Buying a product online shipped from outside the European Union brings in, as of this Sunday, a new customs cost. The processing fee of two euros begins to apply on November 1, 2026 to the distance sales covered by the measure, regardless of the value of the shipment.
For the consumer, the main novelty is that the final price may increase if the seller or the operators involved in the import pass on that cost. But there is a detail worth knowing before filling the cart: the two euros are calculated per category of items declared at customs, not necessarily per package or per unit purchased.
The General Directorate of Consumer Affairs of the Junta de Andalucía, in a warning reported by Europa Press, recommends distinguishing this fee from the temporary tariff of three euros that has already been applied since July to certain imports of up to 150 euros. These are different concepts and can accumulate.
What purchases are affected: it matters from where the product is shipped
The measure affects distance-sold goods that are imported from countries outside the EU. Therefore, it is advisable to check the origin of the shipment and the import conditions, in addition to the name of the store.
That a website is in Spanish or shows prices in euros does not let you know from where the order will arrive. Likewise, a platform can offer products shipped from different countries and warehouses.
The new fee is also not limited to cheap purchases: the Tax Agency indicates that it applies both to shipments of up to 150 euros and to those that exceed that amount. What changes between the two cases is the treatment of customs duties.
Is it two euros per package or per each product?
The reference is the category of items in the customs declaration. Several identical units may be grouped into a single category, while a package with different goods may generate several charges.
For example, if a shipment contains two identical pens declared in a single category, the new fee would be two euros. If it contains a pen, a notebook and a key ring declared in three different categories, it would rise to six euros.
These are explanatory examples published by the Irish tax administration to show how the European measure works. The specific customs classification of the order will determine the calculation.
The practical consequence is that combining several different products in a single package does not guarantee paying a single fee.
How much an order can become more expensive: the difference between two and five euros
The new fee does not replace the temporary three-euro tariff. When both must be applied, one category of items accumulates five euros between the two concepts, before considering the VAT that applies.
This does not mean that the new increase in November is five euros: the three euros of the tariff were already in force. The new feature this Sunday is the additional fee of two euros.
In a shipment subject to both charges:
* One category would accumulate three euros of tariff and two of processing: five euros.
* Three categories would accumulate nine euros of tariff and six of processing: fifteen euros.
These amounts are not a universal final bill. The calculation depends on the applicable regime, VAT, and other possible shipping costs. For goods worth more than 150 euros, the corresponding customs duties for the product apply instead of the temporary three-euro tariff.
Who pays the fee and when it can reach the consumer
The customs obligation falls on the entity responsible for the other customs expenses of the shipment, in accordance with the import regime. The rule does not establish that all buyers must receive a separate charge of two euros when the package is delivered to them.
Another question is who ultimately bears the cost. The seller or the operator may absorb it or pass it on to the consumer, as the Irish tax administration warns. For that reason, the effect on the pocket will also depend on the commercial conditions of each purchase.
Before paying, it is worth checking whether the announced amount includes taxes, customs duties, and processing. An apparently cheaper offer may stop being so when all the items are added.
VAT can also influence the final amount
It is not always enough to add two euros to the product price. The Tax Agency has clarified that the fee follows the same treatment as the temporary tariff for its inclusion in the VAT tax base, with the corresponding nuances of each regime.
As an example of calculation, when those two euros are integrated into a base taxed at 21%, they will generate an additional 42 cents of VAT. In that case, the cost associated with the fee would be 2.42 euros per category.
It is a conditional example: not all products have the same type of VAT, nor are all transactions settled in the same way.
What to check before buying to avoid surprises
The most useful check will be to compare the total amount of the purchase, including the corresponding import costs, with other offers for the same product.
Before confirming the order, it is advisable to review:
* From which country the merchandise is actually shipped.
* Whether the final price includes taxes and customs expenses.
* Whether the conditions foresee additional payments upon receiving the shipment.
* Whether a basket with different products can generate several customs categories.
* What handling fees the carrier charges, if any, separate from the new European fee.
It is also advisable to keep the breakdown of the order. If an additional payment is later requested, it will allow you to verify what item is being claimed and whether it was included in the price.
The new measure seeks to finance the controls and management of the growing volume of purchases entering from third countries. For the consumer, its most visible effect will be the need to look beyond the initial price: especially in low-value orders, several charges can significantly alter the expected savings.