Non-EU online purchases: €2 handling fee per customs item from 1 November
AADE’s circular distinguishes the handling fee from the €3 duty. A customs item is not necessarily each individual unit or the whole parcel.
From 1 November 2026, the Union handling fee (UHF) of €2 per item applies when imported distance-sale goods are released for free circulation. AADE sets out its implementation in circular E.2067 of 30 October; the Council of the EU also confirms the start date.
What counts as an item
Counting boxes or individual units is insufficient. The circular groups goods within a consignment by the same tariff classification, description and, where required, origin. A parcel can therefore contain several customs items, while several individual units may constitute one item.
Illustrative calculation: if a declaration includes two different items subject to UHF, that fee is 2 × €2 = €4. This does not calculate a final bill including duties, VAT or other charges.
It does not replace the €3 duty
The fee is separate from the temporary €3 customs duty. Where the latter’s conditions are met, both charges can apply. AADE clarifies that UHF is not restricted to consignments worth up to €150: higher-value distance-sale goods are also covered.
Non-commercial private-to-private consignments fall outside UHF. This exception should not be confused with an ordinary online purchase.
What buyers should check
Before buying, check the final price and whether customs and tax charges are included. If an additional amount is requested on delivery, ask for a breakdown: a handling fee, duty, VAT and a carrier’s charge are different components. A general reference to “€2” does not by itself explain the whole final charge.
English translation of the Greek edition · Read in Greek