How and when to send Christmas presents from France
If you want to send Christmas presents to friends and family overseas you need to know the deadline dates and how to avoid being hit with extra charges - here's what you need to know.
Deadlines
First things first, you need to make sure your parcel arrives in time for Christmas, which means sending it before the deadline.
The French postal service La Poste has the following deadlines;
In Europe
If you're sending a parcel within France, the deadline to have it delivered by Christmas is December 23rd.
If you're sending to the UK or Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spanish islands (eg Tenerife), Croatia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Malta, Norway, Portuguese islands (eg Madeira) or Romania you have until December 16th.
If you're sending to Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden or Switzerland you have until December 17th.
If you're sending to Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands or Portugal you have until December 19th.
Outside Europe
If you're sending to the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand or Hong Kong you have until December 10th. Likewise if you're sending to most French overseas territories, the deadline is December 10th.
For most other countries the deadline is December 3rd, but you can find the full list here.
Private couriers like Fed-Ex and DPD have their own deadlines, although they are broadly in line with La Poste, and if you're buying online each company has its own deadline on when it can guarantee a Christmas delivery.
Fees and customs declarations
If you're sending parcels to another EU country then it's pretty straightforward - just pay the delivery cost (you can check how much it will be to send via La Poste here) and make sure you send it before the deadline.
If, however, you are sending to a country outside the EU (which of course now includes the UK) then you will need to fill out a customs declaration form explaining what is in your parcel and whether it is a gift or not.
In addition to standard postal charges, you may also need to pay customs duties, depending on the value or your parcel and whether it is a gift or not.
Find full details on customs duty rules HERE.
Banned items
And there are some items that are banned from the post - if you're sending parcels to the US be aware that you cannot send alcohol through the mail as a private individual, so don't try a ship some nice French wine or a bottle of your local liqueur.
Most countries ban firearms and fireworks, not unreasonably, although be aware that this includes items like sparklers.
Sending food and plants is also often restricted with countries including Canada and Australia having strict rules and most other countries imposing restrictions on what you can send.
This also applies the other way and France bans any foodstuffs containing animal products (eg chocolate) sent from outside the EU.
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See Also
Deadlines
First things first, you need to make sure your parcel arrives in time for Christmas, which means sending it before the deadline.
The French postal service La Poste has the following deadlines;
In Europe
If you're sending a parcel within France, the deadline to have it delivered by Christmas is December 23rd.
If you're sending to the UK or Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spanish islands (eg Tenerife), Croatia, Finland, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Malta, Norway, Portuguese islands (eg Madeira) or Romania you have until December 16th.
If you're sending to Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden or Switzerland you have until December 17th.
If you're sending to Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands or Portugal you have until December 19th.
Outside Europe
If you're sending to the USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand or Hong Kong you have until December 10th. Likewise if you're sending to most French overseas territories, the deadline is December 10th.
For most other countries the deadline is December 3rd, but you can find the full list here.
Private couriers like Fed-Ex and DPD have their own deadlines, although they are broadly in line with La Poste, and if you're buying online each company has its own deadline on when it can guarantee a Christmas delivery.
Fees and customs declarations
If you're sending parcels to another EU country then it's pretty straightforward - just pay the delivery cost (you can check how much it will be to send via La Poste here) and make sure you send it before the deadline.
If, however, you are sending to a country outside the EU (which of course now includes the UK) then you will need to fill out a customs declaration form explaining what is in your parcel and whether it is a gift or not.
In addition to standard postal charges, you may also need to pay customs duties, depending on the value or your parcel and whether it is a gift or not.
Find full details on customs duty rules HERE.
Banned items
And there are some items that are banned from the post - if you're sending parcels to the US be aware that you cannot send alcohol through the mail as a private individual, so don't try a ship some nice French wine or a bottle of your local liqueur.
Most countries ban firearms and fireworks, not unreasonably, although be aware that this includes items like sparklers.
Sending food and plants is also often restricted with countries including Canada and Australia having strict rules and most other countries imposing restrictions on what you can send.
This also applies the other way and France bans any foodstuffs containing animal products (eg chocolate) sent from outside the EU.
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