How to Sell in Other Countries from Your TikTok Shop

TikTok has gone from being an app for lip-syncing and funny videos to a world-class e-commerce platform. TikTok has seen explosive growth and continues to appeal to more users daily. With more than a billion active users worldwide, TikTok has long since ceased being an app for viral videos only.

In 2024, going into 2025, it is one of the most successful global marketplaces. If you are a U.S.-based TikTok user, you can use TikTok Shop to reach international markets. Whether your products are designed for a European or Asian market, you can reach your customers via the TikTok e-commerce feature.

Why Expand Your TikTok Shop Internationally?

If you want to grow your business, you must look outside the U.S. TikTok is massive in several other countries, including Brazil and the UK. If you expand your business to these markets, you are accessing millions of potential new customers.

If you sell your products in more than one country, you are not reliant on one market. This reduces the risk of a dip in sales during different seasons. If you were wondering how well cross-border e-commerce is faring, it is projected to reach more than $6 trillion in sales by the end of 2024.

This means it is the perfect time to go global. How? By following these next steps.

Ensure Your TikTok Shop Is Set Up for International Sales

Your shop must meet certain requirements before you can sell anything to an international customer. These include:

• Account verification

  Your TikTok Shop account must be verified. This means submitting business registration and tax information. You must also confirm your business address by uploading a bank statement or utility bill. Ensuring your contact details, address, and website URL are all correctly indicated is also crucial.

• Local compliance

  You must research the legal requirements of selling via TikTok Shop in another country. For instance, if you want to sell to European customers, you may have to register for VAT (depending on specific circumstances).

• Eligible products

  Some products might be restricted to specific countries. You must check TikTok’s guidelines to confirm your items may be sold in your target market.

Research Cross-Border Logistics

If you want to sell to overseas customers, you must also ship to them. When it comes to shipping, you must:

• Partner with reliable shipping providers for each shipment. You must establish a shipping policy explaining delivery times and costs to your customers. At the same time, your customers must be able to track their purchases in real time.

Customs and duties will inevitably form part of your sales process. Be clear about:

• Payment for customs duties and taxes. You could offer Delivered Duty Paid options to make buying easier for your customers. If you do not offer this option, clarify that the customer must fork out extra money.

• You must also ensure that you provide the right documentation for each shipment. If you make mistakes on customs forms, your customer’s shipment will likely be delayed.

Your product packaging must be on point when you ship to a customer. This means you must:

• Use packaging suitable for international shipping and protect the products you send.

• Comply with local regulations. Some countries have specific packaging rules for specific items.

Optimize Your TikTok Shop for International Audiences

Before selling or shipping to anyone, you must convince them to buy from you. You can only do this successfully if your products appeal to your international target market.

Fortunately, there are several strategies to use to make your products appeal to buyers. For instance, you can create region-specific TikTok product videos. These videos should demonstrate how your products meet your target audience’s needs.

Use local slang or language to further appeal to your audience if possible. It would also be helpful if you accept local currencies and offer various payment methods.

Moreover, you should be posting your marketing videos during peak engagement hours. This is easier during busy seasons like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Use TikTok’s Global Features

TikTok makes selling your products easy by providing several tools and features that support cross-border sales.

For example, TikTok Shop offers cross-border fulfillment options. All you need to do is enable international shipping.

You can use the TikTok Ads Manager to refine your marketing efforts. This means setting up your advertising campaigns based on location, buyer age, interests, and shopping behaviors.

With TikTok, connecting and collaborating with influencers in your target country is easy. This should make it easy to build credibility and visibility in that country.

Customer Service Makes All the Difference

You are not the only one selling products from the U.S. in another country. If you want customers to choose you over your competition, you must provide excellent customer service.

This includes offering multilingual support. Not everyone is going to ask questions or complain in English. With multilingual support, you will understand what your buyers want and be able to help them.

You must also have a clear product return policy (ideally in multiple languages). This will help your international customers understand when and how to return a product for a refund.

Regions to Consider in 2025

If you plan to sell internationally for the first time, you should consider Southeast Asia and the UK as target markets. In 2024, more than 80% of TikTok Shop sales were done in Southeast Asia.

There are also more than 50,000 TikTok Shops in Indonesia, indicating how popular the e-commerce platform is here.

Other countries to consider include Brazil. E-commerce is growing in Brazil among an engaged TikTok community.

Expand Your TikTok Shop in 2025

As we enter another new year, you can grow your business by selling internationally via your TikTok shop. Going global does not only mean more customers. It also means you position your business as one to contend with internationally.

The growth opportunities are seemingly endless. Plus, TikTok provides the tools you need to reach international audiences.

So, embrace what TikTok Shop and international target markets offer and watch your brand expand in the new year.