We understand that buying and importing products internationally can be challenging, rules and documentation requirements vary, depending on:
- Your country, its laws and regulations.
- The products you are importing
- The country of origin of these products
As a retailer on Faire, you are the importer of record. Ensuring you have the right to resell the products you purchase on Faire is your responsibility.
We want to help you feel confident buying from international brands. Below, we have provided guidance on the most common questions we receive from our retailers.
You will also find links to more detailed information and guidance for importing products into your country or region.
Please note, this resource is non-exhaustive and purely indicative.
How to determine your import requirements
As the importer of record, any retailer buying on Faire internationally is responsible for complying with all laws, rules, and regulations in their country/region for importing the products they choose to purchase from international brands on the platform. This includes but is not limited to: compliance with import rules and regulations, permit and licenses requirements, and other consumer protection law requirements.
To determine if you can import and resell products purchased internationally into your country, we recommend:
- Consulting governmental websites to check if there are any restrictions or specific requirements for importing the products you wish to purchase internationally.
- Look into any license requirements, or permit you may need as an importer when purchasing certain products.
- Consulting legal counsel and/or a customs broker to determine your readiness to import given products from a given country.
- Looking into potential restrictions enforced by your country, based on the country of manufacturing/origin of the products.
To learn more about importing products into your specific country or region, consult the different resources in Information specific to your country/region.
Documentation and compliance requirements for the import of international products
Upon import of products, as the importer, you may be required to provide some information and/or documentation to support customs clearance of your order.
You will find non-exhaustive guidance below, to help understand what falls under your responsibility as the importer, if requested by customs.
| Document type | Retailer responsibility | Brand responsibility |
| Documentation specific to your company (if applicable and required) | ✔️ | |
| License or permit to import specific controlled products | ✔️ | |
| Proof of right to resell | ✔️ | |
| Tax related identification for your company (Tax ID, VAT, EIN, UTR, etc.) |
✔️ |
|
| Importing registration number (EORI, ABN, etc.) | ✔️ | |
|
Completion and Signature of forms for import (TSCA, FSVP, LACEY, ADD/CVD, etc.)
|
✔️ |
|
|
Packing slip |
✔️ |
|
| Commercial invoice | ✔️ | |
| Documentation or information specific to manufacturing practices or information (if applicable) |
✔️ |
|
| Product specific documentation (if applicable) | ✔️ |
Faire does not possess or provide documentation or information specific to your company, your right to trade, purchase and import products into your country. This type of documentation has to be provided by yourself as the importer of record.
Country and region specific information
Customs requirements vary from country to country, based on the import country’s regulations. These nuances can be challenging to navigate. The Faire team is happy to provide resources containing non-exhaustive tips and advice for buying internationally.
You can find country and region specific resources below:
- Buying and importing into Europe (UK and EU)
- Buying and importing into the US
- Buying and importing into Canada
- Buying and importing into Australia
Customs broker
As a retailer buying internationally, you may contract a customs broker to help you with import regulations and compliance. If you have a customs broker, we recommend notifying the brand via Faire Messenger when you place your order, so they can include this on the commercial invoice prior to shipping your order.
If your customs brokerage information is included on the commercial invoice, they will be contacted at the time of import to clear the package on your behalf.
If your customs brokerage information is not provided on the commercial invoice, you will be contacted directly by the carrier to clear the package.
If you do not have a customs broker and want to authorize carriers to clear customs on your behalf, you will need to draft a Power of Attorney (POA) letter and share it with the carrier upon request. Please note, this applies to tightly regulated product categories.
Tightly regulated product categories
When importing, you are required to comply with any import regulations as set out by your government, including, but not limited to, regulations for controlled goods. Importing controlled goods into your country/region may require additional authorization or clearance. Below, we have listed some common controlled goods categories for which additional requirements may apply:
- Controlled goods: products that require licenses or permits for import, or additional documentation from the importer.
- Dangerous goods (DG): Substances that when transported are a risk to health, safety, property, or the environment. Certain dangerous goods that pose risks even when not being transported are known as hazardous materials.
- Food products: Food product means any substance, other than a substance used primarily for the purpose of imparting flavor, intended to be consumed by humans or animals.
- Animal products: An animal product is any material derived from the body of an animal, products containing animal substances
- Cosmetics and skin products: any substance or mixture intended to be placed in contact with the external parts of the human body.
- Plant and seed products
- Metal, gemstones, and jewelry products
- Kids and baby products
- Toys
- Food contact products
Please note, this list is non-exhaustive and purely indicative, and these categories vary depending on your country.
To read about tightly regulated product categories for a specific country or region, please visit Country and region specific information.
How do import duties work?
Import duties are the retailer's responsibility as the importer. All products imported from abroad may be subject to import duties. Faire may provide an estimate for the cost of import duties and carrier fees at checkout, but the carrier will issue the final invoice upon import.
Import duties are calculated based on the type of goods being imported and the origin of the goods, as determined by the tariff codes provided by the brand. Brands are responsible for providing accurate tariff codes for their products. Faire’s import duty estimates rely on the accuracy of these codes.
The estimate provided by Faire is only for import duties and carrier fees. There may be additional charges associated with your right to import restricted or controlled goods that are not included in this estimate.
Import duties and taxes are non-refundable when an order is returned. If an order is missing or arrives damaged - retailers must contact the carrier, who acted as the customs broker, to request a refund of any duties or taxes paid. Replacement orders are treated as new shipments and will have import duties and taxes applied again.
For more information on how recent tariff changes may impact you, visit 2025 US and Canada Tariffs Updates, impact to Retailers.
In cases where import duties are covered by Faire in the context of a promotion or membership such as Insider, you will see free import duties at checkout, to learn more, visit What happens when Faire covers my import duties?
How do import taxes work?
Import tax may apply based on:
- Your country’s tax laws
- The value of the order
- The country of origin (import tax tends to apply when you are ordering from a brand located in another trade zone, for example)
- The type of product you’re importing
As the importer of record, you’re always responsible for paying any import tax owed when bringing goods into your country.
For example:
- In the EU, this is typically VAT, learn more here.
- In the UK, it’s also VAT, learn more here.
- In Australia, it’s GST, learn more here
- In Canada it's GST or HST, learn more here
Faire will never cover import tax. This is a legal obligation you owe to your government as a B2B importer.
What happens if customs agencies or carriers require additional information to import my order?
If you order products internationally, and additional information or documentation is required for customs clearance, you might be contacted by a customs agent, carrier, Faire, or the brand you ordered from to provide the necessary information to help clear customs.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- You are the importer, the brand is the exporter.
- The customs agent and/or carrier may reach out to you via phone or via Faire support in an email thread. The brand would most likely reach out via Faire Messenger.
- Faire cannot provide documentation or information specific to your company or your right to trade, purchase, and import products into your country. (i.e.: license, permit, certification, import declarations, etc.) This has to be provided by you as the importer.
- Orders can typically be “stalled” at a border for a limited time, (this tends to vary between 3 and 5 days maximum)
- As the importer, it is your responsibility to accept the order and to facilitate import, providing any information required.
If you are unresponsive or fail to provide the required information/documentation/license, the customs agency may decide to return the shipment (Return to Sender). This decision is outside of Faire’s control.
Please note, Faire keeps record of failures to import international orders, as well as the cost associated with shipping these products back to the brands. Faire reserves the right to review your account as well as ability to order on the platform in accordance with our Terms of Service.