Italy is one of the UK's most important trading partners — and one of the most enthusiastic European markets for British brands, UK fashion, British food and luxury goods. Post-Brexit, the UK and Italy operate under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which means UK goods enter Italy subject to EU customs procedures but with favourable tariff rates for qualifying UK-origin goods. Many UK retailers either do not ship directly to Italy or charge international rates that make individual purchases uneconomical. Send2Hub gives you a real UK delivery address at our secure warehouse in Stoke-on-Trent — shop any UK store, consolidate your purchases and we forward everything to Rome, Milan, Naples, Florence, Turin or anywhere in Italy.
Shop Any UK Retailer and Ship to Italy
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 Italy. Popular UK brands that Send2Hub customers in Italy regularly forward include Marks and Spencer, Next, Boots, Barbour, Hunter, Ted Baker, John Lewis, Clarks, The Body Shop, Charlotte Tilbury, Elemis, Liz Earle, Fortnum and Mason and Amazon UK. Simply use your Send2Hub address at checkout as you would any UK delivery address — your parcel arrives at our Stoke-on-Trent warehouse, where it is automatically photographed, weighed and measured on arrival and the details appear in your real-time account dashboard immediately.
Save with parcel consolidation. If you are ordering from multiple UK retailers, hold your parcels in free temporary storage and combine them into a single outbound shipment before forwarding to Italy. Consolidation typically reduces your international shipping costs by 40–60% — and reduces the number of Italian customs handling charges payable. One shipment, one customs declaration, one delivery. Learn more on our parcel consolidation page.
If a UK retailer does not accept your Italian payment card or does not allow international checkout, our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf for a fee of 3% + £5.00.
For Businesses — UK Returns Address for Italian Sellers
If you sell on Amazon UK, eBay UK, Shopify or other UK marketplaces from Italy, a professional 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 details in your account dashboard the same day. Returns can be consolidated before being re-shipped to Italy in a single cost-effective international consignment. Learn more on our e-commerce returns management page.
Italy Customs and Import Information
Italy is a member of the European Union and applies the EU's common external customs framework. Italian customs is administered by the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM). Since Brexit, all UK goods entering Italy are treated as imports from a non-EU third country and are subject to EU customs procedures.
New EU customs duty from 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, the EU introduced a flat €3 customs duty per item category (per HS tariff code line) on all B2C parcels valued at €150 or below entering any EU member state from non-EU countries including the UK. A parcel containing goods from two different product categories pays €6. This measure is temporary — in force until 1 July 2028. For parcels above €150, standard EU customs tariff rates apply based on the HS code and country of origin.
Italian VAT (IVA)
Italy's standard VAT rate (IVA — Imposta sul Valore Aggiunto) is 22% — one of the higher rates in the EU. A reduced rate of 10% applies to certain food products, medicine and some other goods. Italian VAT applies to all UK imports based on the customs value of the goods. VAT is collected at the Italian border by the carrier if not collected at point of sale under IOSS.
UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement
Under the UK-EU TCA effective from 1 January 2021, qualifying UK-origin goods entering Italy can benefit from zero or reduced import duty rates — subject to meeting rules of origin requirements and providing appropriate documentation. Goods sourced outside the UK and forwarded via Send2Hub do not qualify for TCA preferential rates and are subject to standard EU customs tariffs.
Required documentation
Standard documentation for Italian customs clearance includes a commercial invoice with accurate item descriptions, declared values in GBP or EUR and HS tariff codes. Send2Hub prepares all standard customs export documentation for every outbound shipment from our UK warehouse. Providing accurate item descriptions and declared values at checkout ensures correct Italian customs assessment. Including HS codes significantly speeds up clearance and minimises the risk of delays at Italian customs.
Italian customs clearance times
Italian customs clearance can occasionally take longer than in some other EU member states — particularly for higher-value shipments or those flagged for inspection. Express carrier services (DHL, FedEx, UPS) have dedicated Italian customs clearance teams that typically process shipments more efficiently than economy postal services. For time-sensitive or high-value shipments to Italy, express carriers are the recommended option.
Delivery Times from the UK to Italy
DHL Express: 2–4 business days to major Italian cities (Milan, Rome, Naples, Turin, Florence, Bologna).
FedEx International Priority: 2–4 business days — reliable express with comprehensive tracking.
UPS Worldwide Expedited: 3–5 business days.
Parcelforce Worldwide: 4–6 business days.
Royal Mail International Tracked: 7–14 business days — most economical for lighter items.
All transit times are estimates and exclude Italian customs clearance, which typically adds 1–3 business days. Use our shipping cost calculator to compare live rates and transit times across all available carriers for your specific shipment.
Frequently Asked Questions — UK to Italy Shipping
Can I shop UK retailers that don't ship to Italy?
Yes. Your free Send2Hub UK address works at any UK retailer that delivers within the UK — including those that do not offer direct shipping to Italy. If a UK retailer does not accept your Italian payment card, our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf.
What customs charges apply when shipping from UK to Italy?
From 1 July 2026, a flat €3 duty per item category applies to all parcels valued at €150 or below entering Italy from the UK. Italian VAT (IVA) of 22% applies in addition. For parcels above €150, standard EU tariff rates apply. Use our customs duty estimator to calculate charges before shipping.
Do UK goods qualify for reduced duty entering Italy?
Yes — for goods genuinely originating in the UK under the UK-EU TCA. Qualifying UK-origin goods may enter Italy at zero or reduced duty rates. Goods sourced outside the UK and forwarded via Send2Hub do not qualify for TCA preferential rates.
How long does shipping from UK to Italy take?
Express services (DHL, FedEx) typically deliver in 2–4 business days to major Italian cities. Economy services (Royal Mail) take 7–14 business days. Additional 1–3 business days may be required for Italian customs clearance. Use our shipping calculator for current options.
Can I consolidate multiple UK orders before shipping to Italy?
Yes. Hold parcels in free storage and consolidate into a single outbound shipment — saving 40–60% on shipping and reducing customs handling charges. Free storage: 30 days Individual, 45 days Business, 60 days Premium.
What items are restricted when shipping from UK to Italy?
Italy and the EU restrict or prohibit weapons, controlled substances, counterfeit goods and certain food and agricultural products requiring EU health certificates. Send2Hub's own prohibited items — including standalone batteries, perfumes, aerosols and SIM cards — also apply. Visit our prohibited and restricted items page for full details.
Ready to start shopping UK retailers and shipping to Italy? Register free and get your UK address in under two minutes. Questions? Get in touch with our team.