DDP vs DAP: Who Pays Import Duties on Korean Skincare Orders?

When you buy Korean skincare from overseas, the product price is only part of the cost. Duties, VAT or GST, and courier brokerage fees can add 10–30% more. The question is who pays them, and when. That is what DDP and DAP mean.

This guide explains both terms in plain language, shows what small cosmetics orders cost on arrival in the main markets, and how to compare suppliers on total landed cost.

1. DDP vs DAP in one table

	DDP Delivered Duty Paid	DAP Delivered At Place
Who pays duties & VAT/GST	Seller, before shipping	Buyer, on arrival
Courier brokerage fee	Included	Usually billed to the buyer
Price you see at checkout	Higher, but final	Lower, but not final
Delivery	Straight to your door	Can wait in customs until you pay
Best for	Clinics that want a fixed, known cost	Countries with high duty-free limits, or buyers with their own customs broker

Neither term is "better" everywhere. DDP removes surprises. DAP can be cheaper where small parcels enter tax-free, such as Australia.

2. Why DDP matters for US buyers now

The US used to let parcels under USD 800 enter duty-free (the "de minimis" rule). That exemption is suspended, and Congress has voted to repeal it permanently from July 2027. In practice, every commercial cosmetics shipment into the US owes duty, including samples and test orders.

With a DAP seller, that duty is billed to you on delivery, together with a courier brokerage fee. The parcel can be held until you pay. With a DDP seller, it is already paid.

How KINN handles it: every US order ships DDP. US prices already include import duties, we prepay customs, and there is nothing to pay on delivery. Shipping is calculated by weight and shown at checkout before you pay.

3. What small cosmetics orders cost on arrival, by country

A general guide for finished Korean cosmetics (October 2026). Your customs authority's assessment is always final.

Destination	KINN terms	What you typically pay on arrival
United States	DDP	Nothing. Duties are included in US prices.
Australia	DAP	Up to AUD 1,000: normally no duty or GST at the border. Above AUD 1,000: 10% GST plus clearance charges. Korean-origin cosmetics are duty-free under the Korea–Australia FTA.
United Kingdom	DAP	20% VAT plus a courier handling fee. Cosmetics carry no customs duty.
Canada	DAP	GST/HST (5–15% by province) plus a brokerage fee. Korean-origin cosmetics are duty-free under the Canada–Korea FTA.
EU (France, Netherlands, Germany…)	DAP	Local VAT (about 19–27%) plus a handling fee. Cosmetics carry no customs duty. We do not ship to Spain.
UAE / Saudi Arabia	DAP	5% customs duty plus VAT (5% UAE, 15% Saudi Arabia).

4. Buying for Australia: keep test orders under AUD 1,000

Australia has one of the most generous limits for small imports. Goods valued at AUD 1,000 or less (about USD 650) are not charged customs duty or GST at the border. For a clinic or reseller testing Korean skin boosters, that means:

• A first order of a few boxes of PDRN or exosome ampoules normally clears with no import charges.
• Most KINN products start at 1 unit per SKU, so you can mix several products and stay under the limit.
• When you scale above AUD 1,000, expect 10% GST plus clearance fees. Duty stays at zero for Korean-origin cosmetics.

5. Worked example: same order, two suppliers

An illustrative US order of three skin booster boxes:

	Supplier A (DAP)	Supplier B (DDP)
Product price at checkout	USD 250	USD 300 (duties included)
Shipping	USD 60	USD 60
You pay online	USD 310	USD 360
Duty billed on delivery	USD 30–45	0
Courier brokerage fee	USD 15–35	0
Real landed cost	USD 355–390	USD 360

The DAP supplier looks cheaper online, but the final cost is the same or higher, and the parcel can sit in customs until you pay. Always compare the landed cost.

6. Ordering from KINN outside the US

• Orders to all other countries ship DAP from Busan by EMS or DHL Express with tracking, in 7–21 business days.
• Orders over USD 300: 50% of your import charges comes back as store credit for your next order (valid 6 months, usable up to 25% of that order).
• Order 3 or more items and 23% is taken off automatically at checkout.
• Every shipment includes COA and MSDS to help your parcel clear customs.

7. Checklist before you order from any overseas supplier

• Is the order shipped DDP or DAP to your country?
• If DAP, roughly how much duty and VAT/GST will you pay on arrival?
• Who pays the courier's brokerage or handling fee?
• Does your country have a duty-free limit, and is your order under it?
• Will the shipment include COA and MSDS for customs?

FAQ

What does DDP mean on a Korean skincare order?

Delivered Duty Paid. The seller prepays import duties and customs clearance, so you pay nothing when the parcel arrives. KINN ships all US orders DDP.

Is DDP more expensive than DAP?

The checkout price is higher because duties are included. The total landed cost is usually the same or lower, because there is no brokerage fee or surprise bill on delivery.

Do small or sample orders to the US still pay duty?

Yes. With de minimis suspended, every commercial cosmetics shipment owes duty regardless of value. With KINN that duty is already included in the US price.

Do you ship DDP to Australia?

Australian orders ship DAP. Orders valued at AUD 1,000 or less are normally not charged duty or GST at the border, so most first orders arrive with no import charges.

What happens if I refuse to pay import charges on a DAP parcel?

The courier usually returns or disposes of the parcel. All KINN sales are final, so check your country's charges before ordering, or ask us for an estimate.

Next step: read our quick facts for buyers and shipping policy, see the guide to buying Korean skin boosters in small quantities, or browse skin booster ampoules.