How to Sell on Amazon Globally? Fees, Process, & Documents
TL;DR - Summary
- What is Amazon Global Selling? - It is an Amazon Seller Central program that enables Indian businesses to sell on multiple international marketplaces like the US, UK, UAE and Canada, without establishing a physical presence in any foreign countries.
- What documents are required? - An IEC, AD Code, LUT, GST registration and standard identity and address proof. FBA sellers should also know about the requirements for Importer of Record (IOR).
- What does Amazon Global Selling cost? - The Professional plan costs $39.99 per month while the Individual plan costs $0.99 per item sold. Sellers also pay referral fees of approximately 8% to 20%, along with fulfilment and other applicable selling fees.
- How long does registration take? - Registration typically takes about 15 minutes for sellers with the required documents and an internationally enabled credit or debit card, although account verification may take longer.
- How can sellers avoid losing margin on payouts? - Use a compliant virtual account provider that offers flat fees and live exchange rates like Skydo instead of Amazon's currency conversion service.
What Is Amazon Global Selling Programme?
Amazon Global Selling is Amazon’s cross-border marketplace offering through which Indian companies can list their products and offer them for sale on Amazon’s international marketplaces without establishing an overseas office.
It operates globally, including the United States, United Kingdom, UAE, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Australia and Saudi Arabia. It is not a separate platform but rather a functionality within an already existing Seller Central account, which can be accessed from the "Sell Globally" dashboard.
Amazon provides the marketplace, fulfillment services through FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon), if selected; payment solutions, and access to shipping partners, whereas sellers remain responsible for product selection, customs compliance, and localising their product listings.
Such an approach works well for Indian SMEs, D2C brands, artisans, and manufacturers who want to enter the international market.
💡 QUICK INSIGHT
More than 200,000 Indian sellers are using Amazon Global Selling, but most are unaware that they lose 3 to 5% on each payment. Hence, it is equally important to understand the process to choose the right product or marketplace.
Why Should Indian Sellers Consider Amazon Global Selling Programme?
Indian sellers should consider Amazon Global Selling because it provides access to international customers without the high setup costs of traditional exporting. With Amazon Global Selling, you can target buyers across the US, UK, UAE, and Canada almost immediately.
Additionally, Indian skincare, fashion, home products, and wellness products continue to see strong demand in international markets. To enter this market, getting comprehensive knowledge about selling in the US marketplace from India would be a great starting point. Besides this,
- You get access to hundreds of millions of buyers worldwide, way beyond the domestic Indian market.
- There is no need to lease foreign offices, recruit overseas staff, or build country-specific websites.
- Amazon can provide warehousing, fulfillment services through FBA (if selected), customer support, and multilingual tools, thereby allowing sellers to focus on their products and pricing.
- Earning in USD, GBP, or AED lets you reinvest capital much faster than relying only on INR payouts.
- Selling across multiple regions protects your business if one particular economy slows down.
- Indian exporters on Amazon sold more than 750 million product units globally, between 2015 and 2025, which further demonstrates the scale of international demand.
Which are the Top Amazon Markets for Indian Sellers?
The top Amazon markets for Indian sellers include the US, UK, Canada, UAE, France, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Italy and Spain.
There are 18+ Amazon global marketplaces where Indian sellers can sell their products in accordance with regional categorisation, which is North America (US, Canada, Mexico), Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Netherlands, Turkey), Asia Pacific (Australia), and the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia).
The United States is the largest and most experienced market for Amazon; and Germany and the UK are second due to their large customer bases and the development of online stores.
A North America Unified Account covers the US, Canada, and Mexico, while a Europe seller account includes the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Turkey. Every other marketplace requires a separate account and subscription fee. The UAE, accessible through Amazon UAE for Indian sellers, has high demand for Made-in-India products and shorter shipping distances compared to other Western markets.
The choice of marketplace should depend on product demand, competition, and business goals.
What Products To Sell Globally on Amazon from India?
The top-selling categories of Indian products on Amazon Global include home textiles, clothing, furniture, toys, beauty, and health and personal care. The Amazon Global selling products list reveals the areas where Indian merchants find strong demand abroad:
- Home Textiles: Bed sheets and pillowcases, flat bed sheets
- Clothing: T-shirts, button-down shirts, sweatpants, briefs, camis and tank tops
- Furniture: Area carpets
- Toys: Science kits, origami
- Beauty: Hair treatment oil, body butter
- Health & Personal Care: Multi-vitamins and multi-minerals, electrolytes
These categories continue to perform well since they hold constant international demand and are well suited to cross-border ecommerce; particularly products that have standard specifications, strong branding potential, and repeat purchase demand.
However, not every product can be marketed everywhere. Customer preferences, product standards, import regulations and certification requirements vary across countries. Hence, sellers must evaluate demand and compliance requirements in their target market before listing products.
💡 QUICK INSIGHT
Indian-made products in wellness, home textiles, and apparel still rank among the most in demand items for Amazon customers overseas. However, product demand varies by marketplace, so a category that performs well in one country may not achieve the same results in another.
How to Register for Amazon Global Selling? A Step-by-Step Guide for Indian Sellers
How to register for Amazon Global Selling
Hover over a step to see more.
Gather your documents
Keep your ID proof, address proof and an international card ready.
Also have your email, mobile number and a recent bank or card statement on hand.
Create your account
Pick your target marketplace and sign up on the portal.
Choose a market like the US, UK or UAE, then verify your email with an OTP.
Add business and seller details
Enter your registered business address and payment card.
This is the seller information Amazon holds against your account.
Set up profile and bank
Upload ID for KYC and link your Indian bank account.
Your linked account is where payouts land, in INR.
List your products
Add items manually or by bulk upload.
To sync listings across global stores, use the Build International Listings (BIL) tool.
Choose how you ship
Fulfil orders yourself with MFN, or let Amazon handle it with FBA.
FBA covers warehousing, fulfilment and customer service for you.
To register for Amazon Global Selling, visit the Amazon Global Selling registration portal, choose your target marketplace, create a seller account, submit the relevant documents and complete the verification process. Creating an account will take around 15 minutes, but verification may take longer.
Here is what the setup process actually looks like:
- Step 1: Gather Required Documents: Keep your email address, mobile number, identity proof, address proof (such as a recent bank or credit card statement), and an internationally enabled credit or debit card ready.
- Step 2: Account Creation: Head over to the portal, choose your target marketplace (such as the US, UK, or UAE), click "Create your Amazon account," and verify your email with an OTP.
- Step 3: Business & Seller Information: Enter all your business and seller details, including your registered business address and payment card information.
- Step 4: Profile & Bank Setup: Upload your identity proof for KYC verification and connect your Indian bank account to receive payouts in INR.
- Step 5: Product Listings: Add items manually or use a bulk upload file. If you want to sync products across global stores, use the Build International Listings (BIL) tool.
- Step 6: Shipping Options: Choose MFN (Merchant Fulfilled Network) to manage fulfillment yourself or FBA (Fulfilment by Amazon) if you want Amazon to handle warehousing, order fulfilment, and customer service.
⚠️ COMMON MISCONCEPTION
You do not need an overseas bank account to register for Amazon Global Selling. An Indian bank account works completely fine for receiving payouts.
Once you complete your Amazon Global Selling login, the "Sell Globally" tab inside Seller Central lets you control your entire international operation from one single dashboard.
What Documents Are Required for Selling on Amazon Globally?
The necessary Amazon Global Selling documents required for India include the IEC, AD Code, LUT, GST registration, Importer of Record (IOR) details, and usual ID and address proof. The complete Amazon Global Selling documents are divided into two types: trade compliance documents and identification documents.
| Document | What It Is | Who Needs It | Where to Get It |
|---|---|---|---|
| IEC | 10-digit Importer Exporter Code establishing legal import-export status | All exporters, without exception | DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in) |
| AD Code | 14-digit code linking a bank account to customs for foreign exchange (FX) tracking | All exporters, for customs clearance at the relevant port | The exporter's bank (authorised dealer branch) |
| LUT | Declaration allowing exports without paying IGST upfront | Exporters who wish to export without paying IGST upfront | GST portal, renewed every financial year |
| GST Registration | Mandatory registration even though exports are zero-rated | All goods exporters, regardless of turnover | GST portal (gst.gov.in) |
| IOR | Party responsible for customs compliance at the destination | Sellers using FBA, since Amazon is not the IOR | A qualified IOR service, or the seller's own entity abroad |
Here are a few additional points to know about each document:
- IEC: Further allows access to incentive schemes and GST exemption while filing an LUT.
- AD Code: Holds permanent validity from the time of issue as long as there is no change in the associated bank account.
- LUT: If not available, IGST is paid in advance and refunded back to the sellers.
- GST Registration: Exporters can either do export under the LUT without IGST payment and thus claim an input tax credit or pay IGST and get a refund later.
- IOR: Amazon will not be your IOR for FBA stocks, you have to handle that yourself.
- Other Documents: This may include PAN card, ID proof (Aadhaar, passport, or driver’s license), Address proof, and an internationally activated credit/debit card.
Along with these documents, exporters should also understand the role of FIRA and eBRC in export payment documentation, as both serve different sets of purposes during the export process.
⚠️ COMMON MISCONCEPTION
GST registration is not optional for Amazon Global Sellers. Although exports are treated as zero-rated supplies under GST, exporters are still required to obtain GST registration.
What Are Amazon Global Selling Fees in India?
The Amazon Global Selling fees in India consist of subscription fees, referral commission fees, FBA or FBM fulfillment fees, along with other service fees comprising advertising, storage, international shipping, and customs duties, depending on your selling model and destination country.
- Subscription / Selling Plan Fee: Individual plan costs $0.99/unit (no monthly fee, suitable for sellers with less than 40 units/month), Professional plan costs $39.99/month (and include features such as Buy Box eligibility, promotions and bulk listing options).
- Referral Fee: Commission charged by Amazon per sale, ranging from 8% to 20% by category (with most categories falling between 8% to15%).
- FBA Fees: This includes fees related to storage, packaging, and shipping by Amazon. Charges depend on the size, weight, destination, and shipping speed chosen.
- FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant, also known as Merchant Fulfilled Network or MFN): Storage, packaging, shipping, and returns are managed by the seller, with shipping costs depending on the chosen courier/logistics partner you choose.
- Other Fees: These include optional costs, such as running ads (Sponsored Product/Brand/Display), FBA storage fees, and Brand Registry.
- Shipping and Customs: International shipping charges depend on package dimensions, final weight, destination, and carrier, while custom duties and taxes vary according to the country's import laws.
Note: Since Amazon charges vary across marketplaces and fulfilment methods, understanding the complete fee structure can help you estimate your overall Amazon selling costs more accurately.
FBA vs FBM Comparison Table
Your fulfilment method also affects the fees you pay and the level of operational responsibility you take on. The comparison below highlights the key differences between FBA and FBM.
| Factor | FBM | FBA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Seller pays for packing, shipping, returns | Seller pays Amazon fees for storage and shipping |
| Control | Seller manages everything | Amazon controls most of the process |
| Delivery Speed | Depends on the seller's courier and setup | Usually faster, with a better customer experience |
| Effort | More work, packing, shipping, and returns fall to the seller | Less work, Amazon handles packing, delivery, and returns |
| Best For | Small sellers or low-volume, custom products | Sellers wanting to scale quickly with fast delivery |
How Does Skydo Help Amazon Global Sellers in India Receive International Payments?
Skydo helps Amazon Global Sellers in India get their international payments via free virtual accounts in USD, GBP, EUR, and other currencies, at flat transaction fees and no forex markup. Skydo is a cross-border payment platform that helps Indian businesses and freelancers receive international payments without the typical friction of traditional banking.
The table below compares Skydo's pricing with Amazon.
| Payment Scenario | Amazon | Skydo |
|---|---|---|
| Forex markup on conversion | Typically applies a forex spread during currency conversion | 0% forex markup |
| Transaction fee | Included within the conversion rate | Flat $19 (below $2,000), $29 ($2,000-$10,000), 0.3% (above $10,000) |
| FIRA | Requires a separate request through the payment provider or bank, depending on how payouts are received. Usually at an additional charge | Automatic FIRA for every eligible inward remittance |
Can Indians sell on Amazon USA without a US bank account?
A US Bank account is not needed for selling products on Amazon USA. Indian sellers can receive payouts from Amazon USA either in INR into their domestic bank account or in USD through a virtual multicurrency account.
How much does it cost to start Amazon Global Selling from India?
Can I make $1,000 a month selling on Amazon internationally?
Is Amazon Global Selling open to individual sellers or only businesses?
What is the difference between FBA and MFN for Indian Amazon sellers?
What is an AD Code and why do Indian Amazon sellers need it?
How do Indian Amazon sellers receive USD or GBP payouts compliantly?
Do Indian Amazon Global Sellers need to pay GST on international sales?
