Shipping to Europe from the UK

Why UK retailers stopped shipping to Europe

Since the UK left the EU single market in January 2021, many UK retailers withdrew international shipping to EU countries. The reason is a combination of customs paperwork, VAT registration requirements in each EU member state, and courier cost increases on cross-border routes. Retailers like Next, Currys, Argos, Marks & Spencer, and Boots now deliver within the UK only.

PostUK solves this by keeping the delivery within the UK. You use your PostUK address at checkout — UK retailers ship to it as normal. Once the parcel arrives at our Northern Ireland depot, you choose a courier service to your EU destination and pay securely online.

Customs and VAT when shipping from the UK to Europe

All EU countries apply import rules to goods arriving from the UK after Brexit. The main charges to be aware of are:

• Import VAT: charged at the destination country's standard rate on the goods value. Common rates include Ireland 23%, France 20%, Germany 19%, Spain 21%, Italy 22%, Netherlands 21%. This applies to all commercial goods regardless of value.
• Customs duty: applies to goods with a declared value over €150. Below this threshold, duty is generally exempt — but import VAT still applies. Rates vary by goods category.
• Courier handling fee: some couriers add a small charge (typically £5–£12) for processing customs paperwork on your behalf.

Any applicable customs charges are the responsibility of the recipient and are not included in PostUK forwarding costs. PostUK prepares accurate export documentation based on parcel contents — you do not need to complete customs forms yourself. See our UK customs and duties guide for more detail.

Parcel consolidation for European shipments

If you order from multiple UK retailers, PostUK can hold your parcels at our depot and combine them into a single shipment to your European address. Consolidation is usually significantly cheaper than forwarding each parcel separately, particularly for customers who shop regularly across several UK stores.

Use Quick Quote to estimate consolidated shipping costs before placing your UK orders. See the parcel consolidation guide for how it works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I order directly from UK shops to Europe?

Many UK retailers stopped shipping to EU countries after Brexit because of customs complexity, VAT registration requirements, and increased carrier costs on cross-border routes. PostUK gives you a UK delivery address so UK retailers ship to you as normal — no international shipping required on their end.

Which UK retailers stopped shipping to Europe after Brexit?

Many major UK retailers withdrew or restricted EU delivery after Brexit, including Next, Currys, Argos, John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Boots, Sports Direct, and a large number of Amazon UK marketplace sellers. PostUK works with all of them. See our UK retailers not shipping to Europe guide.

Will I pay customs duty when shipping from the UK to Europe?

For most EU countries, customs duty applies to goods with a declared value over €150. Import VAT at the destination country's rate applies to all commercial goods regardless of value. Any applicable charges are your responsibility and are not included in PostUK shipping costs. See our customs and duties guide.

Does PostUK handle customs paperwork for European shipments?

Yes. PostUK prepares accurate export documentation based on parcel contents. You do not need to complete customs forms yourself. Accurate item descriptions in your account help avoid delays at customs.

Can I consolidate multiple UK parcels before shipping to Europe?

Yes. PostUK offers parcel consolidation — combine multiple UK orders into one shipment to reduce forwarding costs. Use Quick Quote to compare consolidated and individual shipping costs before ordering.

How long does shipping from the UK to Europe take?

Delivery times vary by country and courier service. Ireland typically takes 1–3 working days from our Northern Ireland depot. Western Europe (France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands) is typically 3–5 working days for standard services, or faster with express options. Estimated delivery times are shown before payment.