You can send a gift from Bangladesh to Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal or any other EU country, and a genuine gift worth €45 or less normally arrives with no VAT and no customs duty to pay. This guide explains the EU gift rule, what changes above €45, the new €3 parcel duty, and real costs in euros, as of October 2026.
The EU charges no customs duty and no VAT on a genuine gift worth €45 or less, sent by one private person to another. Postage does not count towards the €45. Above €45, VAT is charged at the country's rate and duty can apply. The €3 parcel duty that started on 1 July 2026 is for online purchases, not private gifts. Express shipping costs about €55–75 for 1 kg.
Want to send a saree to your sister in Rome, a panjabi to your brother in Lisbon, or a nakshi kantha to friends in Paris for Christmas? I buy the gift in person in Dhaka, wrap it, declare it honestly and send it with tracking to the door. Below are the EU rules your gift has to pass, and what it really costs.
Yes. All EU countries use the same gift rule. A gift worth €45 or less pays no customs duty and no VAT, if it meets these conditions, as set out by German customs (Zoll) and Ireland's Revenue:
The €45 is the value of the goods only. Postage and insurance are not counted. The limit is for the whole parcel, and one item worth more than €45 cannot be split to fit under it.
This is the honest part most guides skip. German customs say deliveries from companies are not gift shipments, even if they are free. So a gift has to come from a real person.
Here is how that works in practice. If your mother in Dhaka or your uncle in Sylhet pays for a saree for you in Milan, the gift is from them. I shop for them and declare the parcel as a gift, with the real giver and the real value. If you live in the EU and pay me for a panjabi for yourself, that is a purchase, not a gift, and I will not label it as one.
EU customs make the final decision on every parcel, not me. German customs also say that if the declaration is unclear — for example, if the word "gift" is missing — duty and VAT may be charged. A false gift label can cause delays, charges or penalties, so I always declare the true contents and value.
Normally not. From 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2028, the EU charges a temporary €3 customs duty per item type on parcels worth €150 or less that are sold at a distance — online and other purchases from shops outside the EU, according to the European Commission.
A genuine private gift is not a sale. Latvia's tax authority (VID) says the €45 relief for non-commercial gifts continues, and its gift rules list no €3 charge. Latvia's VID also lists a new €2 handling fee per item on purchased parcels from 1 November 2026.
For a purchase, the costs are different: VAT from the first euro, plus the €3 duty per item type. My guide to buying from Bangladesh to Europe explains purchases in full.
Then the gift relief no longer covers the whole parcel:
The person receiving the parcel pays these charges to the post office or courier, usually before delivery. Couriers may add their own clearance fee. If the gift is a surprise, tell me — I will warn you in the quote if VAT is likely. More country details are on customs duty on Bangladesh packages.
These prices are estimates, converted at about 1 US dollar = €0.89 (October 2026). Your quote gives the exact figure.
Please do not send medicines as a gift. I only source medicines against a valid prescription, and each EU country has its own rules for importing medicines by post, which can be much stricter than the rules for clothes or books. Check the rules of the destination country, or ask a doctor or pharmacist there, before you order. Read importing medicines from Bangladesh and what I cannot ship.
Your cost has three parts: the gift, my flat US$12 service fee (about €11), and shipping. These are estimates:
Example: a €20 Tant saree as a birthday gift to Italy, sent by express: 20 + 11 + 55–75 = roughly €86–106 delivered. As a genuine gift under €45, it normally arrives with nothing more to pay. Compare carriers in my best courier from Bangladesh guide.
Simple gift wrap and a card with your message are free, and the invoice stays out of the box.
Choosing and buying usually takes 1–3 days, then express delivery takes about 3–6 working days. Couriers get busy before Christmas, so message me at least 3 weeks before the date — for Christmas, by mid-November. For a wedding, start earlier, because colours and sizes need checking. See wedding shopping from abroad or sending Eid gifts.
Sending outside the EU? The UK has its own £39 rule — see sending a gift to the UK. Switzerland and Norway are not in the EU and have their own rules; tell me and I will check.
More guides: sending gifts from Bangladesh to any country, and gift guides for the USA, Canada and Australia.
Not if it is a genuine gift worth €45 or less, sent by one private person to another: EU customs charge no duty and no VAT on it. Postage does not count towards the €45. Above €45, VAT is charged and customs duty can apply.
It must be sent occasionally by one private person to another, for personal or family use, with nothing paid by the person receiving it. German customs say deliveries from companies are not gifts, even if they are free. Something you buy and send to yourself is a purchase.
The €3 duty runs from 1 July 2026 to 1 July 2028 and is for low-value parcels sold at a distance, such as online purchases. Latvia's tax authority says the €45 relief for non-commercial gifts continues, so a genuine gift within that limit stays free of duty and VAT.
VAT is charged on the gift at the rate of the EU country, and customs duty can apply. For a non-commercial parcel worth up to €700, customs may use a flat duty rate of 2.5% instead of the normal rate.
As an estimate, a 1 kg parcel costs about €55–75 by express courier or €35–55 by Bangladesh Post EMS, plus my US$12 (about €11) service fee. A €20 tant saree sent by express comes to roughly €86–106 delivered. Your quote gives the exact figure before you pay.
Tell me who the gift is for, who is giving it, the occasion and your budget. I'll suggest options, show you photos, and tell you the full cost — and any likely VAT — before you pay anything.
Bought in person, wrapped, declared honestly, every cost shown before you pay.