From July 1, parcels from third countries will become more expensive in Estonia

Starting July 1, Estonia is implementing new customs rules for small consignments from third countries. A fixed customs duty of 3 euros will be charged for each item declared in a shipment worth up to 150 euros. Darya Ralkina, head of customs services at the Tax and Customs Board, explained on Radio 4's "Details" program that the changes will affect almost all residents who order goods from popular international platforms. The duty is fixed, independent of weight or price. For example, if a parcel contains a T-shirt and a phone case, an additional 6 euros will be due. However, two identical T-shirts count as one item, so only 3 euros would be charged. In most cases, buyers will not need to handle paperwork themselves. International platforms are expected to automatically include the new fee in the order price. In some cases, payment may be required after the parcel arrives in Estonia. If the duty has not been prepaid, the recipient will receive a notification with options to self-declare or use the postal operator's services. Ralkina cautioned that such notifications are usually sent by email, not by phone, urging people to beware of scams. There is no transition period; the key moment is the declaration time, not the purchase or physical arrival date. From midnight on July 1, any parcel declared after that time will be subject to the new rules. Estonia receives around 400,000 such small parcels per month. Another change is expected by November 1, introducing an additional customs clearance fee. Ralkina also noted that many goods from third countries fail to meet EU standards—up to 80% of electronics and children's toys tested are non-compliant. The new measures aim to increase control and encourage more conscious online shopping.