Are you expecting a parcel from outside the EU? Then your parcel must pass through customs first and you may have to pay extra fees like import duties, VAT or excise duties.
Discover how this process works.
1. Request to pay import costs
If the VAT was not paid to the webshop (How can I recognise an IOSS registered webshop?) in advance, bpost must collect the import costs for the shipment before your shipment can be presented to Belgian customs. These costs consist of:
- VAT
- customs duties
- costs for customs formalities
The tables below show how much the customs formalities cost.
As the recipient, you must pay these costs in advance and preferably via the My bpost app or via Track & Trace. You will receive an email, text message or letter with a payment invitation. bpost will transfer the customs duties and VAT to the Belgian government.
If you are unable to pay online, you can, exceptionally, make your payment at a Post Office. Your shipment will be released and sent afterwards by the customs clearance service.
2. Security check
Customs performs a security check on all goods entering Belgium from outside the European Union. For all these goods, customs checks whether its introduction into Belgium is permitted. If not, (for example, in case of suspected counterfeit goods, weapons or medicines) customs will confiscate your parcel.
3. Delivery of your parcel
As soon as customs releases the goods, bpost takes care of the delivery.
Take into account that the entire process can take a few days. You can follow the status of your shipment via the My bpost app or via Track & Trace. You will be notified if you must fulfil more formalities or must pay import costs.
More info about the new customs rules.
| Type of shipment | Value of the shipment | Customs formalities | VAT * | Customs duties ** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Up to {{PriceTB.bpack-douane-limites.r2c3}} | {{PriceTB.bpack-douane-limites.r2c4}} *** | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial | From {{PriceTB.bpack-douane-limites.r3c2}} | {{PriceTB.bpack-douane-limites.r3c4}} | Yes | Yes |
| Gift | Up to {{PriceTB.bpack-douane-limites.r4c3}} | No | No | No |
| Gift | From {{PriceTB.bpack-douane-limites.r5c2}} to {{PriceTB.bpack-douane-limites.r5c3}} | {{PriceTB.bpack-douane-limites.r5c4}} | Yes | No |
| Gift | From {{PriceTB.bpack-douane-limites.r6c2}} | {{PriceTB.bpack-douane-limites.r6c4}} | Yes | Yes |
** VAT and import duties differ depending on the type of goods.
*** The customs formalities are € 0 when the VAT has been paid in advance to the webshop.
Perhaps you still have one of these questions
If your parcel cannot be cleared because insufficient information is provided, you will be asked to upload the missing documents with the relevant bpost form.
bpost form in FR: Documents de douane relatifs aux envois internationaux
bpost form in NL: Douanedocumenten bij internationale zendingen
The sooner we receive this information, the sooner your parcel will be cleared through customs.
You will receive this request by email, text message or as a push notification in the My bpost app. If you do not respond or bpost does not have your relevant contact details you will be sent a letter.
You will also find the request for information and the link to the form in the My bpost app or Track & Trace.
These documents are required for parcels to clear customs:
- For purchases: an invoice/proof of payment stating the contents and the value.
- For gifts: an email from the sender stating the contents of the shipment, the value (up to €45) and the fact that it is a gift.
- For special authorisations or exemptions: the certificate date and number.
- For diplomatic exemptions: an 136F form completed in full and validated, uploaded online and original sent by mail.
- For business purchases when subject to VAT: an EORI number and a VAT number (if you have a licence to defer VAT payments on imports, you must state the ET 14000 licence number).
If you do not respond to this request for additional information within 14 days we will return your parcel to the sender.
Charges may be payable to clear your parcel through customs. Customs duties, VAT and all other possible charges (such as anti-dumping duties and environmental duties) are calculated based on the information you provide. As the addressee, you will receive a request by email, text message, push notification or letter to pay any import charges. You must settle these charges in the My bpost app or Track & Trace before delivery.
Fees for customs formalities are administrative charges that are charged by the bpost customs clearance service for:
- determining the contents and value of the parcel
- contacting the addressee in case the contents, value and details of the parcel do not correspond or are incomplete;
- creating the required customs declaration;
- storage and warehousing of the shipment during the collection of customs duties.
These charges apply to all shipments from outside the European Union (+ United Kingdom). You can, however, avoid additional taxes, customs duties and administrative costs by ordering from a registered online shop (Import One-Stop Shop or IOSS). You can easily recognise a recognised webshop: if your shopping basket states that VAT is included, you are safe! Most major webshops such as AliExpress, eBay and Wish are already registered.
NB: shipments with a value above €150 are always subject to customs duties and administrative processing costs.
This depends on where your parcel was sent.
My parcel comes from inside the European Union
Customs is authorised to check all shipments from inside the European Union. That usually involves suspect shipments from EU member states and shipments with excisable goods inside the European Community. Your parcel doesn't usually experience extra delays.
My parcel comes from outside the European Union
These parcels undergo an import procedure by default. The handling period depends on the following two factors:
- whether your parcel has enough information, such as the value and nature of the goods. (If that is not the case, you will receive a letter a few days later. In that case, the handling period is extended until you send the additional information). The customs clearance service of bpost checks whether VAT, customs fees or other duties have to be paid on your parcel.
- whether customs or other official authorities have to check your parcel. That is the case for medicine, plants and food, weapons, suspected counterfeit goods, etc. You can follow the status of your parcel online with Track & Trace and the My bpost app.
If your parcel comes from outside the European Union, it passes through customs by default. Customs is also authorised to check all shipments from inside the European Union. That usually involves suspect shipments from EU member states and shipments with excisable goods inside the European Community.
In this case, your parcel comes from outside the EU, even if it was ordered from a European webshop. Some webshops send their products directly from the country of origin. If that country is outside the EU (e.g. the United Kingdom), you might be charged import costs. Always check the sender address of your parcel when ordering items online.
If you receive a payment request for import costs, you can still refuse your parcel before making the payment. You can do this via the My bpost app or via Track & Trace. In that case, your parcel will automatically be returned to sender.
