EU Customs Guide for Personal Shipments 2025

Here is the most important thing to know before shipping personal belongings between EU countries: there are no customs formalities. The EU is a single customs territory, so a shipment travelling from one member state to another crosses no customs border at all. No duties, no import VAT, no declaration forms. Customs only enters the picture when your shipment starts or ends outside the EU. This guide covers both situations, so you know exactly what applies to your move.

Moving Within the EU: No Customs, Fewer Headaches

Whether you're relocating to another EU country, sending a care package to a student abroad, or shipping items back home, an intra-EU personal shipment moves much like a domestic one. Your carrier handles the transport document (waybill), and you typically only need to provide an accurate contents description and your contact details.

The practical considerations are instead about what you pack and how: certain items are prohibited or restricted by carriers regardless of customs status, and every carrier sets its own weight, size, and packaging requirements. Check those before you seal the boxes.

What Counts as a Personal Shipment?

A personal shipment is one sent between private individuals, or goods that you own and are importing for your own use (not for resale). This is distinct from a commercial shipment, where goods are sold or transferred for business purposes. The distinction matters because personal shipments often benefit from lower duty rates or outright exemptions.

Carriers and customs authorities may ask for evidence that your shipment is personal in nature, such as a covering letter explaining what the items are, that they're used personal belongings, and that they're not for sale.

When Customs Does Apply: Crossing the EU Border

The EU has a de minimis threshold: a value below which customs duties and VAT are not collected. For goods imported into the EU from outside the EU, the VAT exemption was removed back in 2021, meaning VAT is due on all imports regardless of value. However, this applies to commercial imports. For personal gifts and belongings, different rules may apply depending on the destination country.

If you are shipping from outside the EU (for example, from the UK post-Brexit), customs will apply. Consult your carrier's country-specific guidance for the current thresholds and any bilateral agreements in effect.

Prohibited Items

Certain items cannot be shipped internationally regardless of declared value or intent. Common prohibitions for EU personal shipments include:

• Dangerous goods (flammable liquids, explosives, pressurised canisters)
• Perishable food items (in most cases)
• Counterfeit goods or items infringing intellectual property rights
• Illegal substances or narcotics
• Live animals (subject to strict permit requirements)
• Weapons and firearms without proper licensing
• Items subject to CITES (endangered species protection)

Some items are restricted rather than fully prohibited, meaning they can be shipped with the correct permits, documentation, or in limited quantities. Batteries and electronics, for example, may be restricted on certain routes. Always check the restricted items list for your specific origin and destination countries before packing.

Documentation You Need

For personal shipments within the EU, documentation is minimal, as covered above. For shipments crossing into or out of the EU, you will generally need:

• Commercial invoice or pro forma invoice: describing the contents, their value, country of origin, and that they are personal or used goods.
• Packing list: an itemised list of everything in the shipment.
• Customs declaration form: usually completed by your carrier on your behalf; verify the details are accurate.

Undervaluing goods to avoid duties is illegal and can result in your shipment being seized. Always declare the genuine replacement value of your items.

Tips to Avoid Delays

• Describe contents accurately. Vague descriptions like "personal items" or "household goods" can trigger manual inspections. Be specific: "used clothing, 5 items" or "second-hand books, 10 units."
• Declare realistic values. Customs officers are experienced at spotting undervalued shipments, and the penalty is usually worse than paying the duty.
• Ship early. Carriers typically estimate that customs clearance adds one to five business days, more during peak seasons (November to January, and the summer holidays).
• Keep copies of all documents. If your shipment is held, you'll need to produce documentation quickly.
• Contact your carrier proactively. If your shipment contains anything unusual, ask ahead. A good logistics partner will advise you on the correct way to ship it rather than letting it be rejected at the border.

Navigating EU customs doesn't have to be stressful. Within the EU there is usually nothing to navigate at all, and for shipments crossing the EU border, the right preparation and an experienced logistics partner will keep your belongings moving smoothly and arriving on time.