eBay Global Shipping Program: The Ultimate Guide (+ 2025 Updates)

Want to sell on eBay and reach customers in over 200 countries, without dealing with customs forms or international tracking headaches? You’re not alone. For many eBay sellers, international shipping seems risky, expensive, or downright confusing.

That’s where the eBay Global Shipping Program (GSP) steps in. This program simplifies cross-border selling by letting eBay handle the hardest parts, tracking, delivery, and even returns, so you can focus on growing your business.

In this updated 2025 guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know, including:

• What is eBay Global Shipping Program?
• What are the requirements of eBay GSP?
• How much does eBay Global Shipping Program cost?
• How to enroll for the eBay Global Shipping Program?
• Shipping & returns under the eBay Global Shipping Program

Let’s dive into how this program can help you unlock new markets and boost your eBay sales, without the global shipping stress.

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What is eBay Global Shipping Program?

The eBay Global Shipping Program, now called the International Shipping Program, is a shipping service that eBay provides to help sellers sell worldwide without the need to manage international delivery, customs, and returns. 

Buyers cover all costs upfront and get full tracking, while sellers are protected from shipping issues such as loss or damage once the item arrives at the domestic hub.

This program is now available only to eligible sellers in the U.S. and Canada.

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How does eBay Global Shipping Program work?

Under this program, once an international buyer makes a purchase, you only have to send your products to one of eBay’s domestic shipping hubs. Then, eBay will take care of the rest and handle international delivery to the buyer’s door.

If an item gets lost or damaged during international shipping, you won’t be held responsible. eBay also protects you from negative feedback and poor ratings for those issues.

Please note that if you’re eligible for this program, eBay International Shipping will become your default option for your current listings, unless you’ve already added your own international shipping methods. If both options are available, buyers can choose which service they prefer.

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Benefits of eBay Global Shipping Program

Pros of eBay GSP

With eBay international shipping, selling worldwide becomes simple and worry-free. Your listings reach buyers in nearly 200 countries, while eBay handles the toughest parts of international delivery. 

Here are some benefits that you can profit from when enrolling in the eBay GSP: 

• Wider reach: With eBay GSP, you have the chance to get access to millions of global shoppers and enjoy up to 15% more sales on average.
• Strong seller protection: Once your item arrives at eBay’s domestic hub, eBay takes care of customs and delivery. You’re also protected from lost or damaged shipments, negative feedback, and refund disputes. Moreover, you’ll be protected from: Refund obligations, eBay Money Back Guarantee cases, payment disputes and chargebacks, “Item not as described” returns in your service metrics, and negative or neutral feedback related to international shipping.
• No extra fees: eBay manages returns, refunds, and customs clearance for you, without charging extra international fees.
• Automatic delivery updates: When you schedule Time Away, eBay automatically adjusts delivery times so your account performance remains safe.

Cons of eBay GSP

While eBay’s Global Shipping Program offers great benefits, it’s not without a few drawbacks:

• No return support: You don’t have to worry about sending items overseas, but if a buyer needs to return something, that’s on you. Handling international returns can be expensive and time-consuming, which might make it not worth the effort for lower-value items.
• Not for large items: If your items are large or often exceed eBay’s size limits for international shipping, they won’t qualify for the Global Shipping Program. In that case, you’ll need to look for alternative shipping methods.

It can cost more: For small, lightweight items, eBay international shipping may be pricier than shipping them yourself.

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What are the Requirements of eBay GSP?

Not every eBay seller can join the eBay International Shipping Program (formerly Global Shipping Program) right away. Here are the requirements of eBay GSP, including the requirements for sellers, restricted countries, and countries in this program.

Before you get started, make sure you understand the basics of how to ship on eBay, this helps you set up your listings correctly and choose the right delivery options.

Eligible eBay sellers for GSP

To qualify for the eBay Global Shipping Program, you must:

• Have an Above Standard or Top Rated seller status on eBay.
• Be eligible for eBay’s seller protections, which cover you in case of shipping issues.
• Maintain Low or Average Service Metrics, showing consistent delivery and customer service performance.
• Follow all eBay selling rules and policies to keep your account in good standing.

These conditions ensure that only reliable sellers can access the program and offer their products to international buyers confidently.

Even if your account qualifies, your items must also meet certain criteria to be shipped through the Global Shipping Program:

• Item location: Products must be physically located in the United States and listed on eBay.com.
• Export eligibility: The item must be allowed for export based on U.S. and destination country laws.
• Order value: The total order value (including shipping) must not exceed $2,500 USD.
• Package limits:
  • Maximum length: 48 inches
  • Maximum combined length and girth: 84 inches
  • Maximum billable weight: 44 lbs (except Canada, where the limit is 66 lbs)

If your account and items meet these requirements, you’re good to go! Once approved, eBay automatically enables the Global Shipping Program for your listings, allowing you to sell internationally without handling the extra shipping complexity.

eBay Global Shipping Program countries

When your items and you are qualified for the eBay International Shipping Program, you can expand your selling opportunities to the following countries of each continent:

Restricted categories and prohibited items

Besides items prohibited on eBay or not complying with our International trading policy due to export limitations and restrictions, the Global Shipping Program doesn’t deliver items listed in the following categories: 

• Business & Industrial > Heavy Equipment
• Business & Industrial > Heavy Equipment Attachments
• Business & Industrial > Websites & Business for Sale
• Cell Phones & Accessories > Smart Watches
• Coins & Paper Money > Virtual Currency
• eBay Motors (Note: The Global Shipping Program supports parts & Accessories)
• Gift Cards & Coupons
• Health & Beauty > Fragrances
• Home & Garden > Fresh Cut Flowers & Supplies
• Movies & TV > Video Media Accessories
• Pet Supplies > Backyard Poultry Supplies
• Pet Supplies > Other
• Real Estate
• Specialty Services, except:
  • Specialty Services > Custom Clothing & Jewelry > Hats, Handbags & Accessories
  • Specialty Services > Custom Clothing & Jewelry > Jewelry
  • Specialty Services > Custom Clothing & Jewelry > Other
• Sporting Goods > Other
• Stamps > Other
• Tickets & Experiences
• Travel, except:
  • Travel > Luggage
  • Travel > Luggage Accessories
  • Travel > Maps
  • Travel > Travel Accessories
• Video Games & Consoles > Prepaid Gaming Cards
• Wholesale & Bulk Lots

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How Much Does eBay Global Shipping Program Cost?

When you use the eBay Global Shipping Program to ship your items internationally, there is no extra international fee besides eBay selling fees. The buyer is responsible for paying the costs for all the GSP services.

However, it’s noticeable that if you are selling internationally and not using the international shipping service of eBay, this marketplace will charge 1.65% of the amount of an overseas sale for the international fee.

The overseas sale is counted under the 2 scenarios below:

• The delivery address provided by the buyer during checkout is outside the US or UK. 
• The buyer’s registered address is outside the US or UK, irrespective of the delivery address for the item.

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How to Use eBay Global Shipping Program?

Ready to start selling to buyers worldwide? Here’s a quick guide on how to use eBay’s Global Shipping Program, from enrolling and customizing your settings to opting out whenever you need.

H3: How to sign up for eBay Global Shipping Program?

As mentioned earlier, there are certain conditions you need to meet to become eligible for the eBay Global Shipping Program. Once you qualify, eBay will automatically enroll your account and notify you through email or an eBay message.

To enroll in the eBay GSP, follow these steps to sign up:

1. From your eBay seller account, go to your Account settings.
2. Scroll down to the bottom and choose Shipping Preferences.
3. Besides the International Shipping Program, look for the Status column. If it says Enrolled, your account is already included in the program.

Once enrolled, you can adjust your preferences or exclude specific countries anytime through your shipping settings. And if you sell multiple items to the same buyer, learning how to combine shipping on eBay can help you save on costs while offering a better deal for your customers

How to customize your eBay GSP?

To customize your eBay International Shipping settings, follow these steps:

1. Go to Account Settings and select Shipping Preferences.
2. Click Edit next to Exclude shipping locations.
3. Adjust the toggle at the top of the page.
4. Click Save to apply your changes.

If the toggle is turned On, your eligible items will still ship to excluded regions through eBay International Shipping. If you prefer to completely block those destinations, simply turn the toggle off.

By customizing your exclusions, you stay in full control of your international reach, ensuring that your listings only appear in the markets you’re ready to serve.

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How to opt out of eBay GSP?

You can leave the eBay International Shipping program anytime by adjusting your Shipping Preferences. When you opt out, eBay will ask you to share a brief reason for your decision.

Here’s how to opt out of the eBay International Shipping program:

1. Go to My eBay and open the Account section.
2. Click Shipping Preferences.
3. Find eBay International Shipping and choose Opt Out on the right side.
4. Click Done to confirm.

If you decide to rejoin, you can opt back in 24 hours after opting out. Simply return to your Shipping Preferences page and select Enroll next to eBay International Shipping. 

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How Shipping & Tracking Works Under the GSP?

Through the eBay GSP, sellers and buyers can track their items throughout the entire shipping process. 

When shipping packages to the designated shipping center, sellers must include the standard tracking information. The reference number on the label is crucial for identifying the package upon its arrival at the center. 

Once identified, the tracking number is converted into a Global Tracking number, which both the seller and buyer can utilize to monitor the package’s journey until it reaches its final destination. eBay’s international tracking systems facilitate this tracking process. Additionally, eBay protects buyers if the parcel is lost.

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How Returns Work Under the eBay GSP?

Unfortunately, eBay Global Shipping Program does not handle returns. Sellers are responsible for handling such issues on their own. Therefore, establishing your return policy is crucial to avoid this problem. This ensures that your customers know what to expect in case of an issue. 

If your buyers want to return your products, you have 2 options below:

• For inexpensive items, it may be more practical to absorb the cost and offer a refund to the customer without requesting the return of the item.
• If the item is valuable and you wish to retrieve it, you can utilize international parcel carriers such as FedEx, UPS, DHL, or TNT to arrange return shipping. While this method guarantees secure return shipment, it can be pretty expensive.

Now that you understand eBay GSP’s offerings, limitations, and restrictions, let’s explore how to use this international shipping program. 

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4 Tips on How to Sell Internationally on eBay

While enjoying the benefits of an eBay store and the simplicity of the Global Shipping Program eBay provides, it’s crucial to follow these tips below to reach millions of international buyers on this second-biggest marketplace. 

Tip 1: Focus first on English eBay sites

It’s no surprise that eBay operates multiple international sites catering to different regions worldwide. However, it’s worth noting that English-speaking markets still hold the majority. By capitalizing on these markets, you can significantly increase your current sales. 

Furthermore, expanding to English-speaking international sites is a straightforward approach if you don’t have the resources and time to translate your eBay product listings and information into multiple languages. For instance, U.S. sellers can evaluate the suitability of their products and market demand by selling on eBay international sites in Canada, Australia, or the U.K.

Tip 2: List your items on international eBay sites, but step by step

To expand your market and sell on eBay on an international level, consider listing directly on eBay’s international sites. However, consider taking it step-by-step by expanding to one international site at a time. This approach allows you to effectively manage sales volume, delivery requirements, listings, and branding, ensuring quality control across different markets.

Tip 3: Optimize your listings with the local language

Whether you sell best-selling items on eBay or not, it’s always crucial to optimize your listings. When selling on multiple international sites, consider translating your listings into the local language to improve their visibility and match the keywords potential buyers use in their searches. 

While free tools like Google Translate can be used, human translation provides greater accuracy. With detailed and accurate descriptions in the language of your potential customers, your products are more likely to match their expectations, which might minimize returns.

Tip 4: Enhance trust through global shipping and returns policies

Implementing buyer-friendly international shipping and returns policies can build trust, which might increase international and overall sales. Regarding shipping policies, eBay offers the Global Shipping Program to ensure the reliability of shipping processes.

As for the return policies, by customizing the duration of your returns policy, such as extending return periods to 30 or 60 days, you can instill greater confidence in international buyers when making purchases from your business. Don’t forget to provide transparent explanations of return conditions, including explicit details on who pays the cost of return international shipping and any necessary documentation.

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eBay Global Shipping Program – FAQs

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Conclusion

The eBay Global Shipping Program can be worth it if you want to increase your sales to a worldwide level while avoiding international shipping trouble. It’s a great chance for you to expand your shop to more countries.

The only negative thing about this is that the shipping fees might be increased for buyers. This is a convenient solution for eBay sellers looking for a shipping service and expanding their market to the global level. By enrolling in the GSP, sellers can tap into a global customer base and simplify the shipping process.  

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