From 1 November 2026, parcels sent from outside the European Union will be subject to a new Customs Handling Fee of €2 plus VAT per product category. The charge also applies to purchases from Shein, Temu or AliExpress when items ship directly from third countries, regardless of the order's value.
The fee is charged per product category, not per item or per order. For orders up to €150, it is added to the €3 plus VAT per category rate in force since July, so the fixed customs total often rises to €5 plus VAT per category. For orders above €150, the new fee applies on top of ordinary customs duties.
According to the information published, the measure is permanent and is meant to cover inspection and customs processing costs. Platforms, sellers or carriers are responsible for payment and may pass the cost on to buyers. CTT states the fee is non-refundable on returns, so shoppers should check whether listed prices already include VAT, duties and delivery charges before buying.