New customs duty from 1 July 2026
From 1 July 2026, new rules apply when buying goods online from a country outside the EU. This means that customs duty will be charged on all items, regardless of their value.
From 1 July, a customs duty of €3 will apply when you order an item worth €150 or less. This applies when you shop online and the item is sent from a country outside the EU.
You must always pay VAT on goods you buy from countries outside the EU, regardless of their value.
The established Swedish amount for €150 is SEK 1 655.30.
Did you order before July 1st? If your goods arrive in the EU and are declared for import after 30 June, you will need to pay customs duty, regardless of when you placed your order.
The information on this page is updated continuously.
Questions and answers about the new customs duty
Frequently asked questions
Does the new €3 customs duty only apply to goods from China, or does it apply to all countries outside the EU?
The new customs duty applies to all countries outside the EU.
If I order several items for a total of SEK 500 and they are sent in the same parcel, do I pay customs duty per item or per parcel?
The customs duty is paid per item. The amount of customs duty depends on whether you are buying different or identical items.
If you order multiple items in the same parcel, the customs duty is calculated as follows:
- Different items (e.g., a mobile phone case and a jumper): These are counted as separate goods items. A customs duty is charged on each item, resulting in a total fee of €6.
- Identical items: These are usually counted as a single item. A single €3 fee applies.
Sometimes, identical items may be counted as separate goods items. This is because some online shops may declare them that way for technical reasons. Please ask your online shop or transport company if you are unsure.
How does Swedish Customs know what I have ordered and how much I need to pay in fees?
The online shop or transport company handles this, as they are the ones who calculate the required fees. This is based on the accompanying documentation, which must state, among other things, the type of item, the quantity of items, and the value of the items.
Is the customs duty always €3 per item?
No, not always. For example, if you order a parcel for a total of SEK 500 with:
- 1 mobile phone case (1 goods item)
- 3 identical jumpers (1 goods item).
The goods belong to different goods item and the customs duty is charged for each goods item, a total of €6 for your four items.
The goods item identifies what type of goods it is and determines how much customs duty is owed.
Sometimes, identical items may be counted as separate goods items. This is because some online shops may declare them that way for technical reasons. Please ask your online shop or transport company if you are unsure.
Other questions
What happens if I order multiple items with a total value over €150?
If you order multiple items with a combined value exceeding €150, you may have to pay a percentage-based customs duty based on the value of the goods.
This rule applies today and will continue to apply when you shop online and the item is shipped from a country outside the EU.
Previously, I did not have to pay any customs duties on goods worth €150 or less; why has this changed?
The new customs duty is introduced to:
- Reduce the large quantities of unsafe and dangerous products entering the EU that can harm people and the environment.
- Contribute to fairer competition for EU companies that need to comply with EU rules and product safety requirements, unlike non-EU companies.
Do different rules apply to unused and used goods?
No, different rules do not apply to unused and used goods. The same rules and duties apply.
Am I required to pay customs duty on gifts?
No, as long as the gift is worth less than 600 Swedish kronor, you are not required to pay any customs duty. If it is worth more, you may have to pay customs duties.
Why is the customs duty expressed in euro and not Swedish kronor?
We usually state amounts in Swedish kronor. Because the new customs duties cover the entire EU, the amounts are stated in euro pending notification on how the values are to be calculated in Swedish kronor and how frequently the amounts will be updated. Once the amounts are finalised, we will state them in Swedish kronor.
Identical provisions throughout the EU
The Council of the European Union decided on the new customs duty, and it will apply throughout the EU.
The €3 customs duty is temporary and will be replaced by a percentage-based customs duty from 1 July 2028.
Customs: Council agrees to levy customs duty on small parcels as of 1 July 2026
Customs duty and VAT are not the same
- You must always pay VAT on goods you buy from countries outside the EU, regardless of their value.
- The amount of customs duty depends on the type of goods, the value of the goods and the country of origin.
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