To ship a parcel from Canada to Europe: first check whether the destination country is in the European Union, because the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway have their own rules. Pack and weigh the parcel, fill in the customs declaration item by item, then compare international services for your specific parcel. The recipient usually pays VAT and duties on arrival unless you prepay them.
Europe is not one customs territory
"Shipping to Europe" covers several regimes. European Union member countries apply the same import rules, but each sets its own VAT rate. The United Kingdom has left the EU customs territory and applies its own rules. Switzerland and Norway are not EU members and have their own as well.
| Destination | Regime | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| European Union countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and the other members) | Common EU import rules | Same formalities everywhere, but the VAT rate is the destination country’s |
| United Kingdom | UK rules, separate from the EU | UK VAT and duty; on low-value sales to consumers, the seller is generally the one who collects VAT at the sale |
| Switzerland, Norway and other non-EU countries | National rules | Never assume EU rules apply: check the country |
The steps, in order
- Confirm the destination country and its regime (table above).
- Pack in a rigid box, pad the contents and tape every seam: an international parcel is handled more often than a local one.
- Weigh and measure the sealed parcel: the higher of actual or dimensional weight is billed.
- Write the full address in the country’s format, the country name in full on the last line, plus a phone number and an email for the recipient.
- Fill in the customs declaration, item by item.
- Compare the services offered for your lane, buy the label and customs documents, then drop the parcel off or book a pickup where offered.
Before you pack, check the contents too: loose lithium batteries, perfumes, aerosols, food, alcohol, medication and animal or plant products are banned or restricted depending on the carrier and the country. A refused item can come back at your expense.
The customs declaration
Every parcel leaving Canada for Europe must be declared, even a gift. For each item, give a precise description ("wool sweater" rather than "clothing"), the quantity, the unit value, the country where the goods were made and, for a commercial shipment, the HS code. A vague description or an undervalued item is a common reason a parcel is held.
The document depends on the service: a postal customs declaration for a postal service, a commercial invoice for most express services. At the quote step, the MesColis form collects this information and sends it with the label. If the recipient is a business, ask them for the identification numbers their customs authority requires to import.
VAT and duties: who pays, and when
In the European Union, import VAT generally applies to goods that are sold, whatever their value, at the destination country’s rate. On customs duty, the rule has changed: since July 1, 2026, the EU no longer exempts low-value parcels, and a transitional flat-rate duty per item applies to small consignments sent to consumers. The carrier may also charge a clearance fee.
By default, the recipient pays these amounts on delivery, and a surprise bill at the door often leads to a refused parcel. Two ways to avoid it: prepay duties and taxes (DDP) when you buy the label, which MesColis lets you do where the option is offered for your lane; or, if you sell regularly to consumers in the EU, register for the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS), which lets you collect VAT at the sale on low-value orders.
European tax rules, thresholds and carrier fees change, and 2026 is a transition year. This guide is neither tax advice nor a price: confirm the rules with the European Commission (taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu) or the destination country’s customs authority, and the total price, taxes included, at the quote step for your parcel.
Goods made in Canada: CETA
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union provides reduced or zero customs duty for goods that genuinely originate in Canada. To benefit, the invoice must carry the origin declaration set out in the agreement, and the goods must meet its rules of origin. VAT still applies.
Watch the trap: an item made elsewhere and simply resold from Canada is not of Canadian origin. Declare the real country of manufacture. The agreement covers the EU only: the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway fall under other arrangements. Read the rules of origin on the Global Affairs Canada site before you rely on them.
Choosing the carrier and service
On lanes from Canada to Europe, MesColis quotes most often show international services from carriers such as UPS, FedEx and DHL, and Canada Post on some lanes; the exact offer depends on the parcel, the country, the postal code and the day. An express service usually costs more but often includes customs clearance and detailed tracking; a postal or economy service costs less and takes longer.
No carrier is the cheapest for every parcel or every country. Compare the total price, including surcharges such as fuel, the expected date and how taxes are handled, for your specific parcel. You can get a quote without an account, then buy the label, add insurance and track the shipment in one place.
Free MesColis account, no contract and no minimum volume: compare the services that serve your lane to Europe before you buy the label.