When a shipment from outside the European Union arrives in Belgium, the parcel is handed over to the bpost customs clearance service, which prepares it for customs clearance. The process is as follows:

1. Clearance of the parcel

Customs duties, VAT and any other fees (like anti-dumping duties and environmental duties) are calculated during clearance. As of July 1, 2021, this applies to all shipments, regardless of their value. More information about the customs rules.

As the recipient, you must pay these import costs in advance via the My bpost app or via Track & Trace. You will receive an email, text message or letter with a payment invitation.

2. Security check

Customs performs a security check on all goods arriving in Belgium from outside the European Union. Customs checks whether the goods can be imported to Belgium. If not (e.g. counterfeit goods, weapons or medicine), customs blocks your parcel. If so, your parcel is cleared and will be released.

3. Delivery of the parcel

As soon as customs clears the goods, bpost takes care of delivery. Bear in mind that the whole process can take several days. You can track the status of your shipment via Track & Trace. You will be notified if any further formalities need to be completed.

You can follow your parcel outside Belgium with Track & Trace. bpost relies on its international partners for the Track & Trace information. They are not always able to communicate this information (on time) so you might not be able to follow your parcel immediately. Once your parcel arrives in Belgium at bpost, you can follow it with our Track & Trace and the My bpost app.

Tip: You can also follow your parcel with the Track & Trace of the foreign postal service handling your parcel. Use the barcode number that you received from the sender and enter it in the Track & Trace of the foreign postal service.

Customs clearance fees are administrative charges that are charged by the bpost customs clearance service for:

• determining the contents and value of the parcel
• poss with the addressee if the contents, value and details of the parcel do not correspond or are incomplete;
• creating the required customs declaration;
• storage and warehousing costs for the collection and remittance of customs duties.

These charges apply to all shipments from outside the European Union (+ United Kingdom). You can, however, avoid additional taxes, customs duties and administrative costs by ordering from a registered online shop (Import One-Stop Shop or IOSS). You can easily recognise a recognised webshop: if your shopping basket states that VAT is included, you are safe! Most major webshops such as AliExpress, eBay and Wish are already registered.

NB: shipments with a value above €150 are always subject to customs duties and administrative processing costs.

In this case, your parcel comes from outside the EU, even if it was ordered from a European webshop. Some webshops send their products directly from the country of origin. If that country is outside the EU (e.g. the United Kingdom), you might be charged import costs. Always check the sender address of your parcel when ordering items online.

If you receive a payment request for import costs, you can still refuse your parcel before making the payment. You can do this via the My bpost app or via Track & Trace. In that case, your parcel will automatically be returned to sender.

This depends on where your parcel was sent.

My parcel comes from inside the European Union

Customs is authorised to check all shipments from inside the European Union. That usually involves suspect shipments from EU member states and shipments with excisable goods inside the European Community. Your parcel doesn't usually experience extra delays.

My parcel comes from outside the European Union

These parcels undergo an import procedure by default. The handling period depends on the following two factors:

• whether your parcel has enough information, such as the value and nature of the goods. (If that is not the case, you will receive a letter a few days later. In that case, the handling period is extended until you send the additional information). The customs clearance service of bpost checks whether VAT, customs fees or other duties have to be paid on your parcel. 
• whether customs or other official authorities have to check your parcel. That is the case for medicine, plants and food, weapons, suspected counterfeit goods, etc. You can follow the status of your parcel online with Track & Trace and the My bpost app.