Customs fees and clearance for international shipments
Customs duties and clearance apply depending on whether a shipment crosses a customs border, not simply on whether it crosses a country border.Route & customs clearance
Why customs rules differ
Customs fees apply only when a package crosses a customs border, meaning the boundary of the European Union customs territory. Within the single market (for example France to Germany, or France to France), goods move freely, with no customs declaration and no duties to pay. As soon as a shipment leaves or enters a country outside this customs territory (the United Kingdom since Brexit, the United States, Switzerland, and others), it must clear customs. Customs files a declaration, calculates customs duties and import VAT, and the carrier charges brokerage fees.Details by zone
1. France to France (and more broadly EU to EU)
No customs fees, no clearance. The invoice includes standard domestic VAT, with no import step.2. England to/from the European Union
Since Brexit, the United Kingdom is no longer part of the EU customs territory. Every shipment between England and the EU, in both directions, therefore crosses a customs border. To the United Kingdom: import VAT of 20% applies to all imports above £135. The United Kingdom uses its own customs tariff (UK Global Tariff), separate from the EU’s. Goods originating in the EU generally enter at zero customs duty under the EU-UK trade agreement, provided you can show proof of origin. To the EU from the United Kingdom: the carrier calculates customs duties based on the product’s HS code and customs value, plus import VAT at the destination country’s rate (20% in France), plus carrier handling fees.3. International (outside the EU and UK) to/from the European Union
Same logic: any shipment between the EU and a third country (United States, Switzerland, and others) requires customs duties and import VAT.When the carrier reports additional fees, our operations team always contacts you to confirm the exact extra amount and to check whether you want to proceed with the shipment or cancel it.