France has introduced a temporary €2 charge on small parcels arriving from outside the EU (valued under €150), in force since 1 March 2026 under the 2026 Finance Act.

For British expats in France, this mainly affects items ordered online from the UK, as the UK is now treated as a non-EU country for customs purposes.

The €2 fee is applied per parcel, in addition to any VAT or customs duties already due. The government says the measure is designed to help cover rising customs processing costs and to manage the growth in low-cost imports. It is temporary and will end when a similar EU-wide system comes into force, and no later than 31 December 2026.