EU introduces 3‑euro customs fee on low‑value online parcels

From 1 July 2026 the European Union will levy a flat €3 customs charge on parcels under €150 that arrive from non‑EU webshops. The fee is applied per product category in the shipment rather than per parcel, so a single box containing a t‑shirt, a phone case and headphones would incur a €9 charge, while three identical t‑shirts would cost €3.

The measure, announced by the EU Commission as part of a wider customs reform, aims to protect consumers and create fairer competition between EU and third‑country sellers. National customs authorities, such as Hungary’s NAV and Croatia’s customs office, are preparing guidance for businesses and logistics providers and have set up hotlines for queries. The €3 amount will be calculated in local currency using the European Central Bank rate and will be incorporated into the price of the goods.