Customs

International Shipments:

Outside the EU: When shipping internationally between countries that are not both members of the European Union, customs fees arise, which usually amount to 20 euros per package for low-value private shipments.

Additional Information: Additional information may be required depending on the countries from which or to which you are shipping. You may need to fill out a “Personal Items” form or provide additional information such as a copy of the recipient’s passport upon the arrival of the shipment in the country.

Customs Clearance Procedure:

Clearance Time: Estimated transit times are based on the assumption that your items will pass freely and will not be delayed by customs.

Charges: Our prices do not include taxes, local charges, inspection fees, or other fees.

Shipper’s Responsibility:

Compliance: Ensure that you are aware of your personal circumstances, the nature of the shipment, and the customs regulations of the destination country.

Additional Clarifications: Some shipments may require more clarifications, especially if they are being sent to business addresses.

Avoiding Delays:

Processing Times: Customs processing times vary from country to country and can take several days. Ensure that the documents are visible to avoid delays.

Responsibility for Duties and Charges:

Recipient’s Responsibility: If customs do not allow duty-free entry, the recipient must complete the customs clearance process and pay any duties, taxes, or charges. In some cases, a passport presentation or additional delivery charges may be required.

By understanding these guidelines and preparing appropriately, you can ensure a smooth customs clearance process for your shipment.

Shipments From the UK to EU Countries:

Sparrow is the only company in Europe with a warehouse in Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK). By carrying out the customs clearance process at the Belfast customs warehouse, there are no customs fees for recipients in Cyprus or any other EU country for private shipments. This means no additional costs or customs delays for these shipments.

Shipments From Cyprus to the UK:

With Sparrow, for low-value private shipments, there are no customs clearance costs for the recipient in the UK.

Commercial Items:

If your shipment complies with the rules of origin, the customs authority at the destination will reduce the import duty to 0%. However, your customer at the destination will need to pay import VAT and handling fees. Commercial shippers must also comply with any relevant guidelines and restrictions for their industry.

The time required for customs clearance varies from country to country, and the average time from our historical records for customs to release a shipment once it has been held can be found on our destination pages.

If your shipment has been held longer than the recorded average, there may be several reasons for this:

• Missing or Incomplete Paperwork: Customs may require additional documents or information.
• Communication with the Recipient: Customs may need to contact the recipient to confirm further details.
• General Volume of Shipments: A high volume of shipments being processed by customs can cause delays.
• Physical Inspection of the Shipment: Customs may need to physically inspect the shipment.
• Waiting for Payment of Duties or Taxes: The shipment may be on hold pending the payment of duties, taxes, or storage or handling fees.

Spourgitis monitors all shipments going through customs and will keep you updated. However, if you have concerns about the time your shipment is in customs or if you have been directly informed by customs or our courier partner about additional information needed, please contact the Sparrow team for further assistance.

We accept the majority of shipments that are not typically personal items. However, please note that these shipments must be classified either as gifts or commercial shipments. If the shipment is classified as non-typical personal items, it is likely that duties or taxes will be imposed by the customs authority of the destination country.

What to Do:

1. Classification of Shipment: If your shipment includes gifts or commercial products, you must declare this at the time of shipment.

2. Communication withCustoms Authority: We recommend contacting the customs authority of the destination country before placing your order to understand any charges that may apply if your shipment is commercial or destined for a country outside the EU, America, or the UK.

3. Imposition of Duties and Taxes: Shipments that are not considered typical personal items are likely to be subject to duties and taxes upon entry into the destination country.

By following these steps, you can better prepare for any potential customs charges and ensure a smoother customs clearance process for your shipment.

If you have been contacted by our courier partner, they likely need you to extend or clarify information that has already been provided, or your specific circumstances require additional information not usually needed for most shipments we send. If customs have requested further information, this can be provided either to the agent who contacted you or sent directly to Sparrow to forward to the agent on your behalf.

What to Do:

1. Responding to Customs:

1. • Immediate Response: We recommend that you respond and provide any requested information or documents as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary delays or potential storage fees.

2. Forwarding Information:

1. • Via Sparrow: Alternatively, you can send the information to Sparrow, and we will forward it to the agent on your behalf.

3. ConfirmingReceipt:

1. • Contact Sparrow: If you are unsure what to do or need help with the required information, contact the Sparrow team for further assistance.

Tips:

• Accuracy and Completeness: Ensure that the information you provide is accurate and complete to avoid further questions or delays.
• Monitoring Communication: Keep an eye on communication for any updates or additional information that may be required by customs or the agent.

By following these steps, you will be able to manage communication with customs effectively and ensure the smooth processing of your shipment.

If you have received a bill from our courier partner for customs charges, please first check our destinations page for the country you are shipping to, as some charges for customs handling are applied on certain routes, and other countries may not have a duty free allowance.

If the charges are not listed on the destinations page, please otherwise contact the Send My Bag team who will contact our courier partner to check why the charge has been applied and dispute it if possible. Commonly, shipments may have been accidentally cleared as commercial goods in error by customs, and this can then be amended by resubmitting the customs paperwork to our courier partner and have the charges waived.