Spain is one of the first markets British retailers look to expand into and for good reason. The country has become the de facto destination for British holidaymakers and expats. Over 300,000 Brits reside in Spain, making it a popular market for British retailers. If that wasn’t enough, it is the fourth-largest EU market and the 16th-largest economy, globally.
But sending a parcel from the UK to Spain isn’t as simple as it once was. Businesses must adhere to additional rules, procedures, and customs due to Brexit.
If you’re looking to start selling in Spain, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about shipping a parcel from the UK to Spain.
Shipping to Spain Post Brexit
Now that the UK has left the EU, all goods sent from the UK to Spain are subject to VAT and additional customs requirements.
The easiest way to handle these charges is to use the EU’s Import One Stop Shop (IOSS). You can register for the service yourself, or use an intermediary like Pro Carrier to file on your behalf.
As well as your IOSS number, all parcels shipped to Spain from the UK will require a commercial invoice and export documentation. All documents must have standard business details like your registered name and address, as well as your Economic Operators Registration and Identification (EORI).
You’ll also need to decide whether you send goods Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) or Delivery Duty Unpaid (DUP). DDP means that you, the seller, take responsibility for customs paperwork and the payment of VAT and other fees. DDU means the overseas courier must collect VAT and other fees from the buyer.
We strongly recommend you send goods DDP.
Regarding what you can legally send to Spain, the vast majority of goods can be shipped without a problem. Like all EU countries, certain items are prohibited. These include:
- Firearms
- Perishable goods
- Plants
- Seeds
- Furs
If in doubt about what you can and can’t send, speak to a cross-border delivery expert like Pro Carrier.
How Long Does It Take to Send a Parcel to Spain?
Probably not as long as you think. Despite the additional customs paperwork that must be completed for each order, delivery times can take three to five working days, as standard. Express delivery is available, which can take one to two days.
Exact delivery times to Spain will vary depending on your chosen delivery service.
What Courier Services Are Available in Spain?
There are a number of local and foreign carriers you can use to send parcels to Spain such as:
- Correos and Correos Express: The country’s largest courier service and usually the most cost-effective
- DHL and DHL Express: An American-founded German courier company that provides at-home and PUDO delivery
- FedEx: A US courier that has operated in the Spanish market for decades
At Pro Carrier we work with the best carrier suitable for the eCommerce methods and needs specific to Spain.
How to Format a Spanish Address
It’s vital you use the correct address format when shipping parcels from the UK to Spain. Be aware there are a couple of differences between Spanish and UK addresses.
Firstly, street names typically come before the number. Numbers are also used to denote the floor and doors. For example, 3o, 8a means the third floor and the 8th door.
You’ll also need to put the postcode, town and province on one line in that order. The province should also be in brackets. Finally, write SPAIN in capital letters at the end of the address.
Here’s an example:
Sr John Doe
Baja de San Pablo, 19
28004 Madrid (Madrid)
SPAIN
Spanish Public Holidays to Note
Spain has several national and regional public holidays that retailers should be aware of. You can find a list of every major national holiday below:
- New Year’s Day
- Good Friday
- Labor Day
- Assumption of Mary
- Spanish National Day
- All Saints’ Day
- Spanish Constitution Day
- Immaculate Conception
- Christmas Day
- Christmas holiday (26th)
How Can You Track Your Spanish Parcel Delivery?
The best way to track shipments from the UK to Spain is with a service like the Pro Carrier Customer Portal.
Our parcel tracking software lets retailers and their customers monitor the progress of each delivery by entering a parcel tracking number. Retailers get information for all of their orders at their fingertips, complete with detailed reports and dashboards. Customers get regular updates on the status of their delivery, all delivered in the customer’s language.
Ship to Spain with Pro Carrier
Do you want to enter the Spanish market or improve your existing operations in the company? Pro Carrier can help.
Our cross-border eCommerce solution integrates with your existing eCommerce platform and lets you manage delivery from a single dashboard. Get real-time visibility into your operations, edit orders on the fly, and choose your preferred Spanish carrier. Whoever you choose, you’ll only need to print and affix one label to each package, our team will do everything else.
Find out more about how we can help your brand get a foothold in Spain by speaking to an expert today.
