Shipping & Insuring Gold Internationally: A Buyer’s Guide
Shipping & Insuring Gold: Gold is shipped internationally by insured air freight. It’s usually handled by a specialist secure-logistics carrier that moves precious metals, or sent as valuable cargo (VAL) on a commercial airline. It’s insured door to door under a specie (cargo) insurance policy, typically for at least 110% of its value.
Every shipment must:
- be declared to customsat export and import
- carry a full set of documents: export permit, assay certificate, certificate of origin, invoice, packing list and air waybill
- travel in sealed, tamper-evident packaging
Never ship gold by ordinary post, by courier as “documents”, or hand-carried by a third party. That is how most gold is lost, seized or stolen.
How Gold Is Shipped: Your Options
| Method | How it works | Good for | Risks |
| Specialist secure-logistics carrier | Valuables carriers collect, escort, fly, clear and deliver gold door to door, often with insurance included | Most international gold shipments, especially to vaults and refineries | Higher cost, but the most secure option |
| Airline valuable cargo (VAL) | The gold flies as declared valuable cargo, handled in secure areas under special procedures | Exporters with their own freight forwarder and insurer | Gaps in security and insurance at handover points if poorly arranged |
| Ordinary courier or post | Express parcel or postal service | Not suitable. Most couriers and postal services refuse bullion or cap its value | Uninsured or refused; the gold may be seized |
| Hand-carried by a passenger | A person carries the gold on a flight | Only with full permits and declarations, and still high risk | Theft, seizure and arrest if undeclared. Often a feature of scams |
For most buyers, the safest choice is a specialist secure carrier delivering to your vault or refinery, with insurance arranged under the agreed Incoterm.
Step by Step: Shipping Gold From Africa
- Agree the contract and Incoterm.For air freight, use FCA, CIP or DAP (not FOB or CIF). See Incoterms for gold shipments.
- Inspect and assay the gold,then seal and number the bars or packages in front of the buyer’s agent.
- The exporter gets the export permitand pays royalties and levies.
- Prepare the documents:commercial invoice, packing list, assay certificate, certificate of origin, export permit, and the customs export declaration with HS code 7108.12.
- Arrange insurancefor the full journey, from the seller’s vault to the buyer’s vault.
- The carrier collectsthe sealed packages, under security, and takes them to the airport.
- Export customs clearancehappens at the airport, for example Entebbe International Airport.
- The gold fliesas declared valuable cargo, under the carrier’s control.
- Import customs clearancehappens at the destination, for example Dubai, Zurich, Mumbai or New York, handled by the carrier or a customs broker.
- Delivery to the vault or refinery,where the seals are checked, the gold is weighed and re-assayed, and the delivery receipt is signed.
Release the final payment only after step 10.
Packaging Gold for International Shipment
- Strong, tamper-evident containers.Use secure boxes or bags that show any interference.
- Numbered security seals,recorded on the packing list and air waybill.
- Bars listed individuallyby serial number, weight and purity, where available.
- Discreet outer packaging,with no “gold” markings that attract attention.
- Weights recordedat sealing, and checked against weights on arrival.
- Photos or videoof the sealing, signed by the seller and the buyer’s agent.
Poor packaging can void your insurance. Most cargo policies exclude losses caused by “insufficient packing”.
Gold Shipment Insurance Explained
What is specie insurance?
Specie insurance is specialist cover for high-value goods such as bullion, coins and banknotes in transit and storage. It’s offered by specialist cargo and specie insurers, often arranged through the secure carrier.
What the policy should cover
| Feature | What to look for |
| Sum insured | At least 110% of the invoice value, the market standard for cargo |
| Coverage | All risks (Institute Cargo Clauses “A” or equivalent specie wording) |
| Period | Door to door (warehouse to warehouse), including ground transport and storage in transit |
| Theft and robbery | Explicitly covered, including theft by employees or handlers where possible |
| War and strikes | Often excluded from standard cover. Add war and strikes cover if needed |
| Named parties | The buyer (or the buyer’s bank, if you use a letter of credit) named as loss payee |
| Valuation basis | The invoice value, or the spot price at the time of loss plus a margin. Agree it in advance |
Common exclusions to check
- insufficient or unsuitable packaging
- unexplained shortagesfound without broken seals
- confiscation or seizure by customs or government, which is usually notcovered
- delay, and losses caused by delay
- fraud by the insured, or gold that was fake from the start
- shipments not declaredor not handled according to the policy’s security conditions
Insurance doesn’t protect you from buying fake gold or from an illegal export. Those risks are controlled by due diligence, independent assay and legal export papers, not by insurance.
Who arranges insurance under each Incoterm?
| Incoterm | Who must insure |
| FCA | The buyer, from handover to the buyer’s carrier |
| CPT | The buyer (the seller pays freight but not insurance) |
| CIP | The seller, who must provide all-risks cover (ICC A), at least 110% |
| DAP / DPU | The seller carries the risk to the destination, so ask for proof of insurance |
What Does It Cost to Ship Gold?
Gold shipping costs depend on:
- the valueof the gold, which drives the insurance premium
- the weight and number of packages
- the route,with direct flights costing less than complex routings
- the security level:armoured collection, escorts and vault-to-vault service
- customs brokerageat both ends
- vault or refinery delivery charges
Insurance is usually charged as a small percentage of the value, and freight and security are usually charged per shipment. Ask carriers for written, all-inclusive quotes, and compare what’s included, especially the insurance limits and exclusions.
Documents That Must Travel With Gold
| Document | Purpose |
| Export permit | Proves the export is legal |
| Assay certificate | Confirms weight and purity |
| Certificate of origin | Confirms where the gold was mined |
| Commercial invoice | Value, Incoterm, HS code 7108.12 |
| Packing list | Bars, serial numbers, weights and seal numbers |
| Air waybill (AWB) | The carrier’s transport document; it must describe the goods correctly |
| Insurance certificate | Proof of cover and the sum insured |
| Customs declarations | Export and import clearance |
Every number must match on every document: weight, purity, number of bars and seal numbers. Mismatches are a top cause of delays and seizures. See our HS code 7108 guide.
Popular Gold Shipping Routes From Africa
| Route | Notes |
| Entebbe → Dubai | A major route for East African gold. Declare it to UAE customs on arrival, and expect UAE due-diligence checks |
| Entebbe or Nairobi → Zurich or Geneva | For delivery to Swiss refineries and vaults. Strict due-diligence documents |
| Africa → Mumbai | India charges import duty and GST on gold. Use a licensed importer |
| Africa → London | For delivery to LBMA vaults or refiners |
| Africa → Hong Kong | Hong Kong is an Asian gold trading hub. Check import licensing and declarations |
Mistakes That Lead to Lost or Seized Gold
- Hand-carryinggold, or letting an “agent” carry it.
- Under-insuring,or insuring only part of the journey (airport to airport, not door to door).
- Paying in full before delivery,under FOB or similar terms.
- Missing or mismatched documents.
- Accepting “gold stuck at customs, pay a release fee” stories.This is a classic scam.
- Shipping without declaring the goldat import.
FAQs: Shipping and Insuring Gold
How do you ship gold internationally? By insured air freight, usually with a specialist secure carrier or as airline valuable cargo, declared to customs at export and import, with full export documents.
Can I send gold by DHL or FedEx? Generally not as bullion. Major express couriers and postal services restrict or refuse precious-metal bullion. Use a specialist secure carrier.
How much insurance do I need for a gold shipment? At least 110% of the invoice value, door to door, on an all-risks or specie policy.
Does insurance cover gold seized by customs? Usually not. Seizure by customs or government is a standard exclusion, so legal export documents are essential.
Who pays for shipping gold? It depends on the Incoterm. Under FCA, the buyer pays freight and insurance. Under CIP and DAP, the seller arranges and pays to the destination.
How long does it take to ship gold from Africa to Dubai? Often a few days from collection to delivery once the export permit is issued. Customs and paperwork usually take longer than the flight.
Ship Gold Safely With Africa Gold Suppliers
Africa Gold Suppliers Ltd supplies refined gold bars with:
- an export permit for each shipment
- an assay report and certificate of origin
- sealed, documented packaging
- insured air freight, on Incoterms agreed in writing
Call or WhatsApp +256 742 748 550, or contact us to discuss shipping your order.