How to Send a Parcel from France to England: Rates, Duties & Delivery Times

To send a parcel from France to England, you can use a carrier like La Poste (Colissimo International), Chronopost, UPS, DHL, or Mondial Relay, choosing a service tier from budget postal to express courier. Attach a CN22 or CN23 customs declaration, even for a small gift, since Brexit moved the UK outside the EU customs union. Delivery ranges from 1 working day with an express service like DHL Express or UPS Worldwide Saver to around 10 working days with a budget option like Mondial Relay. 

How Do You Send a Parcel From France to England After Brexit? 

Sending a parcel from France to England now requires a customs declaration form (such as CN23), a detailed description of the contents, and an accurate item value.

This means 3 things change for the sender:

1. A customs declaration form must travel with the parcel
2. UK import VAT applies to nearly every parcel - collected at checkout for orders up to £135, or at the border above that - while customs duty only kicks in once the goods' value exceeds £135. 
3. Delivery times can stretch beyond the old EU-to-EU norm if customs processing adds a day or two

The core steps stay the same as any parcel shipment: weigh and measure the item, choose a carrier and service, print a label, attach the customs form, and drop off or schedule a collection.

What Documents Do You Need to Send a Parcel to the UK? 

You need a customs declaration form, either a CN22 or a CN23, attached to every parcel sent from France to the UK. The form tells the UK Border Force and HMRC what's inside, what it's worth, and why it's being sent.

The CN22 is a small sticker-style form used for lower-value, lighter parcels. The CN23 is a full-page form used once a parcel crosses the value or weight limit. As of mid-2026, the postal industry standard threshold sits at roughly 300 SDR (around €350, or about £270), and around 2 kg in weight. Cross either limit and the CN23 becomes mandatory.

Both forms ask for the same core details:

1. Sender's and recipient's full name, address, and telephone number
2. A specific description of each item (not a vague category like "clothing")
3. The quantity and weight of each item
4. The declared value of the goods, in the currency you're charged
5. Whether the parcel is a gift, a sale, a sample, or returned goods

Courier services like UPS and DHL use their own commercial invoice and waybill instead of a CN22/CN23, but they ask for the same information. Whichever form applies, write item descriptions in plain, specific language. "Two cotton t-shirts, size M" clears customs faster than "clothing," because a vague description is one of the most common reasons a parcel gets held at the border.

How Much Does It Cost to Send a Parcel From France to England? 

For a 1 kg parcel, prices range from €16.59 with UPS Standard (3 working days, cheapest option) to €219.45 for UPS Worldwide Express Plus (1 working day, fastest). Budget postal options like Chronopost Classic (€20.09) and Colissimo International (€24.10) cost less but take 6-13 working days. For a faster guaranteed delivery without the premium price, UPS Worldwide Saver (€36.22, 1 working day) is often the best value, while DHL Express runs €61-69 for 2-4 day delivery. 

The table below gives a general shape of what to expect across the main carrier options. 

From: France

To: United Kingdom

Weight: 1 kg

How Long Does Delivery Take From France to England? 

Delivery time from France to England ranges from 1 working day with a premium express courier service to around 10 working days with a budget international option. Customs processing can add extra time on top of the carrier's stated transit window.

DHL Express advertises delivery to the UK in 1 to 2 working days. Chronopost's express tier serves major international destinations in a similar window, while its standard European service runs 2 to 5 working days across the 28 countries in its network, which includes the UK. Mondial Relay, whose network is strongest inside the EU, quotes at least 10 working days for UK deliveries, since the UK sits outside its core home-delivery footprint.

Do You Have to Pay UK VAT or Customs Duty on a Parcel From France? 

Whether you pay UK VAT or customs duty on a parcel from France depends on the declared value of the goods. As of July 2026, the UK charges no customs duty on non-excise goods valued at £135 or less, though import VAT can still apply depending on how the goods are sold.

For commercial parcels sold to a UK customer, VAT at the standard rate (usually 20%) is often collected at the point of sale rather than at the border, when the order value is £135 or under. For parcels valued above £135, the UK's Global Tariff can apply customs duty on top of VAT, calculated on the value of the goods. Thresholds and rates are subject to change, so verify current figures with UK customs authorities or HMRC before shipping high-value items.

For a personal gift sent between individuals, rather than a commercial sale, different relief rules can apply depending on the value and nature of the item. Whoever is sending the parcel should declare the true purchase value of the goods, since under-declaring value to avoid VAT or duty is a customs offense and can cause the parcel to be seized or returned. You can use Easyship’s tax and duties calculator to easily figure out your customs charges.

How Do You Fill Out a Customs Declaration Form for the UK? 

You fill out a customs declaration form by writing the sender and recipient details in capital letters, describing each item specifically, and declaring an honest value for the goods. Getting these fields right is the biggest factor in whether a parcel clears UK customs without delay.

1. Write sender and recipient names, addresses, and a valid telephone number for each side
2. List each item separately with a specific description, not a generic category
3. State the quantity of each item
4. Give the weight of each item
5. Declare the value of the goods in the currency shown on the form
6. Select the reason for the shipment: gift, sale of goods, commercial sample, returned goods, or other
7. Sign and date the form to confirm the declaration is accurate

Most postal operators now send this same customs data electronically ahead of the physical parcel, so the paper CN22 or CN23 acts as a backup rather than the only record customs sees. Keep a copy of the completed form for your own records in case of a dispute or delay.

What Else Should You Check Before Shipping to the UK? 

Beyond carrier choice and customs paperwork, a few practical details can hold up a parcel from France to England or add unexpected cost.

Prohibited and restricted items

Certain goods, including perishables, liquids over set volumes, batteries shipped alone, and counterfeit or restricted items, can't cross the UK border at all, while others need extra documentation. Check the full list of prohibited and restricted items before packing.

Weight and size limits

Weight limits vary by carrier and service: Colissimo caps parcels at 30 kg, while express couriers like UPS and DHL typically allow up to 70 kg per parcel, with oversized or overweight items triggering surcharges. Check each carrier's exact weight and dimension limits before booking. 

Packaging requirements

A parcel should be packed to survive handling across two customs systems, with cushioning around fragile items and a sturdy outer box, since damaged packaging can trigger a customs inspection or slow clearance. See our guide to packaging a parcel for international shipping. 

Tracking your parcel

Every carrier mentioned above includes tracking, though the level of detail varies: express couriers like UPS and DHL offer real-time, door-to-door tracking, while postal options like Colissimo and Mondial Relay typically update at fewer checkpoints. Learn how to track a parcel from France to the UK. 

Start Shipping From France to England 

Sending a parcel from France to England means treating the UK as an international, non-EU destination: every shipment needs a customs declaration, and goods valued above £135 can trigger UK customs duty on top of import VAT. Carrier choice comes down to a trade-off between cost and speed, with postal options like La Poste and Mondial Relay suited to low-cost, non-urgent parcels, and express couriers like Chronopost, UPS, and DHL suited to time-sensitive or higher-value shipments. 

Comparing live rates across carriers before booking, rather than defaulting to one provider, is usually the easiest way to keep costs down while meeting the delivery window a UK recipient needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I send a parcel to England without a customs form?

No. Every parcel sent from France to England needs a CN22 or CN23 customs declaration, or the carrier's equivalent commercial invoice. There's no value low enough to skip this step, since the UK is outside the EU customs union for all shipments.

How much is customs duty from France to the UK?

As of July 2026, the UK charges no customs duty on non-excise goods valued at £135 or less. Above that threshold, the UK Global Tariff can apply duty on top of import VAT. Rates vary by product category, so check current figures with UK customs before shipping.

What is the cheapest way to send a parcel to England?

Economy postal options through La Poste or Mondial Relay are usually the cheapest way to send a parcel to England, though delivery can take up to 10 working days. Comparing live rates across carriers before booking often finds a lower price than booking direct with one courier.

Does Royal Mail deliver parcels from France?

Royal Mail often handles the final UK leg of parcels sent by international post, working with the sending country's postal operator through the international postal network. Courier services like UPS and DHL, by contrast, usually manage the full France-to-UK journey themselves.

How long does La Poste take to deliver to the UK?

La Poste's Colissimo International service typically takes several working days to deliver to the UK, though exact timing depends on the tier chosen and customs processing at the border. Check current transit times on La Poste's website before shipping.

Do I need a VAT number to send a parcel to the UK?

An individual sending a personal parcel doesn't need a VAT number. A business selling goods to UK customers may need to register for UK VAT, depending on order value and sales volume, since some low-value sales require VAT to be collected at checkout rather than at the border.