Import duty & VAT in Greece: what you’ll actually pay
Buy from abroad and the sticker price is only part of the story. Here’s how customs duty and VAT work when a parcel arrives in Greece — in plain English.
The Summary
- Buying from the EU? No import duty or import VAT.
- Buying from outside the EU under €150? VAT applies, but usually no customs duty.
- Buying from outside the EU over €150? VAT plus possible customs duty and clearance fees.
First question: is it coming from inside or outside the EU?
This is what decides everything. Goods from inside the EU already have VAT paid and move freely — the price you see is the price you pay, no customs. Goods from outside the EU (the US, UK since Brexit, China, and so on) are imports, and that’s where duty, VAT and fees come in.
VAT: 24% on almost everything
Greece charges 24% VAT on imported goods. The old exemption for parcels under €22 was scrapped across the EU in 2021 — so today VAT applies from the very first euro. It’s calculated on the customs value (item price + shipping) plus any duty, which is why a cheap item can still pick up a noticeable VAT bill once postage is added.
Customs duty: the rules changed on 1 July 2026
Duty applies to orders from outside the EU only — orders from inside the EU never pay it. For non-EU imports, the long-standing rule that goods under €150 came in duty-free ended on 1 July 2026:
- Parcels up to €150: a temporary €3-per-item EU customs duty now applies (in place until mid-2028). It’s charged to the seller or platform, not collected from you at the door — though sellers may build it into their prices.
- Orders over €150: normal customs duty applies, as before — the rate depends on the product (many electronics are 0%, clothing and footwear commonly 8–12%), set by its TARIC customs code.
VAT (24%) is unchanged — it still applies to everything, from the first euro.
Clearance & handling fees (not always charged)
This only applies to non-EU imports — and even then, not every parcel picks one up. When an order does need clearing, whoever brings it in charges a fee for the paperwork (separate from duty and VAT) — but it varies:
- Couriers (DHL, UPS, FedEx…) charge a brokerage / clearance fee — often €15–30, though some fold it into the shipping price.
- Postal parcels go through ELTA (Greek post), which has its own handling charge.
- Marketplaces that collect VAT at checkout (common on AliExpress, Temu, Amazon and Shein for orders under €150) usually clear with no separate fee.
So check how your order ships before assuming a fee — it’s often the difference between a smooth delivery and a surprise charge at the door.
A worked example
A €200 jacket from the US, €15 shipping:
- Customs value: €200 + €15 = €215 (over €150, so duty applies)
- Duty (clothing, ~12%): €215 × 12% = €25.80
- VAT (24% on €215 + €25.80): €57.79
- Clearance fee: €20
- Landed cost ≈ €318.59 — about €104 in duty, VAT and fees on top of the item and shipping.
Don’t want to do the maths? The import cost calculator does it for you.
Tips to keep the bill down
- Buy from inside the EU when you can — no duty, no import VAT, no clearance fee.
- Mind the €150 line — above it, full customs-duty rates apply, which can be far more than the flat €3 on smaller parcels.
- Check the store ships here first — see does it ship to Greece?
- Factor in the total, not the price — a US bargain can lose its edge once duty, VAT and fees are added.
New to buying from abroad in Greece? Start with the complete shopping-in-Greece guide.
Frequently asked questions
What changed on 1 July 2026?
The EU scrapped the old rule that let parcels under €150 enter duty-free. In its place there is a temporary €3-per-item customs duty on low-value parcels, running until mid-2028. It is charged to the seller or platform rather than collected from you at the door, and VAT (24%) is unchanged.
Do I pay VAT twice — at checkout and again at customs?
No. If the store or marketplace already charged Greek VAT at checkout (common on AliExpress, Temu, Amazon and Shein for orders under €150), the parcel clears without VAT being charged again. You only pay VAT at customs when it was not collected at checkout.
Can I avoid customs by ordering from within the EU, like Germany?
Yes. Goods shipped from inside the EU (for example Amazon.de) already include VAT and carry no customs duty or clearance fee, so the price you see is the price you pay. It is usually the cheapest and simplest route.
Do Amazon UK orders get charged Greek customs?
Yes. Since Brexit the UK is outside the EU, so UK orders are treated as imports: VAT applies, and customs duty can apply on orders over €150, just like any other non-EU shipment.
How long does customs clearance take in Greece?
Usually a few days once the parcel reaches Greece, though it varies. Express couriers such as DHL, UPS and FedEx tend to clear faster than postal shipments through ELTA, which can take longer at busy periods.
Is buying from AliExpress or abroad actually cheaper than buying locally?
Sometimes — but compare the landed cost, not the sticker price. Once you add VAT, any duty and delivery, a cheap item from abroad can end up close to the local price. The import cost calculator works out the real total for you.
What happens if I do not pay the customs charge?
The parcel is held by the courier or ELTA and will not be delivered until it is paid. If it stays unpaid it is eventually returned to the sender or destroyed, and refunds are not guaranteed.
General information, not tax advice — customs rules change, so confirm with the carrier or the authorities before you buy. Official sources: European Commission — Taxation & Customs Union · AADE — Greek customs authority.