March 30, 2026, 9:15 am | Read time: 3 minutes
New rules will soon apply to orders from countries outside the EU. Representatives of the EU Parliament and member states have agreed on a reform of the customs system. Part of this agreement is an additional fee for package shipments from non-EU countries. It is set to be imposed starting November 1, 2026, and will affect every product ordered online and imported into the EU. The respective authorities of EU countries are responsible for collecting the fee.
The background of the new rule is the sharply increased number of small packages from abroad. More and more goods are being shipped directly from online retailers in non-EU countries to individual recipients. This leads to more effort in customs processing. The extent of this development is shown by figures from the German Retail Association. According to them, about 400,000 packages from platforms Temu and Shein arrive in Germany daily.
Fee to Be Regularly Adjusted
The exact amount of the new fee is still undecided. However, it is certain that the EU Commission will set the fee amount and review it every two years. The fee is paid by the person who also covers the customs duties. Member states will collect the fee once the necessary IT systems are ready, but no later than November 1, 2026.
The fee is intended to offset additional costs arising from the large volume of shipments. These include the inspection, control, and processing of packages upon import. This effort has significantly increased in recent years.
Also of interest: Millions of online shoppers will pay more starting in July
Elimination of the Previous Exemption Limit
In addition to the new package fee, another change is coming. Starting July 2026, the previous customs exemption limit of 150 euros will be eliminated. Instead, a flat fee for goods below this limit will be introduced. This fee will be calculated per product group and is currently planned to be three euros. If an order contains multiple product categories, the total amount may increase accordingly. As a result, orders from abroad could become more expensive overall.
The new fee is just one part of the comprehensive reform. A central European data hub is also planned. Through this system, importers and exporters will communicate with customs authorities in the future. The goal is to simplify processes and better track shipments. Additionally, simplified procedures are planned for companies deemed particularly trustworthy. The EU also aims to establish a new EU customs agency to oversee the system and support national authorities in control and risk analysis.