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POSTING RULE

Send Mobile Phones (Commercial) 🇫🇷 France

ANSWER

Can I post Mobile Phones (Commercial) to France?

ALLOWEDVERIFIED · 2026-07-26LOW CONFIDENCE

A phone can be posted to France; lithium-battery mail rules require the battery installed in the device, and import tax applies above the exemption.

QUANTITY / LIMITS

1-2 handsets; multiple new-in-box units are treated as commercial imports

DOCUMENTS

  • Commercial invoice or proof of purchase showing the transaction value

DECLARATION

Required at the destination customs authority

SOURCE

douane.gouv.fr
Verify against the official customs authority before acting on this answer.Report a correction

Full Details

Posting a phone to France is permitted; two frameworks apply. Postal dangerous-goods rules require lithium batteries to be installed in the device (UN 3481) — loose spare batteries are barred from international mail. On the customs side Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs) applies the ordinary parcel framework to the declared value: import VAT/GST at 20% applies above the exemption threshold. Same EU rules: €22 VAT exemption removed as of 1 July 2021. Customs duty de minimis €150. IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop) allows overseas sellers to collect VAT at point of sale and remit to tax authorities. Multiple new-in-box units read as commercial imports; single used personal phones (a repaired or forgotten device sent on) are routine.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Ship the battery installed in the phone, declare the true value, and use tracked service — phones are among the most-pilfered and most-inspected parcel categories.

OFFICIAL SOURCES

POSTING DETAILS

QUANTITY / WEIGHT LIMITS

1-2 handsets; multiple new-in-box units are treated as commercial imports

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

  • Commercial invoice or proof of purchase showing the transaction value

COUNTRY POSTING NOTES

La Poste and customs handle international postal clearance. VAT applies on all low-value goods as of July 2021. Items above €150 require full customs import procedures and payment of duty.

Sending Mobile Phones (Commercial) to other countries

RULES5,339COUNTRIES85ITEMS111CARRIERS28GUIDES46UNIQUE SOURCES645LATEST VERIFICATION2026-07-26MethodologyChangelog