Since 1 July 2026, Temu orders shipped into the EU from outside the bloc carry new import charges: a €3 customs duty per different item, plus VAT. From 1 November 2026, the EU has also added a separate €2 handling fee on low-value parcels. Here is what both charges mean, how Temu shows them at checkout, and how to keep them small.
We read the official EU rules and checked a real Temu checkout on 1 November 2026. We did not place an order.
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This guide is for shoppers in EU countries. The UK, Switzerland, Norway, the US and other countries outside the EU have their own import rules.
The short answer
€3 customs duty: charged per different item in an order worth €150 or less, plus VAT. Identical items count once. It applies from 1 July 2026 until 1 July 2028.
€2 EU handling fee: applies per item from 1 November 2026 under a separate EU rule. Temu's checkout did not show it as a separate line when we checked on 1 November.
Where you pay: at Temu checkout, in an “Import charges” line, before you place the order.
What changed, and when
1 July 2026: the EU ended duty-free treatment for parcels worth up to €150 and introduced a flat €3 customs duty (Council Regulation (EU) 2026/382).
1 November 2026: a €2 EU handling fee starts, set by a separate Commission act. It covers the cost of customs checks on small parcels.
1 July 2028: the flat €3 duty is due to end. Normal customs tariffs should replace it once the EU's new customs data hub is running.
Import VAT is not new. The EU removed the €22 VAT exemption on 1 July 2021, so VAT has applied to these parcels since then and still does, on top of the duty.
How Temu calculates import charges at checkout
We added two different products to a Temu cart in Greece: an under-desk cable tray and a pack of cable clips, with two packs of the clips. The order summary showed Import charges: €7.44 on €21.21 of items.
Our Temu checkout on 1 November 2026: €7.44 in import charges for two different items. Personal details removed.
Temu's note at checkout says it charges “3€ per different item in the order, plus applicable VAT”. It adds that identical items are counted only once.
That matches the maths: 2 different items × €3 = €6, plus Greece's 24% VAT = €7.44. The second pack of clips did not add another €3.
The €2 COD fee in our checkout applies only to cash on delivery. It is not part of the import charges.
Same item or different items? Three examples
1 PRODUCT
€3.72
€3 duty + 24% VAT
3 OF THE SAME PRODUCT
€3.72
Identical items count once
5 DIFFERENT PRODUCTS
€18.60
5 × €3 duty + 24% VAT
Totals use Greece's 24% standard VAT rate, so yours depends on your country's rate. Customs decides what counts as a different item by tariff code, so two similar-looking products can still be counted separately.
What about the new €2 handling fee?
The European Commission says the EU applies a €2 Union handling fee from 1 November 2026. It is charged per item to cover the cost of customs supervision, and it is separate from the €3 duty.
When we checked Temu's checkout on 1 November, the import charge was still explained as €3 per different item plus VAT, with no separate €2 line. Temu may absorb the fee, add it later or show it differently. Check the import charges line in your own checkout before you pay.
Is Temu still cheap?
The duty is flat, so it hurts cheap items most. On a €4 pack of cable clips, €3.72 almost doubles the price. On a €40 desk mat, it adds about 9%.
Temu still makes sense for larger single items and for several units of the same thing. It makes less sense for a basket of many different €2–5 items. For those, a seller inside the EU may now be cheaper.
5 ways to pay less in import charges
1. Look for the “No import charges” label. Some listings show it on the product page, which means the import charge does not apply to that item. We saw it on this phone stand when we checked:
The “No import charges” label on a Temu product page, 1 November 2026.
NO IMPORT CHARGES WHEN CHECKED · TEMU AFFILIATE LINK
Adjustable phone stand
Listed with “No import charges” on 1 November 2026. Labels can change, so check the listing before you order.
2. Buy several of the same item, not many different ones. Identical items are counted once.
3. Use Temu's partial cover above €50. When we checked, Temu covered 10% of import charges on orders over €50, up to €20. The cart shows how much more you need to add:
Temu's cart shows how much more you need to add for its 10% import-charge cover, 1 November 2026.
4. Skip cash on delivery. It added a separate €2 non-refundable fee in our checkout.
5. Compare with EU sellers for small, cheap items. Without the duty, a seller inside the EU can now be cheaper on low-value items.
NEW TO TEMU? · TEMU AFFILIATE LINK
40% off your first app order
For eligible new app users: 40% off orders over €20, capped at €24. Import charges still apply.
ALREADY A TEMU USER?
Check your free-gift offer instead
The 40% code is only for new app users. Existing users may see a free-gift offer in the app instead. Our guide shows how to check it.
How to check the existing-user offer →Common questions
Does this apply to Shein and AliExpress too? Yes, when the parcel ships from outside the EU. Items sent from a warehouse inside the EU do not pay this duty, whichever platform sells them.
Do I pay anything at the door? In our Temu checkout, the import charges were included in the order total before payment. Cash on delivery adds its own fee.
Does it apply in the UK or Switzerland? No. These EU rules cover deliveries into EU countries only.
How long will the €3 duty last? It is scheduled to run until 1 July 2028, when normal customs tariffs are due to replace it.
Our verdict
Temu is still cheap for some purchases, but no longer for every basket. Check the import charges line, group identical items and look for listings without import charges before you pay.
The new-user code conditions are explained in our Temu offer guide. If a discount code fails at checkout, see our Temu coupon troubleshooting guide. For low-cost desk upgrades, see our Temu desk accessories picks.
Research notes
Research checked November 1, 2026. We read the official EU sources below and checked a Temu checkout in Greece, using Temu's English interface, without placing an order. Screenshots are cropped to remove personal details. VAT examples use Greece's 24% rate. The €2 handling fee was not shown separately at Temu checkout on that date; this may change.
Council of the EU: customs duty on small parcels from 1 July 2026 Council of the EU: final approval of the small-parcel duty rules, February 2026 European Commission: guidance and legal text on the temporary €3 duty European Commission: EU customs reform and the €2 Union handling fee Access2Markets: €3 customs duty per item on low-value consignments European Commission: VAT e-commerce rules and the end of the €22 exemption
