Send a Parcel to Switzerland: Customs & Costs

Switzerland is not an EU country – and that changes everything

Geographically, Switzerland lies in the heart of Europe, but in terms of customs it is a third country. Every shipment from Germany must therefore be handled twice: once upon export from the EU, and once upon import into Switzerland. Anyone who fails to factor this in will wonder why shipments sit at the border for days.

By contrast, transit itself is fast. Zurich, Basel and Bern can usually be reached on the next working day via express, while standard shipping takes one to three working days. Delays practically never occur on the road, but rather due to incomplete paperwork.

We can handle customs clearance entirely on your behalf on request – export declaration in Germany and import customs clearance in Switzerland. You provide the goods details, and we take care of the rest. Find out exactly what this involves on our page on customs clearance.

Swiss customs: weight instead of goods value

This is where the biggest difference from almost all other destination countries lies. Most nations levy an ad valorem duty – a percentage of the goods' value. Switzerland, by contrast, predominantly levies a specific customs duty by weight: a fixed amount per 100 kilograms of gross weight.

The consequence is surprising to many. Lightweight, high-value goods such as electronics or jewellery often incur very low customs charges in Switzerland. Heavy, low-cost goods such as food, beverages or building materials can, however, trigger unexpectedly high duties. If you only look at the value of the goods, your calculations will be wrong.

On top of this comes the Swiss import VAT of 8.1 per cent (reduced rate of 2.6 per cent for everyday goods). There is, however, a de minimis threshold: if the calculated import tax is under 5 Swiss Francs, it is not levied. At 8.1 per cent, this corresponds to a goods value of around 62 CHF.

An often-overlooked lever is proof of preferential origin. For goods with proven EU origin, the customs tariff rate can drop to zero based on the Free Trade Agreement – provided an origin declaration is correctly stated on the invoice.

What you need for Switzerland

An overview of documents and thresholds – depending on the goods value and shipment type.

Commercial invoice

Rule: always required, in triplicate
Handled by: You provide the details

Export declaration (EU)

Rule: electronic from a goods value of €1,000
Handled by: handled by us

Import clearance (CH)

Rule: for every shipment
Handled by: handled by us

Import VAT

Rule: 8.1% or 2.6%, applies from a tax amount of 5 CHF
Handled by: Recipient or you

Customs duty

Rule: Duty by weight per 100 kg gross
Handled by: Recipient or you

Declaration of origin

Rule: often reduces customs rate to zero
Handled by: You as the sender

Topic	Rule	Handled by
Commercial invoice	always required, in triplicate	You provide the details
Export declaration (EU)	electronic from a goods value of €1,000	handled by us
Import clearance (CH)	for every shipment	handled by us
Import VAT	8.1% or 2.6%, applies from a tax amount of 5 CHF	Recipient or you
Customs duty	Duty by weight per 100 kg gross	Recipient or you
Declaration of origin	often reduces customs rate to zero	You as the sender

Status: July 2026. Not legal or tax advice – specific requirements of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security apply in individual cases.

How to avoid delays at the border

Describe goods precisely

“Sample” or “spare part” is not enough. Customs requires a clear description of the goods, otherwise the shipment will be held up.

State the commodity code

The eight-digit code for export, the Swiss sub-heading for import. Incorrect classification costs time and money.

Declare origin

For goods of EU origin, include the origin declaration on the invoice – this can reduce the customs rate to zero.

Determine who pays the costs

Clarify in advance whether you or the recipient will pay the import duties. Unannounced additional charges are the most frequent cause of complaints.

Frequently asked questions about shipping parcels to Switzerland

Yes, Switzerland is a third country for customs purposes. Unlike in most countries, customs duties are predominantly calculated by weight rather than goods value – a fixed amount per 100 kilograms of gross weight. Swiss import VAT applies in addition.

It is 8.1 per cent, with a reduced rate of 2.6 per cent for everyday goods. If the calculated tax amount is under 5 Swiss Francs, it is not levied – at 8.1 per cent, this corresponds to a goods value of around 62 CHF.

From a goods value of 1,000 euros, an electronic export declaration is required. Below that, a simplified declaration is usually sufficient. We take care of both for you if you book customs clearance.

You determine this when booking. By default, the recipient pays them. However, you can also cover the duties, which makes particular sense in e-commerce with private customers to avoid returns.

Usually by the next working day via express, and one to three working days with standard shipping. Delays almost always occur due to incomplete customs documents, not transit itself.

It is a note on the commercial invoice confirming the EU origin of your goods. Under the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Switzerland, this can reduce the customs duty rate to zero. For regular shipments, this offers a substantial cost advantage.

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Send a Parcel to Switzerland – Customs, Costs and Delivery Times

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