Parcel Forwarding from the UK to Spain

Q: Do I pay customs when shipping from UK to Spain after Brexit?

Yes. All goods from the UK to mainland Spain are subject to EU customs duties and Spanish IVA of 21%. Goods genuinely originating in the UK may qualify for zero customs duty under the UK-EU TCA — in which case only IVA applies.

Q: Can I shop UK retailers that have stopped shipping to Spain?

Yes. A free Send2Hub UK address gives access to any UK retailer including those that stopped shipping to Spain after Brexit. The Shop and Ship service can purchase items if a retailer doesn't accept Spanish cards.

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

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.

Spain is home to the largest British expatriate community in the European Union — with an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 UK nationals living on the Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Costa Brava, in Madrid, Barcelona, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. Since Brexit, all goods shipped from the UK to Spain are subject to EU customs procedures and Spanish VAT — adding complexity and cost that did not exist before. Many UK residents in Spain continue to rely on UK retailers for brands, products and prices unavailable 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 Spain — including the islands — with full post-Brexit customs support.

Shop Any UK Retailer and Ship to Spain

Your free Send2Hub UK address gives you access to the full range of UK online retail — including stores that have stopped shipping directly to Spain since Brexit or those that charge high post-Brexit delivery fees. Popular UK brands that Send2Hub customers in Spain regularly shop include Marks and Spencer, Boots, ASOS, Next, The Body Shop, Barbour, John Lewis, 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 Spain. 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 Spanish payment card or does not offer international checkout, our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf.

For Businesses — UK Returns Address for Spanish Sellers

If you sell on Amazon UK, eBay UK, Shopify or any other UK marketplace from Spain, 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 Spain in a single cost-effective shipment. Learn more on our e-commerce returns management page.

UK to Spain Customs — Post-Brexit Guide

Since Brexit, the UK is treated as a third country by EU customs authorities. All goods shipped from the UK to mainland Spain are subject to EU customs duties and Spanish VAT (IVA — Impuesto sobre el Valor Anadido). Spanish customs is administered by AEAT (Agencia Estatal de Administracion Tributaria).

Customs Duties on UK Imports

All parcels shipped from the UK to mainland Spain are subject to EU customs duties regardless of value. Previous duty exemptions for low-value goods have been removed under EU customs reform. Duty rates vary by product category using the EU harmonised tariff system (HS codes), typically ranging from 0% to 12% for common consumer goods. Goods that genuinely originate in the UK may qualify for zero or reduced duty under the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) — provided accurate documentation and a statement of origin are included. Use our worldwide customs duty estimator for an indication of charges.

Spanish VAT (IVA) on Mainland Spain

Spanish IVA applies to all goods imported from the UK at the standard rate of 21% for most goods. A reduced rate of 10% applies to certain food, medicines and cultural goods, and a super-reduced rate of 4% applies to essential goods such as bread, books and medicines. IVA is calculated on the total CIF value (cost + insurance + freight) plus any applicable customs duty. If a UK seller is registered for the EU Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) scheme, IVA on qualifying parcels is collected at checkout. Major UK platforms including Amazon UK and eBay are IOSS-registered.

Canary Islands — Different Tax Rules Apply

The Canary Islands — including Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro — have a special fiscal status and are NOT part of the EU VAT area. This means different import tax rules apply compared to mainland Spain:

IGIC (Impuesto General Indirecto Canario) applies instead of IVA, at a standard rate of 7% — significantly lower than the mainland 21% IVA rate. Import duty thresholds and rates also differ. For many personal purchases, the effective tax burden for recipients in the Canary Islands is lower than for mainland Spain. We recommend checking current Canary Islands customs rules with AEAT before shipping high-value items to these islands.

Required Documentation

Standard documentation for customs clearance in Spain 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.

Restricted and Prohibited Items

Spain 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 and CE marking standards. Visit our prohibited and restricted items page for full details.

Delivery Times from UK to Spain

DPD: 2-4 business days to mainland Spain — excellent Spanish coverage with precise tracking and local delivery options.

DHL Express: 2-3 business days — fastest available 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 Spain.

Royal Mail / Parcelforce: 4-8 business days — cost-effective for lighter shipments.

Delivery to the Canary Islands, Balearic Islands and other Spanish territories adds 1-3 business days. All transit times exclude customs clearance. Use our shipping cost calculator to compare live rates across all available carriers.

Frequently Asked Questions — UK to Spain Shipping

Do I pay customs when shipping from UK to Spain after Brexit?

Yes. Since Brexit, all goods shipped from the UK to mainland Spain are subject to EU customs duties and Spanish IVA of 21%. Previous duty exemptions for low-value goods have been removed. Goods genuinely originating in the UK may qualify for zero customs duty under the UK-EU TCA — in which case only IVA applies.

Are the Canary Islands treated differently for customs?

Yes. The Canary Islands are outside the EU VAT area and apply their own local tax — IGIC at 7% — instead of mainland Spain's 21% IVA. This results in a significantly lower tax burden for recipients in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and the other Canary Islands. Import duty thresholds also differ from mainland Spain.

Can I shop UK retailers that have stopped shipping to Spain?

Yes. Your free Send2Hub UK address gives you access to any UK retailer — including those that stopped shipping to Spain after Brexit or that charge high post-Brexit delivery fees. Use your Send2Hub address at checkout and we forward your parcel to Spain. If a UK retailer does not accept your Spanish payment card, our Shop & Ship service can purchase items on your behalf.

Does the UK-EU Trade Agreement reduce customs duty on UK goods sent to Spain?

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

Can I consolidate multiple orders before shipping to Spain?

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

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