How to Sell Internationally Online from India?

Selling internationally from India is totally doable, and many small businesses and startups are already crushing it. You can sell internationally from India using platforms like Amazon Global, Etsy, and eBay — these are great options for tapping into existing marketplaces. However, for full control over your branding, customer experience, and profits, setting up a Shopify store is the most effective long-term option.

This guide walks you through the exact steps required to sell internationally from India using Shopify.

How to Sell Internationally Online from India Using Shopify?

1. Register Your Business in India

Before you can begin selling internationally, you need to legally register your business in India. The ideal business structure for most sellers is a Private Limited Company as it offers better credibility, liability protection, and ease of global operations. Registering as a company also allows you to open a business bank account and access government export benefits. Here’s a breakdown of the required steps:

1.1 Director Identification Number (DIN)

The Director Identification Number (DIN) is a unique identification number issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) for each company director. It is essential for filing company registration documents. To obtain a DIN, you need to apply online through the MCA portal with your personal details, and once approved, you will receive your DIN.

1.2 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC)

A Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is an electronic version of your physical signature. It is required for signing company registration and GST documents online. You can obtain a DSC from a certified agency by submitting identification proof. Once issued, you’ll use it for official digital filings throughout your business operations.

1.3 Company Incorporation

Incorporating your company involves registering it with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) to give your business a legal identity. This is essential for operating as a recognized company, such as a Private Limited Company, which is ideal for most businesses. The incorporation process is done online through the MCA portal, where you submit your company details and receive a Certificate of Incorporation once approved.

1.4 Opening a Current Account

After your company is incorporated, you need to open a current account in the company’s name to manage payments and business transactions. This account is essential for receiving payments from customers and paying vendors. You can open the account at any bank by providing your company’s incorporation documents, DIN, DSC, and other necessary details.

2. Apply for GST and File LUT

Even if you don’t expect to cross the GST threshold immediately, getting a GST registration is highly recommended for exporters. It allows you to claim tax credits on purchases and legitimizes your operations in the eyes of payment gateways and shipping partners. Additionally, it’s a prerequisite for LUT filing.

The Letter of Undertaking (LUT) is a declaration you submit to the government stating that you intend to export goods or services without paying IGST upfront. Filing an LUT helps you avoid blocking cash flow and eliminates the need to claim tax refunds after the fact.

3. Obtain Import Export Code (IEC)

To legally export products from India, you must obtain an Import Export Code (IEC). It’s a unique 10-digit code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) and is mandatory for shipping goods and receiving international payments.

The application process is online and fairly simple, but you’ll need to keep these documents handy:

PAN Card of the business or individual
Business address proof such as electricity bill, rent agreement, or property papers
A cancelled cheque or bank certificate to verify account details

Once submitted through the DGFT portal, the IEC is typically issued within 48 hours. It does not require renewal and is valid for a lifetime.

4. Create Your Shopify Store

After taking care of legal and compliance steps, it’s time to set up your online store. Shopify offers a complete e-commerce solution that includes a website builder, payment processor, shipping integration, and customer management—all in one place. It’s perfect for Indian businesses aiming to sell globally.

Start by creating an account at Shopify.com and selecting a plan. The Basic plan offers all the essential features for international selling.

How to Sell Internationally Online from India?

Once your account is active, you can build your storefront as follows:

Select a professional theme, either free or paid, to set the visual tone of your brand
Add your logo, brand colors, and fonts to create a consistent brand identity
Upload product photos, write detailed descriptions, and set clear pricing
Connect a custom domain for a branded web address (e.g., www.yourstore.com)

Shopify’s interface is intuitive, and no coding knowledge is required to launch your store.

5. Configure International Settings in Shopify

To make your Shopify store suitable for global visitors, you need to configure a few international settings. Shopify offers powerful tools under Shopify Markets that let you manage multiple currencies, languages, and regional pricing from a single dashboard. This helps improve customer experience for users from different countries.

Key settings to activate include:

Currency Conversion: Enable automatic conversion so customers see prices in their local currency
Language Support: Use Shopify’s Translate & Adapt app to offer your site in multiple languages
Country-Specific Pricing: Adjust prices for specific regions based on your strategy
Geolocation Redirection: Automatically redirect users to the correct localized version of your store

6. Integrate International Payment Gateways

Accepting international payments is crucial for cross-border business. You need reliable payment gateways that support global currencies and offer smooth transactions. Shopify supports several popular options for Indian sellers.

Recommended gateways include:

PayPal Business: Easy to set up and widely trusted by international buyers
Razorpay: Supports payments from international credit and debit cards when enabled in settings
Stripe via Payoneer: Though Stripe doesn’t operate directly in India, you can use it through a virtual account provided by Payoneer

Ensure that your receiving bank provides FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificates) for every international transaction. These are required for compliance and may be requested during tax filing or audits.

7. Set Up Global Shipping

Shipping is one of the most critical components of international selling. You need to partner with reliable logistics providers and clearly define your shipping zones and pricing strategies. Many Indian sellers rely on aggregators who simplify the process.

Here are a few logistics options you can consider:

ShiprocketX and iThink Logistics for end-to-end cross-border fulfillment
DHL, FedEx, and Aramex for fast international deliveries with tracking

In your Shopify dashboard, create separate shipping zones for each region you’re targeting. Offer flat rates, live rates based on carrier pricing, or free shipping above a certain order value to encourage larger purchases.

Also, make sure you prepare the right export documentation:

Commercial Invoice listing product details and pricing
HS Code for each product to determine duties and taxes
Airway Bill (AWB) or shipping label for tracking

8. Legal and Tax Compliance

After your first few international sales, it’s important to stay on top of legal and tax compliance. Exporting from India is zero-rated under GST, but you must still file returns. Also, maintain a clean record of all export documents.

Here’s what you need to manage:

Renew and file the LUT every financial year on the GST portal
Collect FIRCs for all international payments received
File GST returns regularly even if tax paid is zero
Maintain shipping bills, invoices, and payment confirmations for each export

Keeping everything organized helps you qualify for government schemes and stay audit-ready.

9. Market Your Brand Internationally

Once your operations are in place, it’s time to attract customers. Marketing is key to growing a global audience. Shopify integrates easily with major ad and marketing platforms, making it simple to run targeted campaigns.

Some effective strategies include:

Facebook and Instagram Ads: Run ads targeting users in countries you ship to
Google Shopping: List your products for free and run paid campaigns to drive traffic
Email Marketing: Use tools like Klaviyo to send welcome emails, offers, and abandoned cart reminders
SEO: Optimize your product pages and blogs using country-specific keywords and search phrases

Conclusion

Selling internationally from India is a structured process, but it’s very achievable with the right setup. Once you register your business, get the required licenses, and build your Shopify store, you’re well on your way to reaching global customers. Focus on compliance, build trust through good shipping and payments, and invest in consistent marketing. This guide lays out the foundation — all that’s left is execution.