Shipping to Europe?Here's What You Need to Know! EU IntroducesNew Import Duty RulesEffective 1 Jul 2026

EU New Import Duty Rules Effective 1 Jul 2026 — FastShip

⏰ New regulation takes effect on 1 July 2026 — Shipping to the EU? Start preparing today!

Important Announcement for EU Exporters

Shipping to Europe? Here's What You Need to Know! EU Introduces New Import Duty Rules Effective 1 Jul 2026

A complete summary of all changes — plus how to ship through FastShip smoothly, without customs delays or rejected parcels.

💬 Consult Our EU Shipping Expert — Free! See Shipping Steps ↓

27

EU countries affected

€3

New flat-rate duty per product type

1 Jul

Date the regulation takes effect

🛑 The Big Change

What's Changing in Europe?

Previously, goods valued at €150 or less were exempt from import duties. As of 1 July 2026, the European Union has officially abolished this exemption.

📦

New Rule — Effective 1 Jul 2026

Flat-Rate €3 Import Duty Per Product Type

EU customs will now charge a flat rate of €3 per HS Code — not per parcel, but per product category contained within the parcel.

⚠️ Regardless of an item's value — even if it costs just €1 — every parcel shipped into the EU is now subject to import duty. There are no exceptions.

💰

Still Applies as Before

VAT (Value Added Tax) Still Applies

All goods imported into the EU are still subject to VAT at the destination country's applicable rate.

📌 VAT rates generally range from 21% – 25% of the item's declared value. Note: Some countries may charge additional Handling Fees or Clearance Fees, which are separate from the €3 flat-rate duty and VAT.

💡 Import Duty Calculation Examples

How Does the Flat Rate €3 Work?

The duty is calculated based on the number of product categories (HS Codes) in the parcel — not the number of individual items.

✅ Case 1 — Same Product Type

Box contains 3 T-shirts (same HS Code)

👕 T-shirt

Single HS Code

👕 T-shirt

👕 T-shirt

= 1 product category €3

⚠️ Case 2 — Mixed Product Types

Box contains a T-shirt + jeans + cap (different HS Codes)

👕 T-shirt

HS Code 1

👖 Jeans

HS Code 2

🧢 Cap

HS Code 3

= 3 product categories × €3 €9

💡 Pro Tip: Pack items of the same category together in one box to minimize your duty costs.

🌍 27 EU Member States Affected

Check if your destination country is on this list

🇦🇹 Austria

🇧🇪 Belgium

🇧🇬 Bulgaria

🇭🇷 Croatia

🇨🇾 Cyprus

🇨🇿 Czech Republic

🇩🇰 Denmark

🇪🇪 Estonia

🇫🇮 Finland

🇫🇷 France

🇩🇪 Germany

🇬🇷 Greece

🇭🇺 Hungary

🇮🇪 Ireland

🇮🇹 Italy

🇱🇻 Latvia

🇱🇹 Lithuania

🇱🇺 Luxembourg

🇲🇹 Malta

🇳🇱 Netherlands

🇵🇱 Poland

🇵🇹 Portugal

🇷🇴 Romania

🇸🇰 Slovakia

🇸🇮 Slovenia

🇪🇸 Spain

🇸🇪 Sweden

⚠️ Note: The United Kingdom (UK) is not included — the UK has its own separate import duties and customs regulations.

🔍 Understanding IOSS

With IOSS vs. Without IOSS — What's the Difference?

IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop) acts as a "fast-track pass" that notifies EU customs that VAT on the parcel has already been paid.

💸 Who Pays the Duty?

The Seller or the Customer?

It depends on how you sell — check your seller type below.

🛒 Selling on a Marketplace (Amazon / Etsy / eBay)

• 1VAT is collected at checkout via the platform's IOSS system — no separate action required from the seller.
• 2The new €3 Import Duty is the seller's responsibility.
• 💡Always copy your IOSS number from the Marketplace back-end and enter it into FastShip when creating each shipment — never skip this step!

🌐 Selling on Your Own Website (Shopify / WooCommerce)

• 1You must register for IOSS separately through the EU VAT registration system or through an authorized intermediary.
• 2If you don't have your own IOSS number, we recommend FastShip's DDP or All-in service.
• 💡FastShip will handle customs clearance from origin — ideal for sellers who prefer a hassle-free experience.

📦 General Exporters (Not selling online / No IOSS)

📮 DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid)

The recipient pays all VAT, import duties, and applicable handling fees upon delivery at the destination.

⭐ FastShip All-in Service

FastShip pre-pays all import duties, VAT, and applicable fees on your behalf — reducing delays at the destination country's customs.

📋 4 Simple Steps

Ship to the EU via FastShip — Seamlessly and Stress-Free

For sellers on marketplaces where VAT has already been collected by the platform.

1

Critical

Always Obtain and Enter Your IOSS Number

Copy the IOSS number from your Marketplace back-end (Amazon, eBay, Etsy) and enter it in the "IOSS Number" field in the FastShip booking system every time you create a shipment. This prevents EU customs from charging VAT twice.

2

Required

Declare Each Item Individually

Do not use generic descriptions such as "Gifts" or "Clothing." List each item in detail, including its quantity, so the system can correctly apply the €3 duty per product category.

3

Effective 1 Nov 2026

Provide a Product Identifier

Add the barcode or platform-specific identifier to the product details. This allows customs to conduct safety checks more quickly. (This requirement takes effect from 1 November 2026.)

4

Flexible

Choose Your Preferred Shipping Term

FastShip offers a full range of options — DDU, DDP, or our All-in (duties included) service — so sellers can choose the solution that best fits their needs and budget.

Have Questions About EU Import Duties? Our FastShip Team Is Ready to Help — Free!

We help exporters ship to Europe correctly — without customs delays or rejected returns — backed by over 15 years of experience.

✅ No consultation fee ✅ All-in (duties included) service available ✅ DDU / DDP / IOSS supported ✅ Ships to all 27 EU countries

💬 Chat on LINE @fastship.co — Free! View All-in EU Service ↗