The US and French commercial alliance dates back centuries. France is the world's fifth-largest economy and a leading trade partner with the United States. Leading US exports to France include aerospace and IT infrastructure, as well as advanced instrumentation such as medical supplies and broadcasting equipment. US and Canadian companies rely on low-cost shipping to France and the European Union to fulfill international e-commerce orders.
Quick answer
Ship to France by USPS for small parcels, FedEx, UPS, or Jet Worldwide for commercial air, or bulk freight into a French warehouse for euro-domestic distribution. France charges 20 percent VAT, and since 1 July 2026 the EU adds a flat 3 euro duty per item category on parcels of 150 euros or less. Prepay duty and VAT with DDP.
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Jet Worldwide is a Montreal-based logistics and customs consultancy specializing in delivery to France and Europe, helping businesses connect across borders since 1988. Our team provides EU distribution from a Paris hub and shipping direct from Canada and the US to France, plus dedicated clearance, local storage, and domestic delivery. Contact our team for a consultation.
If you are looking beyond the obvious USPS, FedEx, and UPS options, contact our team; we have unique solutions to the UK and Europe.
| Carrier | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USPS | Individuals and small parcels | Lowest cost; delivered in France by La Poste; First Class International Package Service is for items under 4 pounds and under USD 400. |
| FedEx and UPS | Urgent and commercial parcels | Air express (2 to 3 days) and air economy (3 to 5 days), with tracking and clearance. |
| Chronopost | France-to-US direction only | A La Poste subsidiary; ships from France to the USA via partners such as FedEx, not the reverse, and has no US offices. |
| Jet Worldwide | Commercial parcels, bulk, and EU distribution | Helping companies put the pieces together via our industry knowledge, contacts, expertise and transparency. |
The cheapest option for individuals shipping small parcels to France is the US Postal Service (USPS). USPS has a range of small-package services accessible online or at a local post office. Shipments sent via USPS to France are delivered by La Poste. The First Class International Package Service is among the most common options, available for shipments under 4 pounds and under USD 400. USPS is less attractive for heavier shipments or when a higher service level is required. Get a comparison quote for shipping to France.
FedEx and UPS are the largest carriers in the USA and, along with DHL, offer shipping from the US to France, in two main tiers: International Air Express (2 to 3 day delivery) and International Air Economy (3 to 5 day delivery).
Chronopost, a subsidiary of La Poste, is a leading carrier in France and offers shipping from France to the USA via partners such as FedEx, but not the reverse. Chronopost does not have offices in the USA. Jet Worldwide helps American and French companies build parcel shipping and import solutions between the US, France, and Canada.
Jet Worldwide offers low-cost parcel and online-order shipping to France from the US and North America, with EU distribution support from our Paris hub and direct shipping from Canada to France. Ship your online orders to France with prepaid duty and last-mile delivery. About Jet Worldwide.
Timothy Byrnes: t-byrnes@jetworldwide.ca (note, emails must be from a business email address).
The default for shipping internationally from the United States is Delivery Duty Unpaid, where carriers use Ex Works (EXW) and all import costs fall to the receiver. Shippers can instead choose Delivery Duty Paid (DDP), offered by most carriers, to pay import fees on the receiver's behalf. See our blog on Incoterms and shipping terms.
All imports to France are subject to VAT. Since 1 July 2026, most low-value parcels are no longer automatically duty-free (see the customs section), so plan for both duty and VAT. For e-commerce, prepaid VAT through IOSS keeps clearance smooth. Read more on shipping online orders to France with prepaid VAT.
For regular volume, the most efficient model is often to stop shipping parcel by parcel and instead import in bulk, store in France, and fulfill locally. Jet Worldwide clears one bulk shipment into a French facility, then ships each customer order as a euro-domestic delivery inside the EU.
This euro-domestic model shortens last-mile times, removes per-parcel customs friction, and gives your French and EU customers a local delivery experience. Contact our team for France and EU warehousing and distribution.
If your inventory or suppliers are spread across North America, you can send consolidations to Jet Worldwide US hubs. Orders are combined there and forwarded to Europe, including onward distribution from our Paris hub. Consolidation reduces per-parcel handling, simplifies documentation, and can lower landed cost for regular volume, feeding directly into the bulk-and-store model above.
The EU abolished the 150 euro low-value duty exemption on 1 July 2026. Parcels valued at 150 euros or less sent from outside the EU to consumers now carry a temporary flat customs duty of 3 euros per distinct item category (per tariff heading), not per parcel, in place until 1 July 2028. A separate handling fee of about 2 euros per parcel is expected from November 2026. Low-value parcels to France are therefore no longer automatically duty-free.
All imports to France from the USA require an invoice for customs. French customs uses the CIF value as the amount subject to duty; CIF includes the cost of the item plus shipping and insurance. Import fees for consignments to France include:
Customs rules for France can be complex and vary by product. Consult French customs authorities or a customs broker for guidance specific to your shipment.
Personal effects can clear France free of duty and taxes. The requirements include:
Excess baggage: shipping personal effects as excess baggage when you travel is often simpler and cheaper for a couple of bags than shipping separately and managing entry requirements.
A box or several boxes: Jet Worldwide ships international personal effects to France from the US via economy air.
A full household: for household or container-level moves, contact a moving specialist to arrange packing and ocean transport.
For small personal parcels, USPS and postal resellers are usually the lowest cost. These solutions are increasingly challenged by new processes.
France applies a standard VAT of 20 percent to imports, calculated on the CIF value plus duty. Since 1 July 2026 the EU also applies a flat 3 euro duty per item category on parcels valued at 150 euros or less sent to consumers, so low-value parcels are no longer automatically duty-free.
With Delivery Duty Paid, the shipper pays duty and VAT before delivery so the customer is not billed on arrival. For e-commerce, the Import One-Stop Shop lets sellers pre-collect and remit EU VAT. This is not necessary if you are only shipping to France.
Yes. Jet Worldwide can clear a bulk shipment into France once, store it in a local French facility, and fulfill orders as euro-domestic deliveries. This clears customs a single time on the bulk import rather than parcel by parcel. A type of FBA solution without using Amazon.
Yes. You can send consolidations to Jet Worldwide US hubs, where orders are combined and forwarded to Europe, including onward distribution from the Paris hub. Consolidation reduces per-parcel handling and can lower landed cost for regular volume.
Personal effects can clear France free of duty and taxes when the paperwork clearly states Personal Effects, an itemized value is provided, and the goods are used and for personal use only. Customs inspects on arrival and contacts the consignee.
Jet Worldwide helps US and Canadian companies ship parcels, online orders, and bulk freight to France and the EU. Request a France shipping quote.
Timothy Byrnes - Jet Worldwide
Timothy Byrnes has led Jet Worldwide, a Montreal-based international logistics and customs consultancy, since 1988