How to send a parcel from France to another country ?

How much does it cost to send a parcel abroad ?

When you want to send an international parcel, the price depends on a number of criteria, and notably the destination. This is why the prices charged by different international carriers can vary for a single shipment to the same destination.

So, the cost of sending a parcel abroad varies according to :

• the place from where the parcel is sent (French Overseas Territories or Metropolitan France) ;
• the destination country (Europe, Africa, Asia, French Overseas Departments and Territories, etc.) ;
• the weight and size of the parcel ;
• the type of delivery (standard delivery with Colissimo or express delivery with Chronopost) ;

As you can see, the prices are cheaper if you opt for a standard delivery service. This is the ideal solution, if your shipment is not urgent. For faster delivery, you should choose Chronopost. It is up to you to decide which service offer best suits your needs and then send your parcel with the carrier you have chosen.

If you want to send a parcel abroad at the lowest possible cost, you should try to reduce the weight and size of your parcel. Make sure you do not underestimate the weight or size of your parcel, or you may end up having to pay additional charges.

> Colissimo Prêt-à-envoyer (Ready-to-send) envelopes and packaging
> Chronopost Prêt-à-expédier (Ready-to-post) envelopes and packaging

But that's not all ; thanks to our sales partners, La Poste can also provide you with different types of packaging to suit your needs.
 

Order our packaging solutions :

What are the delivery times for international parcels ?

As regards delivery times, Chronopost provides express parcel delivery, even to international destinations. When you send a parcel from metropolitan France to a country in the European Union, it will be delivered the very next day if the destination is one of the main economic centres in the EU, and within 1 to 3 days* to other locations. When you send an express parcel to other countries around the world, it takes 1 to 2 days* for deliveries to major international economic centres, and 3 to 5 days* for other destinations.

When you opt for Colissimo, you should know that the carrier makes a contractual commitment to respecting the delivery times announced for deliveries to all European Union countries, Switzerland and 12 other international destinations (United States, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, China, South Korea, Canada, Thailand, Norway, Iceland and Vietnam).

For further details concerning delivery times, please consult the country sheets.

Our advice for preparing a parcel

To ensure that the shipment of your international parcel runs smoothly, you should make sure it is well packed, labelled and protected with sufficient padding and/or reinforcements to avoid any damage during transport.

Naturally, the type of packaging and wrapping required depends on the product to be shipped. For example, special precautions must be taken when sending fragile items. To find out more, do not hesitate to read our articles on this subject :

> How to send a parcel containing a fragile item ?
> How to pack your parcel properly ?

How to track your parcel

It is important to be able to track your shipment, especially when sending a parcel abroad. You can use our tracking tool to follow the various stages of your parcel's progress in real time. You should not forget to give the recipient the parcel's tracking number, so that they can also track the delivery.

Items that are prohibited in international parcels

Did you know that you are not allowed to send certain things to certain countries ? Most countries prohibit or restrict the entry and circulation of certain goods, general to protect their economy or for health reasons.

For example, you are not allowed to send traveller's cheques to Angola, coffee to Colombia, baby bottles to Guatemala, or rice to South Korea... Sending tobacco and alcohol is subject to restrictions almost everywhere in the world and is often forbidden. The same applies to precious metals, coins, animals and plants.

Consult the list of all customs restrictions.

What customs formalities apply to parcels sent abroad ?

Sending a parcel in the European Union

Good news ! No customs declaration is required for parcels sent from mainland France to other countries in the European Union. Since the goods do not leave the European economic area, they are not considered as being imported into the destination country, but simply in transit.

Sending parcels to other places around the world :

When sending parcels outside the European Union, you must comply with a few specific customs requirements. You should check the customs charges that may apply to the contents of your parcel, depending on the destination country. Remember to fill in the customs forms correctly, if you want your parcel to be delivered on time and to avoid any need for customs staff to open it. Indeed, the customs staff need to check that your parcel does not contain any prohibited or restricted products. They may also ask you to pay customs duties and import taxes.

To find out which documents you need to enclose with your parcel, please refer to the country information sheets available on La Poste's website.

> Find out more about customs formalities by country

Sending a parcel abroad is simple. Why wait ? As of today, let La Poste look after shipping your international parcels ! We are sure you will find that La Poste offers the best prices for shipping your parcels, whatever the final destination.

 

* Indicative delivery times in working days.