International shipping has never been easier. It has never been faster, either. Yet, as with any task in the logistics domain, there’s a procedure. There are many options to ship parcels from the UK to Spain. In this short post, we’ll share the main tips that will help you save money and ensure a hassle free experience when shipping parcels to Spain.
Shipping from the UK to Spain: Top Things to Consider
It’s a fact that Brits are shopping online more than ever. Statistics say that four in five UK consumers are digital buyers. By 2027, over 86% of UK consumers will only buy products online. And where there are purchases, there are shipments, local and foreign. EU countries are among the top destinations.
Shipping to Spain takes a leading position. There, Britons have family, friends, and property. It’s where they mostly live on vacations and in winter. So how to send a parcel to Spain? There are several things to consider:
- How fast do you want it to be there? – There are express vs. economy options. Express ones can be expensive. Economy ones are cheap and are perfect when there’s no need for an urgent delivery.
- What packaging suits an item more? – It’s important to pick the most secure and appropriate packaging. This is especially the case with fragile goods.
- Do you want to drop it off yourself or schedule a collection time? – In this case, you need to look for a service team offering both options instead of one.
- Are tracking options important? – Not all services provide advanced tracking features. But if you want to see your parcel’s status during the shipping process, we’d suggest finding a service that offers delivery tracking services.
British people often choose international shipping services. They have a few reasons for this. To start, such services offer door-to-door shipping and they can assist with documentation. They ensure quality packaging and advise on any specific customs rules. Moreover, they only use accredited shipping lines. Some of them even store in Spain if needed.
Sea or Air Freight?
Some services ask for a preferable option. The following information will help you make an informed decision when deciding between sea or air freight
Both sea and air freight have 99.99% safety records. Yet, sea freight can be up to 16 times cheaper than air freight. Ships with containers create less CO2 and fit more than a plane can.
In any case, there are unpredictable factors that can affect the deadlines when shipping a parcel. These include but aren’t limited to natural disasters, global crises, and weather conditions.
Post-Brexit Shipping
The United Kingdom left the European Union a few years ago. So, all recipients now bear the costs of customs handling. They pay taxes with specific customs requirements (IGIC, VAT) and special ones too. Recipients pay nothing in the case when there’s documented proof that parcels are of UK origin. Customs declarations CN22/CN23 are obligatory for shipments of goods.
EU VAT does not include gifts with a value below €45. Parcels pricier than €46 are subject to EU VAT. In this case, the rate is 21%. Parcels that come from marketplaces directly pay EU VAT.
Packaging: Weight and Dimensions
The cost of shipping often depends on the weight of the parcel. It also takes more time to deliver large and heavy things. Do you have strict deadlines? First, obtain a quote to provide an exact delivery date to a recipient. Services like UPS, FedEx, DHL, or Parcelforce deliver up to 50 kg items. Some of them have shipping calculators that can help you to estimate the cost of sending your parcel. Add your parcel’s dimensions and weight to know the final estimated cost.
Not all courier services work with tricky parcel dimensions. Bulky stuff and long/large parcels to Spain can sometimes incur extra charges.
Address Formatting When Sending to Spain from the UK
The label has to include the required information in a proper structure. In the case of Spain, you need to provide the information as follows:
- Full name of a recipient;
- Recipient’s house number and street;
- Postcode;
- Town, province (in brackets);
- Name of the country (only in capitals).
List of Allowed and Prohibited Parcels from the UK to Spain
There is a list of items that Britain’s holidaymakers and ex-pats can freely send to Spain:
- Collectibles and other artworks;
- Pieces of furniture;
- Monitors, PCs, laptops, tablets;
- Music instruments;
- Accessories and clothing (including, designer ones);
- Printed stuff like posters, leaflets, etc.
There are restrictions and limitations as to what you cannot send. Examples of prohibited things are:
- Currency;
- Tobacco products;
- Playing cards;
- Ammunition;
- Animals;
- Plants;
- Jewelry;
- Stones and metals;
- Radioactive materials;
- Explosive materials;
- Ivory products;
- Human remains;
- Cosmetics;
- Batteries;
- Porcelain and ceramic;
- Wood;
- Saccharine-containing food.
Tips for Shipping Parcels to Spain – final thoughts
Some items are controversial and require further custom clearance processing. Thus, a recipient will be contacted. They need to authorize Correos (Spanish Post) to execute the import of the parcel on their behalf. In these circumstances, the customs service will ask a recipient to provide additional data to verify the parcel and its contents. Because of this delays may occur.
It’s easy and quick to send a parcel to Spain. Simply choose your service provider and set the deadline. Whether it’s a gift, hardware, or furniture, modern shipment services will take the hassle off you and ensure a pleasant shipping experience.
