Can I send documents and photos to France?
Allowed
Yes.
Personal papers and photos are fine and carry no duty.
More rules for France
Allowed with conditions
- Plants, seeds, bulbs, and cuttings from outside the EU
- Plants and plant products go through a phytosanitary check at the EU point of entry, with advance paperwork, and can't clear as a simple parcel. Leave them out.
Before you ship to France
- Tax-free limit
- If you're sending from inside the EU, there is no customs clearance and nothing to pay. From outside the EU (including the UK), VAT is due from the first euro, and the €150 customs duty relief ended on July 1, 2026, so duty can now apply at any value. An occasional gift from one private person to another worth up to €45 (about $53), not counting shipping, is still free of duty and VAT. Online purchases up to €150 from sellers registered for the EU's IOSS scheme, or sent by post, pay a flat €3 duty for each type of item until July 1, 2028.
- Receiver ID
- Private receivers don't need a tax or customs number. Give the courier the receiver's full name, phone number, and email so it can arrange payment of any VAT or duty.
- Transit
- 1-3 business days within the EU; 2-5 from the UK or North America; 3-7 from Asia
Questions
Can I send documents and photos to France?
Yes. Personal papers and photos are fine and carry no duty.
Ask about a specific item
Official sources
- 1.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Recevoir un colis envoyé par un particulier (opens in a new tab) - 2.
Entreprendre.Service-Public.gouv.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative)
Taux de TVA dans les secteurs des arts et de la presse (opens in a new tab) - 3.
Agence nationale de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé (ANSM)
Demander une autorisation pour une importation de médicaments (opens in a new tab) - 4.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Envoi de produits alimentaires et de végétaux (opens in a new tab) - 5.
Official Journal of the European Union (EUR-Lex)
Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009 of 16 November 2009 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty (codified version) (opens in a new tab) - 6.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
You want to know the applicable deductibles when transferring your main residence in France (opens in a new tab) - 7.
Ministère de la Culture
Comment soumettre une demande d'autorisation d'exportation ? (opens in a new tab) - 8.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Calculation of duties and taxes on purchases abroad (opens in a new tab) - 9.
Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI)
Vous souhaitez connaître les franchises applicables lors de votre installation dans un DOM (opens in a new tab)
General guidance, not legal advice. Customs in France makes the final decision on every box.