DHL Halts International Shipments Over $800 to U.S. Consumers Due to New Customs Rules

If you’ve ordered something nice from abroad — say, over $800 — DHL just made things a bit trickier. 

The shipping giant is temporarily stopping high-value international deliveries to U.S. consumers.

It’s not personal, though it feels like it is.  

Here is everything you need to know.  

Starting April 21, 2025, DHL Express — a division of Germany’s Deutsche Post — will stop shipping international packages over $800 to individual customers in the U.S., the company said in a statement. 

The new rule only affects personal shipments — businesses can still send and receive items, at least for now. 

The company says the suspension is a response to a recent change in U.S. customs rules. As of April 5, the limit for what's considered a formal customs entry dropped from $2,500 to $800. 

That one move has caused a major backlog, with more packages needing paperwork and processing time. To avoid further delays, DHL is putting a hold on high-value personal shipments. 

DHL didn’t comment on the policy itself, but the change is part of tighter customs enforcement. The lower limit is meant to improve oversight, make sure the right duties are paid, and cut down on imports that might slip through unnoticed. For shipping companies, that means more work — and longer wait times. 

There’s no clear end date for the pause. DHL says the suspension is temporary, but hasn’t said when it might lift. In the meantime, business shipments will continue, though they may move more slowly. 

Whereas you may need to split large orders, delay purchases, or look for other shipping options.