Can I send documents and photos to Spain?
Allowed
Yes.
Personal papers and photos are fine.
More rules for Spain
Allowed with conditions
- Plants, seeds, and fresh fruit or vegetables
- Most need a phytosanitary certificate. Plants for planting must also be declared through MAPA's CEXVEG system, inspected at a border control post, and free of soil. Pineapples, coconuts, durians, dates, and bananas need no certificate. The Canary Islands have their own plant rules, even for boxes from mainland Spain.
- Protected plant and animal species (CITES)
- Items made from protected species need CITES documents and a full import declaration.
Before you ship to Spain
- Tax-free limit
- Boxes between mainland Spain or the Balearics and other EU countries clear no customs and owe nothing on arrival. From outside the EU (including the UK), IVA is due from the first euro unless a relief applies. Occasional, unpaid gifts from one private person to another worth up to €45 (about $53) are free of duty and IVA. The EU's €150 (about $175) customs-duty relief ended on June 30, 2026: low-value online purchases now pay a flat €3 duty per item, and other boxes that no relief covers can owe duty at the normal tariff rate for each item.
- Receiver ID
- NIF: the DNI number for Spanish citizens, or the NIE for foreign nationals needed. The import declaration identifies the receiver by tax number, and AEAT's online forms for individuals work only with the receiver's own electronic signature. Give the DNI or NIE when you book. If the receiver has no Spanish number yet, ask the courier before shipping whether a passport number will do.
- Transit
- 2-4 business days from Europe; 3-5 from North America; 4-7 from Asia
Questions
Can I send documents and photos to Spain?
Yes. Personal papers and photos are fine.
Ask about a specific item
Official sources
- 1.
Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, with the Subdirección General de Sanidad Exterior
Nota a operadores sobre pequeñas partidas de mercancías expedidas para personas físicas no destinadas a comercializarse (opens in a new tab) - 2.
Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS)
Medicamentos destinados al tratamiento de los viajeros (opens in a new tab) - 3.
Agencia Tributaria (AEAT), Departamento de Aduanas e Impuestos Especiales
Instrucciones de utilización de la declaración de envíos para particulares (opens in a new tab) - 4.
Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE)
Ley 37/1992, de 28 de diciembre, del Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido (opens in a new tab) - 5.
Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE), Official Journal of the EU text
Reglamento (CE) nº 1186/2009 del Consejo, de 16 de noviembre de 2009, relativo al establecimiento de un régimen comunitario de franquicias aduaneras (opens in a new tab) - 6.
Ministerio de Cultura
Exportación de bienes culturales a otros países (opens in a new tab) - 7.
Agencia Tributaria Canaria
Formulario simplificado de importación para personas físicas (opens in a new tab) - 8.
Agencia Estatal Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE)
Ley 8/1991, de 25 de marzo, por la que se aprueba el arbitrio sobre la producción y la importación en las ciudades de Ceuta y Melilla (opens in a new tab)
General guidance, not legal advice. Customs in Spain makes the final decision on every box.