International
shipping

Sending a parcel to family abroad or exporting for business development needs careful planning. We are with you every step of the way to help you with the customs process.

Export customs clearance

Shipping goods abroad is simple! A few tips for your international shipments :

1. Start by identifying the shipment classification depending on its content. Does your parcel contain documents or goods?
2. Every destination is unique. Consult the relevant country information sheet to learn more and comply with local particularities.
3. Prepare all the customs documents which will guarantee trouble-free shipping.

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Download a country information sheet
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Any goods or documents of value are subject to customs formalities. The customs services of the destination country should be able to easily identify the origin, nature and value of the shipment in order to apply local tax rules and restrictions if necessary.

Attaching all the required customs documents helps to avoid your shipment being opened and delayed by customs authorities in the country of destination.

Countries subject to customs formalities

For goods sent from mainland France, all countries outside the European Union are subject to customs formalities including French Overseas Territories (DOM/TOM), French Overseas Collectivities and Countries, and Andorra.
Destinations not subject to European Union laws and regulations and subject to customs formalities:

Büsingen and Heligoland (Germany),
Faroe Islands, Greenland (Denmark) ,
Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla (Spain),
Åland Islands (Finland),
Mount Athos (Greece),
Campione d'Italia, Livigno, San Marino, the Vatican (Italy),
Jersey, Guernsey (Great Britain)

Shipment classification

Does the parcel contain documents or goods?

The classification of international shipments is used to establish the nature of the shipment (documents or goods). The classification determines the restrictions applicable to certain items depending on the destination country as well as the documents that must be attached to the shipment. The customs regulations of certain countries attribute commercial value to some shipments which may be considered documents.

How does it work?

The content of your shipment is classified by a number in the table below. The country information sheet indicates whether the contents of your shipment are considered documents or goods and whether they are subject to any customs particularities.

It is then possible to attach all the necessary information regarding declarations and appropriate invoices to the shipment to facilitate the customs process.

Chronopost Classification	Title	Example of Contents
01	Alcohol and spirits
02	Non-alcoholic drinks
03	Wine (sample)
04	Perfume (sample)
05	Passport, identity documents
06	Tobacco
07	Personal items
08	Computer hardware	Computer, hard disk
09	Machines/Mechanical Equipment	Parts, machine motor
10	Equipment and recording media for sound or image recording	Camera, CD, DVD, telephone
11	Medical or optical equipment	Glasses, contact lenses, dental equipment, thermometer
12	Timepieces	Watch, clock
13	Musical instruments	Instrument part, instrument accessories
14	Labels/boxes/cardboard	Labels, paper bags, cardboard box
15	Books/magazines/posters/catalogues/photos	Commercial brochures, advertising posters, photo album
16	Pharmaceutical products/medicines
17	Chemical products	Laboratory reagents, fertilizer, matches, waxes, inks and organic and inorganic chemical products
18	Cosmetics	Cream, soap, shampoo
19	Automotive parts	Car, motorbike, airplane, boat accessories
20	Games/toys	Various toys, games consoles
21	Furniture/lighting equipment/decorative objects (excluding works of art)	Lamp, luminous sign, various items of furniture
22	Clothing/clothing accessories	Rugs, clothes, lace, embroidery
23	Fabric	Flag, various fabric samples
24	Machining/metal parts	Metals such as iron, steel, copper etc. and items made from such metals
25	Costume jewelry
26	Leather or hides	Leather objects, handbags
27	Shoes	Shoes and parts of shoes
28	Radiography
29	Non-perishable or tinned foodstuffs	Cereals, grains, seeds, spices, tinned vegetables, tinned fruit, food preparations
30	Other documents with no commercial value	Letters, internal business letters, copy of a contract

Customs documents

Proforma or commercial invoice, EUR-1 or ATR1 form: what document should you attach to your parcel? Don't worry we've explained everything to make sending your parcel easier.

Customs documents
DOCUMENT	WHEN SHOULD I USE IT?	WHAT IS IT?	HOW SHOULD I USE IT?
PROFORMA INVOICE	If you are a business customer sending goods not destined for sale. If you are a private customer sending a parcel abroad. If you have to declare the value of the goods to be shipped	A document declaring the value of a shipment containing goods not destined for sale. It contains all the information about the products, the sender, the consignee, the transport label etc.	3 copies of the invoice should be provided. NB. The following text must be clearly marked: " no commercial value - sans valeur commerciale" and "value for customs purposes only - valeur pour la douane". Never put a value of €0.
COMMERCIAL INVOICE	If you are a business customer sending goods destined for sale.	A document declaring the value of a shipment containing goods destined for sale. It contains all the information about the products, the sender, the consignee, the transport label etc.	3 copies of the invoice should be provided, written in French and in English for non-French-speaking countries. The invoice must also state the EORI (Economic Operator Registration Identification) number.
DECLARATION OF ORIGIN	If you are a business customer sending goods destined for sale whose client can benefit from a reduction in customs duty.	Under the value of €6000, the declaration of origin can be used to send goods to certain countries subject to preferential agreements with the EU. The shipment may be exempt from all or part of the customs duty.	Use the country information sheets to check which destination countries are eligible. Declaration of origin template:_x000D_(English/French) The exporter of the products covered by this document declares that, unless otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of EU preferential origin. Place - Date - Signature L'exportateur de produits couverts par le présent document déclare que, sauf indication claire du contraire, ces produits sont d'origine préférentielle U.E. Lieu - Date - Signature
EUR-1		The EUR-1 is a certificate of origin granting a reduction in customs duty. It is used to send original goods made within the EU with a value of more than €6000 to a country subject to preferential agreements with the EU.	International Trade Bookshop or the publisher GMJ.
ATR1		ATR1 is a compulsory certificate of origin for the shipping of goods destined for sale in Turkey. This document certifies that the goods are manufactured in or have free circulation status within the EU.	International Trade Bookshop or the publisher GMJ.