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Sending Mail from Japan to the EU from 1 November 2026: the €3 Duty on Low-Value Parcels, the €2 Union Handling Fee, Product Identifiers (PID), and How Personal Gifts Differ
Based on Japan Post's notice updated on 30 October 2026, this guide sets out the EU duty on parcels of €150 or less that began in July (€3 per item for online sales), the Union Handling Fee of €2 and the mandatory Product Identifier (PID) from 1 November, how gifts between individuals differ, how IOSS, DDP and DAP work country by country, and what to watch for when sending to Germany and elsewhere.
Written by Koetsu Co., Ltd.
The rules for posting goods to the European Union have changed substantially in 2026. On 30 October, Japan Post updated its earlier notices and set out again what begins on 1 November: the Union Handling Fee (UHF) and the requirement to submit Product Identifiers (PID).
Based on Japan Post's notice, this article sorts out what has changed and when, and how online sales differ from personal gifts. The final decision on duty is made by customs in the destination country, so what we describe here is the guidance Japan Post has published.
Since July: no more duty exemption at €150 or less
Until now, imports into the EU worth €150 or less in total were exempt from customs duty. According to Japan Post, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU decided to end this exemption and charge duty from 1 July 2026, and to add the UHF from 1 November. Japan Post's table can be summarised as follows.
| Type of shipment | €45 or less | Over €45 to €150 | Over €150 |
|---|---|---|---|
| B2C (online sales) | €3 duty + €2 UHF | €3 duty + €2 UHF | EU common tariff + €2 UHF |
| C2C (gifts between individuals) | Exempt | EU common tariff | EU common tariff |
| B2B and others | EU common tariff | EU common tariff | EU common tariff |
Japan Post explains that B2C (online sales) here means any case where the sender is the seller, whether an individual or a company. So an individual sending something they sold online to the buyer is covered too. It also says that for B2C, the duty and the UHF are charged per item in the parcel, not per HS code (tariff number). Three items in one box means three charges.
Gifts between individuals (C2C), on the other hand, remain exempt at €45 or less. That assumes the contents type is chosen correctly on the customs declaration. We explained how to choose between gift and online-sale items in our article on filling in CN22/CN23 customs declarations.
From 1 November: the UHF and PID submission
From Sunday 1 November, B2C mail with contents worth €150 or less in total must have PIDs submitted when it is sent. A PID is a number that identifies the product, and Japan Post lists the three types below. They are submitted through Zonos's app or similar tools, which Japan Post recommends.
| PID type | What it is | Required? | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merchant PID (M-PID) | An ID the shop or marketplace gives the product | Required | Product ID, SKU |
| Manufacturer PID (NS-PID) | A product number from the maker or supplier | Required | Manufacturer part number, model number |
| Standard PID (S-PID) | A standard barcode number | Only where applicable | JAN, EAN, UPC, GTIN, ISBN |
Where there is no manufacturer PID, a standard PID such as a JAN code can be entered in its place. Japan Post plans to add wording to its country conditions (with effect from 9 November) that missing or incomplete PID information may affect customs clearance and delay delivery. Japan Post also states that it is for the sender to decide whether a PID needs to be submitted.
IOSS, DDP and DAP vary by country
IOSS (Import One Stop Shop) is a scheme for businesses selling goods of €150 or less to EU consumers, letting them collect VAT at the time of sale and pay it in one place. Japan Post's table shows that, when IOSS is used, whether DDP (the sender pays duty in advance) or DAP (the recipient pays) is available differs by country. Mail using IOSS must have "online sale item" selected as the contents type on the label.
- DDP steps (import declaration, PID submission, advance payment of duty and label creation) are done in Zonos's app or similar, and Zonos charges a fee
- Labels made in Zonos's app show "DDP" followed by a 13-digit declaration ID. A label made separately in Japan Post's International Mail My Page is not linked to that ID
- The app cannot be used on post office tablets, so use your own smartphone or similar
- For B2C to Germany, Japan Post's table shows "×" from 1 November even without IOSS
- For countries where DDP is not available as of 1 November, Japan Post points to its UGX courier service (except Cyprus and Greece)
Country conditions can change, so check Japan Post's notice and country conditions before sending. For advance declaration (DDP) on mail to the United States, see our article on Japan Post's expanded acceptance of US-bound mail.
Our personal Mercari listings and Loop KOBE (Mercari Shops) both sell within Japan and do not ship directly overseas. This article is a guide to reading Japan Post's information for people sending goods from Japan to the EU; we cannot advise on individual shipments or duties.
