Parcel delivery from France to Ukraine

Reasons for detaining a parcel from France

The main reasons for the detention of a parcel at customs may include:

• The contents of the parcel are forbidden or restricted to import into Ukraine.
• There are mistakes or missing information in the documents.
• The value of the parcel or cargo exceeds the duty-free limit of 150 Euro and customs clearance is required.

How do I get a parcel detained at customs?

• It is not possible to bring into the country prohibited goods or a quantity of goods that exceeds the allowable limit. If your goods violate the laws of Ukraine, you may be fined or held liable in court. 
• If there is an error in the documents or missing information - ask for help from the sender, he or she should make corrections in the documents.
• If the value of your parcel exceeds the established duty-free limit of 150 Euros, you must clear your parcel through customs and pay 10% duty and 20% VAT on the amount that exceeds the limit.

You have 30 days to solve problems at customs, after this period the parcel can be sent back to the sender or confiscated without the possibility of return.

The list of documents is individual and is based on the specifics of the goods, the place where you ordered it and your legal status.

To order you may need:

• Passport data.
• TIN.
• Accreditation card of the legal entity (LLC, FLP, PE etc.).
• Contract, invoice, goods description, packing list.
• Permit for import of certain samples of goods, if necessary.

To receive an international parcel by an individual in Ukraine, the following documents are required:

• Passport, TIN code or other documents confirming the identity of the recipient, for non-citizens of Ukraine only passport.
• Checks or printouts from the site where the purchase price is indicated.
• Bill of lading and invoice for the parcel - you can get it at the reception of the carrier or electronically to the post office.
• Completed M16 declaration - a sample of the blank M16 form is provided by the carrier.
• A receipt for payment of customs duties.

You can calculate the customs payments yourself by using a customs calculator or by contacting a customs broker. You can pay the duty through any payment system, such as Privat24 or through a payment terminal at the carrier's office.

Customs duty for delivery of parcels and cargo from France to Ukraine is paid only if the value of the parcel exceeds the duty-free limit of 150 euro.

• If the value of the parcel is between 150 EUR and 10 000 EUR you must pay 10% duty and 20% VAT.
• If the value of the parcel exceeds €10,000, it's subject to 20% VAT and duty, depending on the code of the imported goods.

You should also take into consideration that natural persons do not pay the delivery fee, while legal entities do not pay the delivery fee, which is included in the duty-free limit of EUR 150.

Example of duty calculation for parcels over 150 EUR:

Approximate value of a parcel from abroad 200 EUR

The base for taxation is: 200 – 150 = 50 euro.

Duty: (200 – 150) * 10% = 5 EUR

Value Added Tax (VAT): (50 + 5) * 20% = 11 EUR

Duty + VAT: 5 EUR Duty + VAT 11 EUR = 16 EUR

Total: 16 euros

*Approximate amount of charges – (678,67 UAH) depends on the exchange rate established by the NBU on the date of execution of relevant documents

The total cost of delivery of parcels and freight from France to Ukraine depends on the chosen delivery service, weight, dimensions, as well as:

• The cost of delivery by courier service (FedEx, UPS, TNT, DHL can be calculated on the website of the carrier or agent).
• Customs clearance if the value of the parcel exceeds 150 Euros.
• Insurance (if required).
• Payment of services intermediary, if you turned to him.

You should also take into account that for individuals and legal entities different order of customs clearance, which is not included in the delivery cost.

An example of delivery calculation for parcels weighing 10 kg with the size of 50*30*30 cm:

Do the calculation of the volumetric weight in cm: 50*30*30 = 45000/5000 = 9 kg  

If the volumetric weight is not more than the actual weight, the cost of calculating the delivery will be the actual weight of 10 kg. 

You choose the service delivery: express or economy. 

Insurance is usually 1% of the cost. 

Packaging is at the expense of the sender. 

Make a calculation on the site yourself or send a request for the calculation to the managers of the company «Semero».

Article 235. Prohibitions and restrictions on the transfer (sending) of certain types of goods in international postal and express consignments

Movement of the following goods shall be prohibited:

• Goods prohibited by this Code and other legislative acts of Ukraine in accordance with the importation into or exportation from the customs territory of Ukraine.
• Goods sent in violation of customs regulations.
• Goods for which there are no relevant permits in applying non-tariff regulation measures of foreign economic activity.
• Goods that, based on the results of the types of control specified in the first paragraph of Article 319 of this Code, may not be let through the customs border of Ukraine.
• Goods (clothes, shoes, etc.) that have been used and are in a dirty condition, which by their characteristics may pose a danger to postal workers, without documents on the performed fumigation.
• Goods falling under groups 1-24 of the UCG FEA are transported (sent) to citizens, except for food products with a total weight not exceeding 10 kilograms in the manufacturer's package.

Prohibited for transport:

• Live animals (including but not limited to mammals, reptiles, fish, invertebrates, amphibians, insects, or birds).
• Hunting trophies (animals), animal parts such as ivory and shark fins, animal remains, or animal by-products or derivatives not intended for human consumption that is prohibited for movement by the CITES Convention or local law.
• Human remains or ashes in any form.
• Precious metals in bullion.
• Cash (current legal tender as banknotes, bills, coins), traveler's checks, and activated credit cards.
• Precious and semi-precious stones in loose form (whether processed or unprocessed).
• Complete firearms, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices, including inert explosives or test samples, air guns, replicas, or imitations of firearms or ammunition.
• Illicit goods such as illegal drugs, including but not limited to narcotic stimulants, depressants, or hallucinogens. Cannabis or its derivatives.

It is prohibited to import/export items whose transportation is prohibited by law, regulation, or statute of any state or local government of the country to which or through which the shipment may travel.