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 up to €150. This applies when you shop online and the item is sent from a country outside the EU. In most cases, the customs charge is paid by the online shop you are buying from.
If the online shop is not linked to the Import One-Stop Shop, you are responsible for paying customs duty and VAT as the goods enter Sweden. 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.
Questions and answers
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.
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 will 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 less than €150; why has this changed?
The new customs duty is introduced to:
- Reduce the volume of small parcels entering the EU and Sweden, which result in more transport, more packaging, and more waste.
- Reduce the risk of private individuals receiving products that may be flammable, toxic, mislabelled, or unsafe.
- Ensure that businesses within the EU compete on a level playing field with businesses outside the EU.
Can I get a refund on customs duties when I return an item?
The customs duty of €3 will not be refunded by Swedish Customs if the item is free from defects.
If, for example, the item was damaged during transit and you have made a claim against the seller, the person acting as the declarant can apply for a refund of duties from Swedish Customs.
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.