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. Within the EU there is no customs paperwork at all. Outside the EU you attach a CN 22 or CN 23 customs declaration, and the destination country then decides what duty and VAT the recipient pays. This guide explains both.

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. Watch out for territories outside the EU customs or VAT area, such as the Canary Islands or Livigno: parcels there need a customs declaration, just like non-EU destinations.

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. Outside the EU: CN 22 or CN 23

A parcel to the UK, Switzerland, Norway, USA, Canada or Japan requires a customs declaration even if the value is small. Which form you need, however, does not depend on value alone. Postal operators across Europe apply Universal Postal Union rules, which look at the value, the number of types of goods and the kind of item:

• CN 22 (customs sticker): letter-class items such as letters and small packets, holding a single type of goods, up to a customs value of 300 SDR.
• CN 23 (customs declaration): once the value exceeds 300 SDR, or when you send several different types of goods.
• Parcels: always CN 23, usually as part of the despatch note, whether the contents are a gift or stock.

SDR (Special Drawing Rights) is an accounting unit of the International Monetary Fund, not a currency. 300 SDR works out at roughly €350, but the rate moves and national postal operators publish their own conversion each year. For the mistakes that most often get items held, see our article on the CN22 and CN23 customs declaration.

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.

3. CN 23, invoices and duty in the destination country

For parcels, mixed contents and anything above 300 SDR you complete the more detailed CN 23. Duty and VAT are then assessed in the destination country, under its own rules.

CN23 — extended customs declaration

• Everything in CN22, but more detailed
• HS tariff code: required for commercial goods, whatever their value. It is the 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: also required for commercial goods. It is where the goods were manufactured, not where you bought them.
• Importer reference: an optional box for the recipient’s tax code, VAT number or importer code (such as an EORI number), useful when the recipient is a company.
• Purpose — sale, gift, sample, repair, return

Commercial and pro forma invoices

The CN 23 has a box where you tick that an invoice is attached and give its number. If you have sold the goods, attach a commercial invoice. For a gift, sample or other non-commercial item, a pro forma invoice, which simply describes the contents and their value, is usually sufficient. Express carriers such as DHL Express ask for one or the other with every dutiable shipment, and some destinations want a commercial invoice even for gifts. The invoice should 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.

Duty and VAT are set by the destination country

Whether the recipient pays anything on arrival depends on the country you are sending to. There is no single threshold. The frequently quoted €150 applies only to imports into the EU, and even there it no longer means duty-free: since 1 July 2026, goods bought from non-EU online sellers in consignments up to €150 attract a flat customs duty of €3 per item (see our guide to customs and VAT in international shipping). It has no bearing on a parcel leaving the EU.

• United Kingdom: VAT is charged from the first pound, except on gifts worth £39 or less. Customs duty applies only to goods worth more than £135. Our guide to sending parcels to the UK after Brexit covers the details.
• United States: the de minimis exemption has been suspended for all countries since 29 August 2025, so practically every shipment is dutiable regardless of value. Several European postal operators still restrict goods traffic to the US or require pre-clearance. See shipping a parcel to the USA in 2026.
• Other countries: each sets its own duty and tax thresholds. Check the country pages, for example Switzerland, Norway, Japan or Australia.

On top of duty and tax, carriers usually add a handling fee for customs clearance, typically €5–20. As an example, a €200 parcel to the USA at a 15% duty rate carries €30 in duty before clearance fees. That can add a lot to the total, so warn the recipient in advance.

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), provided your operator accepts goods for the US. 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, with no customs documents. Outside the EU: CN 22 for letter-class items with a single type of goods up to 300 SDR; CN 23 above that, for mixed contents and for every parcel, with the HS code and country of origin for commercial goods. Duty and VAT depend on the destination: the UK charges VAT from the first pound and duty above £135, and the USA charges duty on practically every shipment. 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.