Before booking a shipping service, check the rules and restrictions for sending cigarettes by post or courier. Mailing cigarettes is a complex process with specific regulations in place. Read below the guidelines on how to ship cigarettes in the UK, Europe or internationally as an individual or a business.
GENERAL REGULATIONS
Licensed cigarette manufacturers and retailers can legally ship cigarettes if they have a contract with authorised carriers. VAT and excise duty must be paid before these goods are sent to the destination country.
European companies can mail cigarettes internationally to recipients based in non-EU countries, if they have an official license, pay VAT, excise duties, and conclude relevant agreements with authorised courier services.
It is important to distinguish between mailing cigarettes and travelling with cigarettes. While carrying cigarettes for personal use is possible, shipping cigarettes between individuals is not permitted in the EU. When mailing cigarettes to each other, individuals do so at their own risk.
EU citizens can buy cigarettes online in another EU member state as long as the retailer has concluded a relevant agreement with an authorised courier company. Excise duties and VAT will still apply.
European citizens can receive parcels containing up to 50 cigarettes from non-EU countries under the EU Council Directive 2006/79/EC.
However, sending any quantity of cigarettes to individuals is still prohibited by most courier companies. When choosing to send cigarettes to private consumers in the mail, individuals do so at their own risk.
The same rule applies to cigarettes shipments sent to and from the UK after Brexit.
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HOW TO PACK
When shipping cigarettes internationally, you should make sure that you know how to properly prepare your package for transport, especially because the delivery will not be protected by insurance since this is an item considered prohibited for shipping by individuals.
These simple instructions will help you prepare to send cigarettes by post or courier:
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POPULAR QUESTIONS
No, each courier company has its own rules regarding shipments with restricted and prohibited items. For example, DHL, FedEx, TNT and UPS will not ship parcels that contain cigarettes within the content.
The answer depends on the status of cigarettes at your specific location. Before sending cigarettes by post or courier, we recommend checking all the regulations that apply in your case to avoid any problems.
Sending cigarettes and tobacco between private individuals is not allowed in most EU countries, including Ireland. However, many people routinely ship cigarettes with other items via courier or the post office. Usually, those who decide to ship cigarettes wrap the packets in clothing to avoid detection – and do so at their own risk.
Every country has different national policies regarding the number of cigarettes allowed to be sent for personal use. To learn more, you will need to check the official customs or government pages of the pick-up and destination countries. You will also have to check the rules of postal and courier companies about shipping cigarettes before booking their services.
Since shipping cigarettes is strictly regulated in many locations, one of the following scenarios may happen if cigarettes are detected in your shipment:
Insurance applies only when licensed companies ship cigarettes internationally, provided they have all the necessary documents and organise the delivery through authorised carriers.
Take these guidelines into consideration when posting cigarettes internationally. Nevertheless, please consider that following them does not guarantee that the courier company will transport your parcel without restriction. If you decide to send cigarettes by mail or courier, Eurosender will not be held responsible for any damages caused by the transport of your shipment.
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