How can I easily configure international shipping for my online store?

[chedelson96]

We were originally just shipping to the USA but want to ship everywhere in the world. 

Is there an easy way to configure this?

Or do I need to create zones and manually select hundreds of countries? For example, if I were to create 'Europe' would I then need to select each European country? Seems tedious. Hoping there's an easier way.

@Shopify 

[Moira]

Hey @chedelson96,

Shopify doesn't provide a pre-defined market option for the European Union or other regions because shipping rates and restrictions can vary greatly between countries within a region. Even within the European Union, there are different tax rates, customs regulations, and shipping costs depending on the country of destination. In addition, different merchants may have different strategies for pricing and shipping, so providing a one-size-fits-all option might not work well for everyone.

By allowing merchants to create their own shipping zones and select the countries individually, Shopify provides more flexibility and customization to suit the needs of each store owner. While it may require a bit more effort to set up initially, it can lead to a more effective and tailored shipping strategy in the long run.

Shopify also provides an option to use a third-party shipping app for international shipping if you need more advanced features. Some popular shipping apps on the Shopify app store are Easyship, Shippo, and Shipstation.

If you use Shopify Markets, an international market is created for you when you first access Shopify Markets. It includes a curated list of countries and regions that other merchants similar to you might sell to. The international market is inactive by default. You can start selling to all countries within the international market by making it active.