Royal Mail are informing their business customers that on the 1st of January 2026, the Italian Government introduced a €2 (approx. £1.73) customs administration fee for parcels sent for delivery from outside the EU with a value less than or equal to €150. The fee applies to all parcels, including gifts, but excludes items classified as documents.
The fee applies to all items cleared in Italy, including gifts, but excludes items classified as documents. At present, the fee will be collected directly from the Italian recipient. However, Royal Mail is actively working on a “sender pays” solution, which they aim to introduce in the near future.
When does the customs administration fee for Italy apply?
As it stands today if you export goods to Italy, the following will apply to parcels processed in Italy on or after the 1st of January 2026:
| Service (Non – Personal Correspondence) | Is the €2 customs administration fee for items valued less than or equal to €150 applicable? |
| • International Tracked • International Tracked Heavier • International Untracked • Globalpriority Europe | Yes |
| • Tracked Priority • Europriority | IOSS shipments – No DTP shipments – Yes |
| • Globalexpress | Yes |
It’s also worth remembering that beginning on the 1st of July 2026, a flat customs duty of €3 will apply to low-value e-commerce parcels under €150 entering the EU. This measure is described as temporary and transitional, ahead of broader EU customs reform and the implementation of a future more permanent regime. According to the EU Council’s release, the €3 duty will apply to all goods under €150, including those sold by non-EU sellers registered under the Import One-Stop Shop (IOSS) for VAT purposes.
