As of November 1, 2026, a handling fee of 2 euros per item applies to online orders from outside the Union in the EU. This fee complements customs duties on international parcels, but does not mean the same additional charge for each shipment. This is reported by the Estonian Tax and Customs Board, explaining the general European rules.
Handling fee for purchases from Temu and Shein: what is effective from November 1, 2026
The new regulation applies not only to Germany and Chinese platforms. The import of goods into the EU from third countries, including China, the United Kingdom, or the USA, is significant.
For the relevant online purchases, two payments need to be distinguished:
- a customs duty of 3 euros, which applies from July for items in shipments valued up to 150 euros;
- a handling fee of 2 euros for each item in the customs declaration.
Therefore, the assertion of a fixed 5 euros for any parcel is an oversimplification. If a shipment contains one item to which both charges apply, the total will be 5 euros. For three such items, it would already be 15 euros, not including other possible taxes.
An item does not necessarily equal one physical object. Several products may be combined into one line of the declaration according to established customs rules. That is why calculating the extra charge only by the number of items in the cart is incorrect.
The new fee is one of the changes in Germany in November that affect everyday expenses. At the same time, it does not apply to gifts that one private individual sends to another.
Payment of the fee for parcels: what the buyer should check in November 2026
The official clarification does not guarantee that the buyer will not see a separate charge after placing an order under any circumstances. Depending on the seller's system, the fee may be included during the payment of the purchase or charged during import.
Therefore, before placing an order, it is worth checking the final amount, delivery conditions, and information about included taxes and customs charges. The price of the item in the catalog alone is not sufficient to determine the total cost of the purchase.
The place of shipment is also important. If the product is already in free circulation in the EU and is delivered from a European warehouse to the buyer within the Union, such delivery is not a new import from a third country. However, the costs of prior importation may be included in the price by the seller.
The temporary duty of 3 euros will later be replaced by regular customs tariffs as part of the EU reform. Union rules should not be automatically applied to deliveries to Ukraine: the country of destination is important for the buyer, as well as the terms of other financial operations, including banking services in Germany.