France Import & Export

Send Parcel to France: UK–France Import & Export — Road, Air & Sea

At Freight Connect Services, we specialise in moving shipments reliably and compliantly between the UK and France. Whether you need to send a single parcel to France, multiple pallets, or full containers, our expert team coordinates every step of the process. We offer a comprehensive range of transport options including road freight via the Short Sea and Eurotunnel, air freight for urgent cargo, and sea freight for cost-efficient volumes. Our services are backed by expert customs clearance, real-time tracking, and proactive customer support, ensuring your parcel delivery or shipment for delivery to France reaches its destination smoothly.

We provide a variety of international services for both businesses and individuals, including priority and economy shipping options, with full tracking and flexible delivery timeframes.

Customers can easily ship parcels, pallets, or containers to France using Freight Connect Services, benefiting from quick, reliable, and affordable delivery to France.

Why choose Freight Connect Services for France ⇄ UK shipping?

Choosing the right service to send a parcel to France can be complex, but Freight Connect Services simplifies this with a full suite of solutions. We cover all modes of transport—road, air, and sea—tailored to your cargo’s cost, speed, and profile requirements. Our end-to-end handling includes collection, export paperwork, international transport, import clearance, and final delivery, providing a seamless experience from start to finish.

Customs procedures are often a subject of concern when shipping internationally. We make customs simple by providing clear guidance on commodity codes, EORI numbers, import duty, VAT, and document preparation. Our transparent tracking system offers milestone updates and international courier-style tracking on eligible services, allowing you to monitor your parcel’s progress every step of the way with real-time information.

We offer flexible options ranging from parcel delivery and pallet shipments to less-than-truckload (LTL) and full truckload (FTL) services, including temperature-controlled and high-value handling. You can send parcels to France using various posting methods, such as online booking, parcel drop-off at local stores or lockers, or courier collection services. Following correct posting procedures, including using the right address format and being aware of holiday delays, is essential for reliable international shipments to France. With Freight Connect Services, you have one partner and a single point of contact from quote to proof of delivery, ensuring great service and peace of mind.

If you want to explore your options for sending parcels or freight between the UK and France, email info@freightcservices.com or request a Fast Quote to compare road, air, and sea delivery services.

Road freight between the UK and France

Road freight is the backbone of UK–France logistics and is particularly suitable for pallets, cartons, and time-sensitive B2B deliveries. Our daily groupage departures cater to part-load shipments and pallet networks, providing cost-effective solutions for smaller consignments. Whether you need to send individual packages or bulk shipments, our road freight options can handle a wide range of shipping needs. For larger shipments, we offer LTL and FTL options to meet your volume needs

We also provide express vans for urgent A-to-B transport, ensuring your parcel is delivered promptly and reliably. Special services such as ADR (for hazardous goods) and temperature-controlled transport are available upon request. Our road freight service includes door-to-door delivery with customs clearance managed by our team, helping you avoid delays at the border.

Typical transit times vary depending on origin, destination, and customs clearance, with standard road shipments taking approximately 1 to 3 working days. Express services can deliver as fast as same-day or next-day to major hubs, subject to cut-offs and distance.

Air freight France ⇄ UK for urgent cargo

When speed is critical—such as for product launches, spare parts, or high-value items—air freight is the ideal choice. We provide both direct and deferred air freight options from major French and UK airports, offering flexible scheduling to meet your deadlines.

France postage options are available for air freight shipments, making it easy and affordable to send parcels to various French cities.

Air freight services can be arranged as airport-to-airport or door-to-door, with final-mile courier delivery to ensure your parcel is delivered right to the recipient’s address. Our proactive tracking system provides milestone alerts, so you can monitor your shipment’s progress in real time.

Additional support includes screening, security measures, and insurance options to safeguard your valuable shipments. Typical transit times for air freight range from next-day to two days end-to-end, depending on collection cut-offs and customs procedures.

Sea freight for cost-efficient volumes

For bulk shipments or steady lanes, sea freight offers a cost-efficient solution. We provide both full container load (FCL) and less-than-container load (LCL) groupage options, allowing you to optimise your shipping costs based on volume. Sea freight services are available to selected destinations in France, ensuring reliable delivery to priority regions.

Our weekly short-sea services connect efficient UK and French port pairs, facilitating smooth and predictable delivery schedules. Our team manages port handling, documentation, and customs clearance on both sides, so you don’t have to worry about complex paperwork. For shipments arriving in France, La Poste may be involved in customs documentation and clearance, helping to ensure compliance with local regulations.

Typical transit times for short-sea freight are between 2 to 5 days port-to-port, with additional time required for pre-carriage, customs clearance, and final delivery to the door.

Parcels & eCommerce — “postal vs courier vs freight”

If you’re looking to send a parcel to France from the UK, choosing the right delivery service is essential. Customers can send parcels to France using a range of international services, including priority and economy options, with features like tracking and various delivery timeframes. We help you navigate between postal equivalents, courier express services, and freight parcel solutions depending on your shipment’s size, value, and urgency.

Postal services offer economy options but generally come with limited tracking and slower delivery. Courier and express services provide international tracking capabilities similar to UPS, with faster transit times and more reliable delivery to the door.

For heavier or bulkier parcels, freight parcel solutions integrated into our pallet and groupage networks offer a cost-effective alternative. We also provide guidance on printing parcel labels, preparing commercial invoices, and completing customs declarations including HS codes. It is important to provide accurate recipient information on customs declarations to ensure smooth customs clearance and successful delivery to recipients. For businesses, we support platform integrations and can advise on France or UK fulfilment centres to save time and reduce delivery costs.

Addressing and Packaging for UK–France Shipments

Professional parcel delivery to France demands precise address formatting and expert packaging—we ensure your shipments clear customs efficiently and reach their destination without delay. French addressing protocols mirror UK standards with critical distinctions that determine successful international logistics execution.

Deploy this proven format

recipient name, street address, postcode, city, then country designation. The postcode precedes the city name—non-negotiable. Country designation “FRANCE” requires capital letters on the final line. Standard format

Mme. Marie Dupont 10 Rue de la Paix 75002 Paris FRANCE

Packaging integrity drives successful transit outcomes. Deploy robust boxes or reinforced padded envelopes with comprehensive bubble wrap or packing peanut protection. Secure sealing and clearly attached parcel labels are mandatory—not optional. Online postage and label printing or Post Office procurement streamlines preparation, ensuring collection-ready or drop-off compliant packages every time.

This exact formatting protocol enables Parcelforce Worldwide and Royal Mail systems to route shipments efficiently, eliminating processing delays and ensuring clean delivery execution.

France-bound parcels require customs compliance and import duty management. Every shipment demands completed customs declaration forms—available through Post Office channels or online procurement. These forms detail contents, valuations, and shipment purpose classification: gift, correspondence, or commercial package. Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide online tools provide accurate customs duty and import tax calculations, eliminating unexpected costs and delays.

Courier collection services deliver operational efficiency and peace of mind. Parcelforce Worldwide provides home or business collection, real-time online tracking via tracking numbers, and complimentary returns on selected service tiers. Additional cover options protect against loss, damage, or unforeseen customs complications—comprehensive risk management for high-value shipments.

Prohibited items compliance prevents costly delays and returned shipments. Specific goods including certain children’s toys, compact power tools, and gaming consoles face import restrictions or complete prohibition. Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide websites provide current prohibited items intelligence—always verify before dispatch to avoid compliance failures.

These protocols—precise address formatting, secure packaging, accurate customs documentation, and professional delivery services—guarantee successful France delivery outcomes. Whether dispatching gifts, commercial shipments, or personal correspondence, following these expert guidelines ensures reliable delivery performance and exceptional service standards for every France-bound parcel.

Customs clearance & duties — what to know

When shipping parcels or larger shipments between the UK and France, customs clearance is a key subject to address. Since the UK left the European Union, customs procedures and requirements for parcels sent to France have changed, with new documentation and checks now required. Both exporters and importers must have valid EORI numbers applicable to their country (UK or EU). Accurate HS codes and agreed Incoterms such as DAP (Delivered At Place) or DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) are essential for smooth processing.

You will need to provide a commercial invoice and packing list, and for restricted goods, any necessary licences or certificates. Customs duties and VAT may apply depending on the commodity code, origin, and Incoterms governing the shipment. VAT rates in France vary depending on the type of goods or services being imported, so understanding the applicable VAT rates is crucial to avoid delays and customs issues. Additionally, items valued over €150 may be subject to extra customs duties and VAT charges.

At Freight Connect Services, we don’t guess duty rates—we ensure your data is correct and submit compliant customs declarations to avoid delays. Our specialists advise on duty and VAT implications and can arrange postponed VAT accounting or DDP solutions for extra peace of mind.

Tracking & visibility (UPS-like clarity, freight-grade control)

We understand how important it is to track your parcel’s progress. Whether you need international tracking similar to consumer couriers or detailed milestone updates typical of freight shipments, we provide visibility tailored to your chosen service.

Our tracking process includes confirmation of courier collection, export clearance, in-transit status, import clearance, out-for-delivery notification, and final delivery with proof of delivery (POD). For selected services, API or portal access is available, allowing you to integrate tracking data into your systems.

If exceptions or delays occur, our team proactively communicates with you to manage the situation and avoid surprises.

Industries we serve

Our UK–France shipping services cater to a wide range of industries, including

eCommerce and retail, including marketplace sellers sending gifts, letters, and parcels.
Automotive and spares sectors requiring rapid turnaround times.
Food and beverage, with ambient and temperature-controlled options available.
Industrial and manufacturing components and machinery shipments.
Health and beauty, home and garden, and tech accessories sectors.
No matter your business type, we tailor our delivery services to meet your specific needs.

How our UK–France shipping process works

Our streamlined process makes sending parcels or freight to France straightforward

Scope & quote

You provide shipment details such as dimensions, weights, contents, collection and delivery postcodes, and required delivery speed.

Lane selection

We compare road, air, sea, and parcel/express options and recommend the best fit based on price and transit time.

Paperwork & booking

Our team prepares all necessary customs documents and schedules courier collection or drop-off.

Export & transport

We handle export clearance and move your cargo via the selected mode.

Import & delivery

We complete import customs clearance and deliver door-to-door with proof of delivery.

Aftercare

We provide KPI reporting, cost optimisation advice, and make repeat bookings easy for your business.

If you’re ready to send a parcel to France or arrange freight shipments, email info@freightcservices.com or request a Fast Quote today.

FAQs — UK–France shipping

How long does shipping from France to the UK take?

Road groupage typically takes 1 to 3 working days door-to-door, while express services can deliver next-day to major hubs. Air freight usually takes next-day to two days, and short-sea shipping adds port and consolidation time.

What are the documents required for customs?

You will generally need a commercial invoice, packing list, HS codes, EORI numbers, and any necessary licences or certificates. We will confirm exactly what is needed for your shipment.

Do I have to pay import duty?

Import duty depends on the commodity code, origin of goods, and agreed Incoterms. We review your shipment data and explain likely duty and VAT outcomes before you send your parcel or shipment.

Can I track my shipment like with UPS?

Yes. Our services include international tracking or milestone-based visibility depending on the service chosen, allowing you to monitor your parcel’s progress.

Can you handle returns and fulfilment?

Absolutely. We offer France and UK fulfilment services to reduce cross-border lead times and costs, making it easier for your customers to receive parcels quickly.

Sending a parcel to France from the UK is easier than ever with Freight Connect Services. Whether you require economical postal options, fast courier delivery, or cost-efficient freight shipping, our comprehensive services and expert team ensure your shipment arrives safely, on time, and with all customs formalities handled. Contact us today to find the best solution for your parcel delivery needs to France.