How to Send a Parcel Abroad — Complete International Shipping Guide

Sending a parcel internationally is far simpler than it was a decade ago — most of the paperwork is handled by the carrier’s online system. But it depends heavily on where you’re sending. There are three completely different regimes: within the EU (no bureaucracy), non-EU up to €150 (simplified customs), and non-EU above €150 (full customs declaration). This guide explains each.

1. Within the EU — duty-free zone

The EU is a single customs area. Sending a parcel to Germany, Poland, France or any other EU member state works just like a domestic shipment — no customs form, no extra documents, no import VAT. All you need is a correctly addressed parcel (see the addressing guide) and a shipping label from your carrier.

Prices and speed depend on the carrier and destination. For a typical parcel up to 10 kg:

• Postal economy — from approx. €5, 5–10 days
• GLS, DPD (standard) — from approx. €8, 3–5 days
• Eurosender — transparent comparison of multiple carriers, from approx. €6
• DHL Express — from approx. €25, 24–48 hours

2. Non-EU up to €150 — simplified customs

A parcel to the UK, Switzerland, Norway, USA, Canada or Japan requires a customs declaration even if the value is small. Up to €150 in value, a simplified CN22 form is sufficient — it has just a few fields.

What to write in the CN22

• Item description — be specific, not “gift” or “goods”. E.g. “cotton t-shirt”, “history book”, “USB cable”. The customs officer needs to know what you’re sending.
• Value — in EUR (or the destination currency). State the actual value, even for used items.
• Weight — in grams
• Quantity — number of items
• Shipment type — gift, sample, commercial goods, returned goods, document

Where to get it: it’s generated automatically when you book shipping online and select an international non-EU destination. Most carriers provide it as a label to stick on the parcel.

VAT

Since 2021, EU VAT on imported goods applies from the first euro — there’s no longer a €22 threshold. The recipient will receive a payment request from the carrier for VAT plus a handling fee (typically €5–15). If shipping via a reshipping service like Shipito, VAT is usually collected at the time of booking.

3. Non-EU above €150 — full customs regime

Above €150, customs duty applies, and with it the full CN23 declaration plus a proforma invoice.

CN23 — extended customs declaration

• Everything in CN22, but more detailed
• HS tariff code — customs classification (6–10 digits). Look it up in the EU TARIC database or let the carrier’s system suggest it based on your description.
• Country of origin — where the goods were manufactured, not where you bought them
• EORI number — if the recipient is a company, their EORI (customs registration number)
• Purpose — sale, gift, sample, repair, return

Proforma invoice

An accompanying document describing the contents and value of the shipment. It’s not a tax invoice, but customs requires it to calculate duty. It must include:

• Sender and recipient (address, contact)
• Date and invoice number
• Item description + quantity + unit price + total
• Currency, total value, weight
• Sender’s signature

For private senders, a simple Word document printed in three copies is sufficient — one for origin customs, one for destination customs, one for your records.

What the recipient pays

• VAT — at the destination country rate (DE 19%, UK 20%, USA 0–10% depending on state)
• Customs duty — based on the HS code, from 0% (books) to ~12% (clothing)
• Carrier handling fee — typically €5–20 for customs clearance

For a parcel worth €200 sent to the USA with 5% duty: roughly €10 duty + applicable VAT + handling fee. Warn the recipient in advance so they’re not surprised.

4. Choosing a carrier by destination

Europe (EU + UK, Switzerland, Norway)

Eurosender — best price-to-speed ratio for European shipments. Compares multiple carriers and shows the best option. GLS or DPD for direct booking. DHL Express for express.

USA, Canada, Latin America

National postal service (economy) for budget shipments (14–28 days). DHL Express for fast (3–5 days). FedEx as an alternative to DHL. UPS strong for North America.

Asia (China, Japan, Vietnam, India)

Postal economy for cheap shipments. DHL Express for fast. Note: some products (electronics, cosmetics) require specific documentation for certain countries.

Australia, New Zealand, Oceania

DHL Express or FedEx — postal services are very slow. Australia also has strict import rules (agricultural products, food, soil).

Africa

Specialist express services (DHL, FedEx, UPS). Postal services reach some African countries only sporadically or with months of delay. South Africa is accessible via standard routes.

5. Prohibited items — what you cannot send

• Always prohibited: weapons, ammunition, drugs, live animals, explosives, radioactive material, human remains
• Often prohibited: alcohol (USA, Canada, most Arab countries), tobacco, prescription medication, fresh animal products, cosmetics (some countries)
• Lithium-ion batteries — strict air freight rules (UN 3480, UN 3481). Only limited sizes allowed by air, sometimes banned entirely as standalone items.
• Liquids — air freight restrictions; some liquids are completely prohibited by air

Each carrier has its own prohibited items list. Always verify with your specific carrier and destination before shipping. See our complete prohibited items guide for more detail.

Summary

Ship within the EU like a domestic parcel — no documents needed. Non-EU up to €150: CN22 required, recipient pays VAT. Above €150: full CN23 + proforma invoice + customs duty + VAT + handling fee. Cheapest: postal services (slow). Fastest: DHL Express (expensive). For Europe, Eurosender is the best price comparison tool. Always verify prohibited items for your specific destination.