Latvia Introduces €2 Handling Fee Per Item Position on Online Orders From Outside the EU
From 1 November 2026, goods imported into Latvia from non-EU countries are subject to an extra €2 handling fee for each item position in the customs declaration. The fee is added on top of customs duty and also applies to consignments worth more than €150.
A new European Union (EU) handling fee on goods ordered from outside the bloc took effect on 1 November 2026, including in Latvia. It affects purchases from online platforms such as Temu, AliExpress and Shein. The fee is €2, charged not on the whole parcel but on each item position in the customs declaration, so even a small order can become noticeably more expensive.
Latvia's State Revenue Service (VID) says the charge, known internationally as the "Union handling fee", applies to goods from third countries, including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland. It does not replace previously introduced customs payments but is added to them.
VID's example
If a consignment worth up to €150 contains goods in three different positions, each carries €3 in customs duty and the new €2 fee. That makes €9 in duty and €6 in handling fees, €15 in total, with value added tax (VAT) charged on top. An item position is not the same as a single physical item: three garments in the same category can be declared as one position.
The fee also applies to goods worth more than €150. Their duty is calculated at the standard import rate, with €2 per position and VAT added. On 1 July 2026 the earlier customs duty exemption for consignments up to €150 was abolished; since then a fixed €3 duty has applied per item position.
How the payment is collected
If an online shop or platform uses the special import VAT scheme, IOSS, the duty, VAT and handling fee may be collected at the time of purchase, and the carrier handles customs formalities. In other cases payment may be due during customs clearance. Delivery company Omniva says the procedure depends on the arrangement between the seller, the platform and the carrier; if the fee was paid when ordering and passed on properly, the buyer should not have to pay again for the same parcel. The fee can also apply to orders placed before 1 November if the customs declaration is filed on or after that date.
The fee does not apply to gifts sent from one private individual to another, although declaration requirements and other taxes may still apply.
Scam warning
Omniva warns that fraudsters may send fake text messages or emails demanding urgent customs payments, with links to fake payment sites meant to steal bank details. Unexpected requests should be checked on the carrier's official website or app.
According to VID, the changes aim to create fairer competition between EU and third-country sellers, reduce fraud risks and improve control of imported goods.
