Selling on Amazon in just one country limits your potential customer base. 

But expanding internationally has always come with headaches - separate inventory, complex taxes, and shipping nightmares. 

That's where Amazon's North America Remote Fulfillment (NARF) program steps in to make international expansion actually doable for sellers like you.

I've helped dozens of sellers use this program to unlock new markets without the usual complexities. 

Let's break down exactly what NARF is, how it works, and whether it makes sense for your Amazon business.

What Exactly Is Amazon NARF?

NARF (North America Remote Fulfillment) is Amazon's solution that lets US-based FBA sellers list their products on Amazon's Canadian, Mexican, and Brazilian marketplaces - without sending a single unit of inventory to those countries.

The beauty of this program lies in its simplicity. 

Your inventory sits in US fulfillment centers, but customers in Canada, Mexico, and Brazil see your products on their local Amazon sites, complete with Prime shipping badges.

How does it actually work? 

Amazon creates a "Global SKU" for each of your products. 

If you have 100 units in US FBA, that same inventory count appears across all marketplaces. 

When a Canadian customer orders your product, Amazon ships it directly from your US inventory.

Prime customers in these countries get free international shipping (though delivery takes longer than domestic Prime - about 5-9 days for Mexico and 7-12 days for Canada). 

For Brazil, shipping times vary but follow similar patterns. 

And here's a huge bonus: customers pay import duties and taxes at checkout, so you don't need to worry about customs paperwork.

Why Consider Using NARF? The Benefits Break Down

Test International Markets With Minimal Risk

NARF lets you dip your toes into international waters without committing to separate warehouses or inventory allocations. 

This makes it perfect for testing product demand before investing in direct expansion.

You can think of it as a "soft launch" into new markets. 

If sales take off, great! If not, you haven't sunk thousands into inventory and logistics.

Simplified Inventory Management

All orders ship from your existing US FBA inventory, eliminating the need to split stock between countries. 

This single-inventory approach streamlines your operations and reduces complexity.

No Additional Program Costs

There's no fee to enroll in NARF. 

You pay only your standard Professional Seller plan plus the applicable fees when orders come in. 

This zero-upfront-cost model makes it accessible to sellers of all sizes.

Import Duties Handled For You

As the seller, you don't need to register for Canadian or Mexican taxes. Customers are the importers of record and pay any required fees at checkout. 

Amazon and its carriers handle all the customs paperwork automatically.

This is huge for sellers worried about international tax compliance. Avoiding foreign tax registration requirements is one of NARF's biggest advantages.

Automatic Listing Creation

With a Unified North America account, Amazon automatically creates your foreign listings using its Build International Listings tool. 

Your existing images, descriptions, and even reviews carry over—with automatic translation to the local language.

Prime Trust Factor

Your products display the Prime badge on Amazon.ca, Amazon.com.mx, and Amazon.com.br. 

While Prime shipping via NARF takes longer than domestic Prime (1-2 weeks versus 2 days), it still offers free international delivery to Prime members, giving your listings a significant trust advantage.

Flexible Participation

You can enroll or pause products at any time through Seller Central. 

This flexibility lets you experiment with international selling without long-term commitments.

The Drawbacks: NARF Isn't Perfect

Higher Fulfillment Fees Cut Into Margins

NARF orders incur higher FBA fulfillment fees than US orders. 

For example, a small item might cost $3.50 to fulfill in the US but $5.50 via NARF to Canada. 

These fees directly impact your profitability.

As one seller noted on Reddit, "NARF adds about $2-3 per unit to my fulfillment costs compared to domestic sales. This makes sense for higher-priced items but kills margins on anything under $20."

Longer Delivery Times Affect Customer Experience

NARF shipping takes significantly longer than domestic Prime - up to 1-2 weeks versus the 2-day standard. 

This slower delivery can impact reviews and repeat purchases.

Price Competitiveness Issues

Buyers pay import duties and taxes on NARF orders, which increases their total cost. 

A Canadian customer might see 15% or more added to their checkout price due to import fees, making your products less competitive against local sellers.

Currency Fluctuations Impact Profits

Your proceeds from NARF sales convert from foreign currencies (CAD/MXN/BRL) to USD, exposing you to exchange rate risks. 

While Amazon's Build International Listings tool adjusts prices to account for currency differences, unexpected rate changes can compress your margins.

Product Eligibility Limitations

Not every product can use NARF. Restricted, prohibited, or hazmat items are ineligible. 

Very bulky or heavy items may also be excluded due to prohibitive shipping costs.

Returns Take Longer

Returns from international customers go back to US warehouses, extending the return cycle.

Items could be in transit for weeks, tying up your capital and complicating inventory management.

Limited Long-term Growth

While NARF works well as an entry strategy, it might not support significant scale. 

Sellers who transition to storing inventory in Canada often see sales "increase significantly" due to faster delivery and local Prime benefits.

Chelsea Cohen, co-founder of inventory management tool SoStocked, puts it clearly: "NARF is an excellent starting point, but sellers seeing consistent international demand should eventually consider local fulfillment for better customer experience and potentially higher profits."

NARF vs. Other Amazon Programs: Key Differences

NARF vs. FBA Export

These programs sound similar but serve different purposes:

• FBA Export: Allows international customers to buy from Amazon.com (the US site) and have items shipped globally. Customers must shop on the US site and pay international shipping.

• NARF: Lists your products on local Amazon sites (Amazon.ca, Amazon.mx, Amazon.com.br) in local currencies. Customers get a localized shopping experience with Prime shipping.

NARF tends to drive more sales in Canada/Mexico because customers shop on their familiar local sites and see Prime/free shipping benefits. 

However, FBA Export reaches dozens of countries beyond NARF's current scope.

Interestingly, you can use both simultaneously—they're not mutually exclusive.

NARF vs. Pan-North American FBA

If you send inventory directly to Amazon.ca or Amazon.mx FBA warehouses, customers get faster local delivery without import duties. 

However, this approach requires higher upfront costs: shipping inventory internationally, paying for storage abroad, and potentially registering for local taxes.

Many successful sellers follow a progression: start with NARF to validate demand, then upgrade to local FBA stock once products prove successful internationally.

NARF vs. Multi-Channel Fulfillment (MCF)

These serve entirely different purposes:

• NARF: For selling on Amazon's international marketplaces using US inventory.

• MCF: For fulfilling orders from non-Amazon channels (like your Shopify store) using FBA inventory.

They're separate use cases, though both leverage your existing FBA inventory.

NARF vs. Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP)

While not a direct alternative to NARF, Seller Fulfilled Prime allows you to ship orders yourself (or via a 3PL) with Prime badging. 

If you have robust international shipping capabilities, you could list on Amazon.ca/mx via SFP, but this requires managing cross-border shipping yourself.

Most smaller sellers find NARF simpler than arranging international SFP, which comes with strict performance standards.

NARF vs. Amazon Global Selling

Amazon Global Selling is the broader initiative encompassing all international expansion options. NARF is one specific method under that umbrella, focused on North America and Brazil.

For expansion to Europe, you'd need different programs (Pan-EU FBA or European Fulfillment Network) since NARF doesn't cover those regions.

Who Can Use NARF? Eligibility and Requirements

Professional Seller Account Required

You must have a Professional seller account ($39.99/month), not an Individual plan. NARF is considered an advanced FBA feature requiring professional-level selling status.

North America Unified Account

Your Amazon Seller Central must be upgraded to a Unified North America account including the US, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. 

This is typically a one-click upgrade in Seller Central. Newer sellers often have this set up by default.

US FBA Inventory

NARF works exclusively with FBA listings—merchant-fulfilled (FBM) listings aren't eligible. Your products must be stored in US FBA warehouses to participate.

Eligible Product Types

Your products must comply with destination country regulations. 

Prohibited and restricted categories (weapons, certain supplements, hazmat goods) can't participate. 

Be especially careful with cosmetics or electronics, which may need specific compliance certifications for Canada/Mexico.

No FBM SKU Conflicts

If you list a product as both FBA and FBM in your US account, you can't enroll that SKU in NARF until you remove the FBM offer. 

This technical limitation means one SKU can't be both NARF and FBM simultaneously.

The workaround is to create separate SKUs for merchant-fulfilled offers.

Tax and Compliance Considerations

No additional business registration is required for Canada/Mexico because Amazon handles importation. 

However, ensure your products meet local standards (like bilingual French/English packaging for Canada if applicable).

While seller tax registration isn't required for NARF currently, monitor any sales thresholds that might eventually trigger registration requirements if laws change.

Insurance Notifications

This often-overlooked detail matters: inform your product liability insurance provider that you're selling internationally through NARF. 

Expanding to new countries might affect your coverage requirements.

Understanding NARF Fees and Pricing

Fulfillment Fee Structure

When a NARF order ships, Amazon charges a Remote Fulfillment fee instead of the regular domestic FBA fee. 

These fees are higher to account for cross-border shipping and vary by item size/weight and destination country.

For example, fulfilling a standard small item to Canada might cost around CAD $8-10 (converted to ~$6-7 USD) per unit, with Mexico fees in a similar range.

According to Amazon's fee calculator, NARF fees average 30-60% higher than standard domestic fulfillment fees.

Referral Fees Remain Consistent

The referral fee (Amazon's sales commission) follows the standard percentage for your product category in the destination marketplace. 

If Amazon.ca charges 15% for your category, that applies to NARF sales on Amazon.ca, calculated on the product price before import fees.

Storage Fees Unchanged

You continue paying US FBA storage fees for inventory. 

There's no additional foreign storage cost since your stock isn't physically in Canada/Mexico warehouses.

However, if NARF significantly increases your sell-through rate, you might need more inventory on hand, potentially increasing your total storage days.

Currency Conversion Considerations

Amazon automatically converts your US price into CAD, MXN, or BRL, but allows you to set adjustments if desired. 

The Build International Listings tool can auto-adjust pricing to account for fees and exchange rates.

For example, if your product sells for $20 USD, Amazon might list it around $27 CAD to cover exchange rates and fees. 

Monitor these conversions regularly, especially during periods of currency volatility.

Pricing Strategy Options

When setting your NARF pricing, you have two main approaches:

1. Add a markup for NARF listings to offset higher fees

2. Keep prices close to US pricing to encourage sales, treating international shipping costs as the customer's burden

The key is ensuring your profit per unit after all fees remains acceptable. 

Use Amazon's Revenue Calculator or "Remote Fulfillment fee preview" report to simulate profits on a NARF sale versus a US sale.

Most successful NARF sellers apply a 10-15% price increase to maintain margins across borders.

Customer Checkout Transparency

Customers see an import fee deposit at checkout and pay in their local currency. You receive payment in USD (which Amazon converts from foreign currency earnings).

Generally, you'll net roughly what you would from a US sale after Amazon's currency conversion and fees - Amazon's pricing tool aims to keep your net proceeds similar, though small differences can occur.

How to Enroll in NARF: Step-by-Step Guide

1. Check Eligibility: Log in to Seller Central (US). Ensure you meet requirements (Professional account, FBA inventory). Go to Settings > Account Info and verify you have a North America Unified Account. If not, click "Upgrade to Unified Account."

2. Navigate to NARF Enrollment: In Seller Central, go to Inventory > Remote Fulfillment with FBA. (You can also search for "Remote Fulfillment" in the search bar.)

3. Start Enrollment: If not yet enrolled, you'll see an explanation page. Click "Enroll".

4. Agree to Terms: Review NARF program policies and fees. Accept the terms to proceed.

5. Select Marketplaces: Choose which marketplaces to enable. Initially, you might select Canada and Mexico (and Brazil, if shown). You can opt out of any country you don't want to sell in.

6. Review Eligible ASINs: Amazon generates a report of eligible FBA SKUs for NARF. Ensure all products you want to sell internationally are included. Missing SKUs might be ineligible due to restrictions.

7. Address FBM Duplicates: If prompted, handle any SKUs with merchant-fulfilled offers. You'll need to decide whether to convert them fully to FBA or exclude them from NARF.

8. Build International Listings: Use Amazon's Build International Listings (BIL) tool to automatically create and link listings on Amazon.ca, Amazon.mx, and Amazon.com.br. This tool copies titles, descriptions, and images, translates where needed, and sets prices based on your US listing.

9. Set Pricing Rules: Within BIL, set price adjustments (percentage or fixed amount) for each marketplace. For instance, you might add 15% for Canada to cover higher fulfillment fees and GST. The tool can also automatically adjust for currency fluctuations.

10. Finalize & Monitor: After enrollment, products should appear on international sites within 1-2 days. Search for your items on Amazon.ca, Amazon.mx, and Amazon.com.br to confirm they show Prime badges. Monitor your Remote Fulfillment sales in Seller Central reports.

If you ever want to disenroll, return to Remote Fulfillment settings and opt out of one or all countries. 

Your foreign listings will be removed if you do so.

Managing and Optimizing Your NARF Performance

Inventory Management Tips

Treat your US FBA inventory as serving multiple countries simultaneously. 

You may see increased sales once Canadian, Mexican, and Brazilian customers gain access. 

Prevent stockouts by forecasting combined demand across all marketplaces.

According to Inventory Lab data, sellers typically see a 10-25% sales increase after enabling NARF, so adjust restock quantities accordingly.

Regular Pricing Reviews

Periodically check your pricing in each marketplace, especially during currency fluctuations. 

The goal is maintaining competitiveness locally.

Compare your Amazon.ca price against similar products fulfilled locally. 

If your price plus import fees looks too high compared to competitors, consider adjustments to boost sales velocity.

Market-Specific Optimization

Just as you optimize listings for Amazon.com, do the same for international marketplaces:

• Keyword Differences: Investigate local language variations. Update translated listings with relevant local search terms—Amazon will auto-translate your content, but may miss colloquial phrases.

• Amazon Advertising: Run targeted PPC campaigns on Amazon.ca, Amazon.mx, and Amazon.com.br. Competition and bids are often lower on these platforms, making advertising more cost-effective. Start by duplicating successful US campaigns and adjusting bids downward by 20-30%.

PPC cost-per-click on Amazon.ca averages 15-20% lower than Amazon.com for many categories.

Customer Service Across Borders

Be prepared for customer questions from international buyers, including messages in Spanish or French. 

While Amazon handles fulfillment and returns, you'll still need to address product inquiries.

Keep translation tools handy—quality customer support leads to positive feedback, which helps establish your brand in new markets.

Performance Metric Monitoring

Track seller metrics by marketplace. While FBA handles fulfillment metrics, watch your Voice of the Customer dashboard for product issues flagged by international buyers. 

Problems like "item not as described" could indicate translation issues or differing expectations.

Consider Local Expansion When Ready

If NARF sales take off, plan your next steps. 

For products consistently selling well internationally, calculate whether storing inventory locally (via Amazon.ca FBA, for example) would boost profits despite the added complexity.

This might involve registering for local taxes (GST/HST in Canada) and sending inventory directly to foreign fulfillment centers - a more involved process, but potentially more profitable at scale.

Stay Updated on Program Changes

Amazon regularly updates its international programs. They added Brazil to NARF in late 2023 and could include more countries in the future. 

Common Questions About Amazon NARF

Do I need to collect Canadian or Mexican taxes when using NARF?

No. Amazon and its partners handle import taxes. Customers pay required GST/HST or VAT at checkout, and Amazon remits those funds to local authorities. 

As the seller, you don't need to register for or collect sales taxes in Canada or Mexico for NARF sales.

Can I choose which products to include in NARF?

Yes. While NARF activates at the account level, you control which products participate. 

By default, all eligible FBA SKUs activate, but you can disable specific ASINs through the Remote Fulfillment section of Seller Central.

Will my US product reviews appear on international marketplaces?

Generally, yes. Amazon typically shares review ratings across regions when ASINs link via a global SKU. 

Canadian shoppers see your overall star rating and review count from the US marketplace, providing valuable social proof for new listings.

What happens when Canadian customers return products?

Returns from NARF orders ship back to US FBA warehouses for processing like normal FBA returns. You'll see them in your returns report, and standard FBA return policies apply. 

The process takes longer due to international shipping, but procedures remain consistent.

How does NARF handle Amazon Brazil?

Amazon Brazil (Amazon.com.br) joined NARF recently, expanding your reach to Latin America's largest market. 

Brazilian customers can purchase your US-stored products with Amazon handling international delivery. Prime is still developing in Brazil, so delivery typically takes longer (2-3 weeks).

Can international customers still order directly from Amazon.com?

Yes, if you have FBA Export enabled. NARF doesn't replace or conflict with FBA Export - it adds listings on foreign Amazon sites to capture customers who prefer shopping locally. 

The same Canadian customer might find your product on either Amazon.com or Amazon.ca.

Making the Most of NARF for Your Amazon Business

Amazon's North America Remote Fulfillment program offers an accessible path to international expansion without the usual complexities. 

The perfect middle ground between staying US-only and full global expansion, NARF lets you test new markets with minimal risk.

Is it right for your business? Consider NARF if:

• You want to expand internationally without inventory headaches

• Your products have competitive margins that can absorb higher fulfillment fees

• You're looking for an easy way to test demand in Canada, Mexico, or Brazil

For many sellers, NARF serves as the first step in a broader international strategy: start with remote fulfillment to validate demand, then transition to local inventory for faster shipping and higher conversions once success is proven.

Ready to unlock your Amazon business's international potential? 

Start with NARF, monitor your results, and adapt your strategy as you grow. 

The global market is waiting for your products—and now you have a straightforward way to reach it.