Delivered At Place (DAP) — also referred to as Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) — means the recipient is responsible for paying duties and taxes on delivery. Some countries do not accept Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipments. A dedicated DAP shipping zone ensures customers in those countries are not shown prepaid duties at checkout.
DDP and DAP: a quick summary
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — The seller covers all duties and taxes. The recipient pays nothing extra on delivery. All EU orders in Swap are shipped DDP by default.
DAP (Delivered At Place) — The recipient pays duties and taxes on delivery. Used for countries that do not accept DDP.
Factors such as country of origin and de minimis thresholds can influence duty calculations. Products from certain countries may incur higher duties due to reciprocal tariffs.
How to create a DAP shipping zone
Navigate to Shipping > Add Shipping Zone.
Name the zone (for example: "DAP Countries" or "Non-DDP Zone").
Add the countries that do not accept DDP. See the Countries where DAP is required section below for a full reference list.
Click Add New Rule and configure the shipping rules as DAP (recipient pays duties on delivery). Add any tax/duty buffers if needed.
Click Save on the rule, then Save on the zone.
Activate the zone to make it live.
Countries where DAP is required
The following countries require DAP because DDP is either legally prohibited or not practically available to foreign merchants.
Legally prohibited — non-resident cannot act as Importer of Record
These countries have legal frameworks that prevent foreign exporters from acting as the importer of record and paying duties on behalf of the recipient.
Brazil — Brazilian law requires that only a locally established entity or licensed third-party importer may clear goods and pay duties. DDP is explicitly incompatible with the Brazilian legal system.
Mexico — Non-resident entities cannot hold the RFC (tax registration) required to act as importer of record. DDP requires a local representative or licensed customs broker acting as importer.
Argentina — Only locally registered importers can pay duties and clear customs. Foreign exporters cannot fulfil DDP obligations without a local structure.
Venezuela — Strict import controls, state currency restrictions, and IOR requirements make DDP unavailable for foreign sellers.
IOR barriers — DDP requires a local entity or IOR service
DDP is technically possible in these markets but only with a locally registered entity or a third-party Importer of Record (IOR) service. Without one, DAP is the only practical option.
India — GST registration is required; non-residents cannot act as IOR under Indian customs law.
Indonesia — IOR requires a locally registered Indonesian company. Foreign sellers cannot fulfil DDP obligations.
China (inbound) — DDP into China requires a local licensed importer or ICP-registered entity.
Pakistan — Import licensing, currency controls, and customs complexity make DDP impractical without local infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia — Strict IOR rules prevent non-resident entities from paying duties directly.
Turkey — Customs regime requires a locally established entity to act as importer of record.
Carrier service restrictions
DDP is unavailable in these markets because major carriers have suspended or severely restricted service.
Russia — FedEx, UPS, and DHL have suspended or heavily restricted services. DDP was not widely supported even before suspension.
Belarus — Same carrier suspension as Russia.
Ukraine — Ongoing service disruptions make consistent DDP fulfilment impossible.
Best practices
Use the Swap Global Dashboard to verify customs duties by product, country of origin, and HS code.
Always check commercial invoices and carrier documentation to confirm the correct Incoterms are applied.
Review and update shipping zone configurations regularly to reflect changes in international shipping policies.