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Importing to France

Customs duty, VAT, and import regulations — updated 2026

Key facts at a glance

Customs authority
Direction générale des douanes (DGDDI)
De minimis threshold
€150 (~$165 USD)
VAT / sales tax
TVA (Taxe sur la Valeur Ajoutée) at 20% standard rate
Typical duty range
0–12% EU Common Customs Tariff
Code system
8-digit CN codes — EU standard
Currency
EUR

⚡ 2026 tariff update

EU anti-dumping measures on Chinese goods. Strong enforcement on e-commerce platforms.

Overview

France applies EU Common Customs Tariff rules. The French customs authority DGDDI is one of Europe's most active, with strong enforcement particularly on luxury goods, food, and e-commerce from outside the EU. TVA applies at 20% on most imports (10% on restaurants; 5.5% on food; 2.1% on medicines). Intra-EU movements face no customs barriers.

Import process

1. Goods arrive at French port (Le Havre, Paris CDG, Marseille) 2. DELTA-X system for electronic customs declarations 3. EU CCT + 20% TVA applied 4. DGDDI may inspect — France is known for thorough inspection 5. Goods released on payment

Practical tips

✓ France strictly enforces IP rights — counterfeit goods are seized and destroyed
✓ IOSS available for e-commerce B2C sales into France under €150
✓ Luxury goods face high customs scrutiny — ensure authentic provenance documentation
✓ Wine, cheese, and food products may require additional sanitary certificates

⛔ Restricted & prohibited goods

Counterfeit luxury goods (strictly enforced), endangered species, certain agricultural products

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