Shipping From the UK to Spain, Latest Updates
The Brexit transition period is over and the United Kingdom has officially left the European Union. Not many people will notice any actual difference unless they happen to run a business, but there are a few things that have changed that will affect anybody wishing to send parcels (for example) from the UK to an EU destination such as Spain.
Here we will outline the more important changes that you need to be aware of, to make sure that your shipping needs are met and you (and those you ship to) comply with the new regulations.
Parcel deliveries to Spain and the EU
When sending parcels and packages to friends or family living in any European Country, including Spain, the biggest change that you are going to see concerns customs documentation.
As of the 1st of January 2021 (even if you are an individual, as opposed to a business, sending parcels to friends or family in the EU) you are going to have to have a customs declaration form. This needs to be correctly completed and attached to the outside of your parcel.
If you have ever ordered something from outside the EU before, China perhaps, then you will be familiar with what these customs declaration forms look like.
The declaration form needs to state, clearly, what is in the parcel and the value of each item. Your form also needs to show the 8 digit HS Code (the HS Code is also known as a tariff or commodity code). The HS Code (Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System) must be applied to every parcel sent to an EU country – whether the item(s) are new, used or your personal effects.
Due to the trade deal that has been struck between the United Kingdom and the European Union, customs fees do not need to be paid for your parcel. That said, the person receiving the parcel will need to pay the import VAT. Each EU member nation is responsible for setting its own VAT rate, and for Spain, this is typically between 4% and 21%.
It is also very important that accurate contact details for the receiving party are provided too, in case customs need to contact them. Should customs need to contact the receiver for some reason but cannot, the parcel may be sent back to you.
Are you a business sending parcels to Spain?
If you have a business that ships to customers in the European Union, Spain included of course, then you should hopefully already be prepared for changes. However, the following should still help you.
What has changed since the 1st of January?
From the 1st of January, all businesses that export to the European Union is going to have to provide additional information if their goods are to get through customs.
Businesses will need to provide:
A UK EORI number
The importer’s EORI number (this is only applicable if you are exporting to another business)
Your business name, address and contact details
Receivers name, address and contact details
Item details (descriptions, quantity, weight, value)
Country of origin
An 8 digit HS code for all items
As you can see, not an awful lot has changed and the things have changed are not difficult to overcome, especially when you get used to the idea of the extra documents that are now required. Before long all of this will become second nature and you will wonder what all the fuss was about.