Mailing or taking items to the United Kingdom: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What medication can I take with me to the UK?
The UK Government’s website provides information about bringing medication and controlled drugs into the United Kingdom.
2) What food and other items can I take to the UK?
The UK Government’s website provides information about the amount of goods (allowances) that can be brought into the UK without paying tax or duty, and information about banned or restricted goods including weapons, some food and plants, and controlled drugs.
3) What can I mail to the UK?
The United States Postal Service (USPS) website provides information about mailing items overseas from the U.S, including lists of prohibited and restricted items.
Further information about goods sent from abroad is available through the UK Government website.
4) Can I take or send cremated remains (ashes) to the UK?
You are not required to obtain permission to carry or send cremated remains to the UK.
To travel with cremated remains from the United States to the United Kingdom, you will need a copy of the state issued death certificate plus a letter from the crematorium verifying the contents of the urn. You should use a non-metallic urn to allow screening, and declare the nature of the package to U.S and U.K. customs officials. Please visit the UK government’s website for more information.
Unaccompanied cremated remains shipped to the United Kingdom must be accompanied by a copy of the death certificate, a letter from the crematorium, and a customs declaration slip.
Mailing or taking items to the United States: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What medication can I take to the United States?
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website provides information about taking medication to the United States and information about prohibited and restricted items.
2) What food and other items can I take to the United States?
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website provides information about taking food to the United States and a list of prohibited and restricted items.
3) What can I mail to the United States?
You can visit the Post Office website for a guide to what you can and cannot send abroad in the mail, including a list of prohibited and restricted items.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website provides information about importing items to the U.S. through the mail.
4) Can I take cremated remains (ashes) to the United States?
You can take or ship cremated remains to the United States if they are accompanied by a certified copy of the local death certificate, the cremation certificate, and a statement from the crematorium or the funeral home confirming that the urn contains only the ashes of the deceased. Any documents not in English should be accompanied by a translation.
You should declare the nature of the package to UK and U.S. customs. If you will be traveling on a connecting or domestic flight within the United States, the remains must be transported in a temporary container that can pass through TSA x-ray machines. This should be a container constructed of wood, plastic, cardboard or any non-lead based ceramic. Please click here for more information.
