Sending to China: at a glance
- Duty-free limit
- Value limit for inbound personal postal articles: CNY 2,000 (effective 1 May 2025). Duty below CNY 50 is waived.
- Used personal items
- Assume there is no special relief for used personal items sent by post or courier; the ordinary parcel thresholds apply.
- Put in the parcel
- Itemised list and pro-forma invoice
- Recipient's ID (gifts require the recipient's ID)
These are the usual rules. Customs and courier rules can change at any time, so confirm with General Administration of Customs of China before sending.
General Administration of Customs of ChinaWhat can you usually send?
MedicinesUsually limited
- Medicines: A medical import licence may be needed and a doctor's prescription is required for personal shipments; confirm costly medicines with Chinese authorities first.
Phones, laptops and batteriesUsually limited
- Lithium batteries: Some couriers say only Section II lithium batteries (except PI968) can move inbound under the Global Capability List; check with the courier.
Cash, gold and jewelleryUsually not allowed
- Currency, documents, data and items involving state secrets: Banned from import and export (Shanghai government FAQ).
Documents and dataUsually not allowed
- Currency, documents, data and items involving state secrets: Banned from import and export (Shanghai government FAQ).
Your own used itemsUsual rules
- Personal use quantities, recipient must be an individual
- A single indivisible item above the limit can clear as personal use if Customs verifies it
Anything not listed here (clothes, bags, toys, your own used things) usually follows the standard parcel rules and the duty-free limit above.
Send it yourself
- Ask the office holding it whether they post items, or who may collect it for you (a written authorisation and a copy of your ID).
- Someone collects it and packs it securely.
- Book a courier with a clear description and value; outside the EU it needs electronic customs data.
- The receiver pays any import duty or tax on arrival.
Offices usually work Greek office hours, and staff may answer in Greek. A service we recommend can make the calls and handle the pickup for you.
Rather not do it yourself? Couriers we recommend
Ask whether they can collect it from the office that has it, pack it and send it, and help with the customs paperwork. Ask for the price first.
Family-run Athens courier since 1988. Sends parcels within Greece and abroad, helps with customs clearance, and can store extra bags for travellers and deliver them later. Ask for a price on their website.
We recommend services we think are useful; some may pay us a fee if you book. Prices and terms are set by the service, so check them before you book.
More details
In short
Personal postal articles entering China have a value limit (CNY 2,000 per the Shanghai government in 2025), and duty under CNY 50 is waived. Items above the limit are returned or treated as commercial, though a single indivisible item may clear as personal use.
Good to know
- Recipients may be asked for a passport or Chinese ID number to clear a parcel.
- Items above the limit are returned to the sender or cleared as commercial goods.