---
title: "EU Shipping Update: New €2 Handling Fee from 1 November 2026"
description: Learn how the EU’s €2 Union Handling Fee, starting 1 November 2026 across all couriers, adds to the €3 duty on eligible imports and affects shipping costs.
---
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# EU Shipping Update: New €2 Handling Fee from 1 November 2026
## An additional EU charge is coming—and it applies across all couriers. From 1 November 2026, qualifying e-commerce shipments sent from outside the European Union to EU consumers will incur a €2 Union Handling Fee (UHF) per customs declaration line, regardless of shipment value.
For eligible shipments valued at **€150 or less**, this fee is **on top of the existing €3 customs duty per chargeable item**, bringing the combined amount to **€5 per chargeable declaration line**, before applicable VAT and other charges.
### Applies across all couriers
The UHF is an **EU government charge**, not a surcharge introduced by Spaceship or an individual courier. Qualifying imports are subject to the same EU requirement whether sent through UPS, DHL, FedEx, another courier or a postal operator. Changing courier does not remove the charge.
Understanding the two charges
| Charge | Effective date | When it applies |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **€3 customs duty per chargeable declaration line** | 1 July 2026 | Eligible low-value imports with a consignment value of €150 or less |
| **€2 Union Handling Fee per chargeable declaration line** | 1 November 2026 | Qualifying e-commerce distance-sale imports to EU consumers, including consignments above €150 |
For shipments **above €150**, the €2 UHF still applies, but normal product-specific customs duty applies instead of the flat €3 duty.
### How HS codes affect charges
The existing €3 charge is often described as being **“per HS code.”** More precisely, both charges are calculated using the chargeable line items in the customs declaration, based on tariff classification, product description and, where required, origin—not simply the number of parcels or physical units.
Multiple identical products may qualify for one declaration line, while products requiring separate lines attract separate charges. Sharing an HS code alone does not always guarantee a single charge.
For example, an eligible low-value parcel containing **a pen, a notebook and a key ring declared on three chargeable lines** would incur:
| Charge | Calculation | Amount |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Customs duty | €3 × 3 declaration lines | €9 |
| Union Handling Fee | €2 × 3 declaration lines | €6 |
| **Combined charges** | **Before applicable VAT and other charges** | **€15** |
Important points before shipping
- **Not every EU shipment is covered:** The UHF concerns qualifying e-commerce distance sales, generally business-to-consumer imports. Genuine private-person-to-private-person gifts are outside its scope.
- **Booking early does not guarantee exemption:** Under the current declaration process, the fee arises when customs accepts the declaration, so a parcel dispatched before November may still be affected.
- **VAT and other fees remain separate:** Applicable VAT and carrier clearance or service charges may be payable in addition to the customs duty and UHF.
- **The UHF is non-refundable once incurred:** Returning goods, including faulty goods, does not entitle the customer to a refund of this fee.
### Preparing your EU shipments
Before dispatch, review your product descriptions, HS codes, country of origin and declared values. Factor the additional fee into your EU pricing, and clearly explain to your customers whether import charges are included at checkout or may be collected separately.
**Need help with an upcoming EU shipment?**
**Contact [Spaceship Logistics Consultant](mailto:business@spaceshipapp.com) to review the applicable shipping and customs-charge arrangements.**
*Last Updated on 22 Oct 2026*
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