Until the summer of 2026 parcels from outside the EU came with a simple rule of thumb: under 150 euros, nothing to pay. That rule of thumb no longer exists, which is exactly why older guidance is misleading people right now.
What changed on 1 July 2026: the 150-euro threshold is gone
The duty exemption for consignments under 150 euros has been removed entirely. In its place comes a flat customs duty of 3 euros per declared position.
✓ Verified: 02/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
AUTHORITY
Zollverwaltung / Hauptzollamt
federalCustoms clearance for imports from non-EU countries: the Hauptzollamt at your point of entry or your place of residence. Online services run through the ATLAS portal.
DOCUMENTS 2
COSTS
- €Flat customs duty per declared position 3 €
In force since 1 July 2026, replacing the former 150-euro exemption
- €Gift from one private person to another, unpaid up to 45 €
Free of import charges up to this total consignment value
› Details and tips
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
The commonest mistake right now is reading last year guidance. The 150-euro threshold disappeared a month ago, and articles that still quote it look entirely credible. Watch the publication date: anything before July 2026 is outdated on this point.
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
I ordered small items worth twenty euros and was sure that sat below every threshold. Then the notification arrived with a calculation: the threshold is gone, and my parcel held three positions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it true that consignments under 150 euros are no longer duty free? ▾
Yes. Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382 amended Regulation 1186/2009 with effect from 1 July 2026: the former exemption from import duties for consignments with a total value up to 150 euros falls away entirely. The threshold quoted almost everywhere online no longer applies to current parcels.
What is charged instead? ▾
A flat customs duty of three euros per goods category applies, meaning per position of the customs declaration. It applies where the import is exempt from VAT under the Import One Stop Shop, or where the goods travel in a postal consignment in distance selling.
How are those categories counted? ▾
Positions are counted, not items. Customs gives its own example: ten pairs of socks, two cable ties and four pairs of trousers in one consignment, each classified alike, come to nine euros of flat duty in total — three euros per position.
What about a gift from relatives? ▾
Gift consignments keep a separate rule: they stay free of import charges up to a total value of 45 euros. The condition is narrow — sender and recipient must be private individuals and the consignment must travel without any payment. If either side is a business, it is not a gift consignment.