Import to the UK
A choice of how to present shipments and final-mile delivery services
Customs for UK import and cross-border delivery
Import customs clearance for business, with tax and duty payment options to suit you
Tax and duty solutions for business
When you import to the UK from a country outside our customs union, taxes and duties (T&Ds) are charged on certain goods. With Royal Mail, you can choose whether you or your recipient is responsible for paying these charges.
Delivery Duty Paid (DDP)
means that you pay the full cost of importing goods, including T&Ds. You will pay the costs in advance through your Royal Mail account.
Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU)
means the recipient (your customer) must pay the T&Ds, before being able to take delivery of the item.
Customs solutions to suit your needs
Freight-to-Post Conversion (DDU) for UK delivery
We collect your freight shipment from the air handler and request permission from HMRC to convert your items into post. Customs clearance will be carried out with HMRC, and we then deliver your items to any UK address. With this service, the recipient must pay the taxes and duties on delivery.
Freight-to-Post Conversion (DDP) for UK delivery
Items are sent for postal customs clearance as above, but you pay the taxes and duties (plus a handling fee). The items are delivered as post without the recipient needing to pay any further fees.
Commercial Customs Full DDP Clearance for UK delivery
We collect your freight shipment and make a customs declaration to HMRC. Once taxes and duties have been charged to your UK bank account, the items move into free circulation for delivery without the recipient needing to pay any further fees.
Freight-to-Post Conversion (DDU) for cross-border delivery
We collect your freight shipment from the airline handler and make an import transit declaration to HMRC under an agreed procedure code. The items will be made available to HMRC and Border Force for inspection (not fiscal clearance) and once cleared into the UK will be handled under existing postal processes at our approved Office of Exchange. Royal Mail will then transport your shipment to the destination country where the items will be presented to the destination customs authority for customs clearance as post. They will collect taxes and duties from the recipient according to their own national procedures.