Parcel Forwarding from the UK to France

Q: Can I shop UK retailers that don't ship to France?

Yes. A free Send2Hub UK address gives access to any UK retailer. Use it at checkout, the parcel arrives at the Stoke-on-Trent warehouse and is forwarded to France. The Shop and Ship service can purchase items if a retailer doesn't accept French cards.

Q: Do UK-origin goods qualify for reduced duty under the UK-EU Trade Agreement?

Yes — for goods genuinely originating in the UK. The UK-EU TCA provides zero or reduced duty rates with proper documentation. Goods manufactured outside the UK and forwarded via Send2Hub do not qualify.

Q: Can I consolidate multiple orders before shipping to France?

Yes. Hold parcels in free storage and combine into one shipment — saving 40-60% on shipping. Free storage: 30 days Individual, 45 days Business, 60 days Premium. One consolidated shipment means one customs declaration.

Q: Is there still a duty-free threshold for parcels from UK to France?

No. From 1 July 2026 the EU removed the €150 duty exemption. Every commercial parcel from the UK to France now incurs a minimum €3 customs duty per item type regardless of value.

France is home to one of the largest British expat communities in Europe, with hundreds of thousands of UK nationals living across Paris, Normandy, the Dordogne, Provence and the French Alps. At the same time, many residents of France love to shop UK brands — from Marks & Spencer food and Boots cosmetics to ASOS, Next and British homeware — that are either unavailable in France or significantly more expensive locally. Send2Hub gives you a real UK delivery address at our secure warehouse in Stoke-on-Trent. Shop any UK retailer, consolidate your purchases and we forward everything to your address anywhere in France — with full post-Brexit customs support on every shipment.

Shop Any UK Retailer and Ship to France

Your free Send2Hub UK address gives you access to the full range of UK online retail — including stores that do not offer direct shipping to France. Popular UK brands that Send2Hub customers in France regularly shop include Marks & Spencer, Boots, ASOS, Next, The Body Shop, Barbour, Hunter, John Lewis, Fortnum & Mason, Amazon UK and many more. Use your Send2Hub address at checkout as you would any UK delivery address — your parcel arrives at our warehouse, is automatically photographed, weighed and measured on arrival, and full details appear in your real-time account dashboard immediately.

Save money with parcel consolidation. Hold multiple UK purchases in free temporary storage and combine them into a single outbound shipment before forwarding to France. Consolidation typically reduces international shipping costs by 40–60% and simplifies customs — one shipment, one customs declaration, one delivery. Learn more on our parcel consolidation page.

If a UK retailer does not accept your French card or does not offer international checkout, our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf.

For Businesses — UK Returns Address for French Sellers

If you sell on Amazon UK, eBay UK, Shopify or any other UK marketplace from France, a UK returns address is essential for maintaining competitive seller ratings and meeting marketplace requirements. Send2Hub provides a professional UK returns address at our Stoke-on-Trent warehouse. Every return is automatically received, photographed and inspected on arrival — with full condition details and images in your real-time account dashboard the same day. Returns can be held in free temporary storage for consolidation before being re-shipped back to France in a single cost-effective shipment. Learn more on our e-commerce returns management page.

UK to France Customs — Post-Brexit Guide (2026)

Since Brexit, the UK is treated as a third country by EU customs authorities. All goods shipped from the UK to France are subject to EU import rules — including customs duties and French VAT (TVA) at the border. French customs is administered by the Direction Générale des Douanes et Droits Indirects (DGDDI). Understanding the current rules is essential to avoid unexpected charges and delays.

Important — New EU Customs Rules from 1 July 2026

From 1 July 2026, the EU has abolished the €150 duty-free threshold for small parcels. All imports into France from the UK — regardless of value — are now subject to customs duties. A new flat-rate customs duty of €3 per item type applies to parcels valued under €150. This is in addition to French VAT (TVA) which already applied to all UK imports since 2021. A further EU-wide customs handling fee is expected from November 2026. These changes affect all parcels shipped from the UK to France, including personal purchases.

French VAT (TVA)

French TVA (Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée) applies to all goods imported from the UK at the standard rate of 20% for most goods. Reduced rates of 10% apply to certain categories such as books and some food items, and 5.5% for essential goods. TVA is calculated on the total value including the cost of goods, shipping and insurance (CIF basis) plus any applicable customs duty.

If a UK seller is registered for the EU Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme, VAT on parcels up to €150 is collected at checkout rather than at the French border — resulting in a smoother delivery experience. Major UK platforms including Amazon UK and eBay are already IOSS-registered.

Customs Duty Rates

For shipments above €150, EU customs duty rates apply based on the HS tariff classification of the goods. Rates for common consumer goods typically range from 0% to 12%. The UK–EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) means that goods that genuinely originate in the UK may qualify for zero or reduced customs duty rates — provided the correct documentation is in place. Goods not originating in the UK (for example, goods manufactured in Asia and shipped via the UK) do not qualify for TCA preferential rates. Use our worldwide customs duty estimator for an indication of charges.

Required Documentation

Standard documentation required for customs clearance in France includes a commercial invoice with accurate item descriptions, HS codes, declared values and country of origin, a packing list and an air waybill or bill of lading. For commercial imports, an EORI number is required. Send2Hub prepares all standard customs export documentation for every outbound shipment from our UK warehouse. Accurate and complete documentation is essential to avoid delays at French customs.

Restricted and Prohibited Items

France follows EU import restrictions. Prohibited or restricted items include weapons and ammunition, controlled substances, counterfeit goods, certain food and agricultural products and goods not meeting EU product safety standards (CE marking). Goods previously complying with UK standards post-Brexit may require re-certification to EU/French standards for commercial import. Visit our prohibited and restricted items page for full details.

Delivery Times from UK to France

DPD: 2–4 business days — excellent European coverage with precise tracking and local delivery options across France.

DHL Express: 2–3 business days — fastest express option with full door-to-door tracking.

FedEx International: 2–4 business days — reliable express with comprehensive tracking.

UPS Worldwide: 3–5 business days — strong for business shipments across France.

Royal Mail / Parcelforce: 3–7 business days — cost-effective option for lighter shipments.

All transit times are estimates and exclude customs clearance in France. Use our shipping cost calculator to compare live rates across all available carriers.

Frequently Asked Questions — UK to France Shipping

Can I shop UK retailers that don't ship to France?

Yes. Your free Send2Hub UK address gives you access to any UK retailer — including those that only ship domestically within the UK. Use your Send2Hub address at checkout, your parcel arrives at our Stoke-on-Trent warehouse and we forward it to France. If a UK retailer does not accept your French card, our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf.

What customs charges apply when shipping from UK to France in 2026?

From 1 July 2026, all UK parcels entering France incur customs charges regardless of value. A flat €3 customs duty per item type applies to parcels under €150, plus French TVA at 20%. For parcels above €150, standard EU customs duty rates apply (0–12% depending on HS code) plus TVA. Use our customs duty estimator for an indication of your total charges.

Do UK-origin goods qualify for reduced duty under the UK-EU Trade Agreement?

Yes — for goods that genuinely originate in the UK. The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides zero or reduced customs duty rates for qualifying UK-origin goods. Accurate documentation including a statement of origin is required. Goods manufactured outside the UK and forwarded via Send2Hub do not qualify for TCA preferential rates.

Can I consolidate multiple orders before shipping to France?

Yes. Hold multiple parcels in free temporary storage and combine them into a single outbound shipment — saving 40–60% on shipping costs and simplifying customs clearance. Free storage: 30 days Individual, 45 days Business, 60 days Premium. One consolidated shipment means one customs declaration and one set of fees rather than multiple separate charges.

Which carriers does Send2Hub use for shipping to France?

We ship to France via DPD, DHL, FedEx, UPS, Parcelforce and Royal Mail. DPD is particularly well-suited for European destinations with excellent French delivery coverage. Compare all available rates and transit times using our shipping cost calculator.

Is there still a duty-free threshold for parcels from UK to France?

No. From 1 July 2026 the EU has removed the €150 customs duty exemption for small parcels. Every commercial parcel from the UK to France now incurs a minimum €3 customs duty per item type, regardless of value. This applies to all imports including personal purchases forwarded through Send2Hub.

Ready to start shopping UK retailers and shipping to France? Register free and get your UK address in under two minutes. Questions? Get in touch with our team.