies.
Forwarding options
Shipping can be undertaken in one of the following ways:
- Shipping by air
- Shipping by sea
- Land shipping
What is the difference between courier companies and forwarding companies?
Shipping through a courier company is generally undertaken by the site on which the product is ordered.
Shipping through a forwarding company is generally done separately from the site on which the product was ordered.
When placing an order on sites that enable shipping to Israel, you can choose between the two types of shipping. However, when placing an order on sites that do not enable shipping to Israel, the shipment can only be made through a forwarding company.
The forwarding company must be selected by the consumer, whereas the courier company is generally selected by the site supplying the product.
The Israel Postal Company, HFD, DHL, EMS and FedEx are examples of courier companies.
Ushops, Shipito, Dealtas and mustop are examples of forwarding companies.
When do I choose a courier company?
In most cases, a courier company is recommended as the purchase is much easier that way.
It does not require special registration, it is quick, offers a wide range of shipping options, from regular shipping for collection at the post office, to a messenger a your doorstep within a very short time, including tracking of the package's movements.
How much does it cost to order a package through a courier company?
The cost of shipping through a courier company varies according to the site on which the order is placed.
Most sites enable two types of shipping: regular and express.
- On the Next site, for example, shipping costs NIS 15, but if you place an order for over NIS 100, shipping is free of charge.
- On the Asos site, as on the Next website, shipping costs NIS 15, and if you place an order for over NIS 100, shipping is free of charge. There is also an express shipping option, which costs NIS 50.
- On the Amazon website, the cost varies among the merchants, and the price range can vary from NIS 0 to NIS 100 and more.
When do I choose a forwarding company?
In the event that the site does not ship to Israel, your only option is to use a forwarding company.
Another reason for choosing a forwarding company is the ability to consolidate packages when ordering from multiple sites. Consolidating packages often reduces the cost of shipping for you.
As with courier companies, forwarding companies also provide a tracking number and you can ask to have the package delivered by messenger to your doorstep.
You can also ask the forwarding company to repackage the product and save money on the surplus weight of cartons and packaging materials.
How do I order from a forwarding company?
Placing an order with a forwarding company consists of several steps:
Going to the forwarding company's website, registering and receiving an overseas postal address.
- When you order a product on a website, you enter the postal address that you received.
- The moment the product arrives at the forwarding company's postal address, the company accepts the product and posts the invoice on the company website
- Now, all that remains for you to do is to define on the forwarding company's website the type of forwarding and the method of shipping to Israel and to pay for the service.
How much does it cost to order a package through a forwarding company?
The shipping costs of forwarding companies vary from company to company.
Generally speaking, the cost is calculated according to the weight or volume of the package and according to the type of shipping chosen by the customer.
Most of the forwarding company websites feature price tables and calculators that you can use to calculate the freight cost. However, note that this is an estimate, and the final freight cost is determined only when the order arrives at the logistics center.
We compared prices between various forwarding companies, ordering an identical product costing US$30, and weighing one and a half kilograms.
The prices between the forwarding companies ranged from US$ 16 to US$ 35:
| Shipito | US$ 16 |
|---|---|
| Ushops | US$ 20 |
| Dealtas | US$ 22 |
| Mustop | US$ 35 |
Useful information on the forwarding companies operating in Israel:
| Types of shipping | Price calculator on the company website | Company Name |
|---|---|---|
| Link to calculator | Shipito | |
| Express shipping option (up to 7 business days) or economy shipping (up to 40 business days) | Link to calculator | Ushops |
| You can choose between basic forwarding, plus, express or by sea | Link to calculator | Dealtas |
| Standard shipping option only | Link to calculator | Mustop |
Note that the information is correct as at June 21, 2018.
The information appearing on this page is for your convenience only. The Ministry of Economy and Industry does not bear responsibility for the information appearing on the various forwarding websites.