For all AKALA STUDIO shipments outside the European Union, transport costs are exempt from VAT as customs duties are the responsibility of the recipient and are never included. Most countries are shipped on a Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis, which means that the seller is responsible for ensuring that the goods arrive safely at their destination; the buyer is responsible for customs duties.

Unfortunately, we have no control over these charges and we cannot tell you the cost, as customs policies and import duties vary by country. Check with your local customs office about the rules and regulations they may apply. A useful link to calculate how much you will be charged for customs duties is dutycalculator.com.

The following countries are shipped on a Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis:

United Kingdom, Australia, Bahrain, China Mainland*, India, Japan, Mexico**, Norway, Oman, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, China – Taiwan, South Africa, Singapore, Canada, Qatar, Kuwait.

*According to the announcement of the general administration of customs of China, articles shipped to China which are classified as personal use and the value exceeds 5000 RMB, require a formal custom clearance. You may be subject to import taxes, customs duties and fees levied once the shipment reaches Mainland China. Additional charges for customs clearance (if any) must be fulfilled by you. We have no control over these charges, nor can we predict what they may be.
**According to the announcement of the general administration of customs of Mexico, articles shipped to Mexico which are classified as personal use and the value exceeds 1000 USD (or its equivalent in MEX$), require a formal custom clearance. The importer must be registered with the Mexican government and additional documentation is required (NOM LETTER, PAYMENT, LICENSE IMPORT, PATENT). Therefore, the DDP service is not applicable and it is necessary to hire an external customs broker to clear your goods.

Transit times may vary from 3-10 days due to customs delays. To speed up the process, please send us your ID number.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS/ Claudia