Skip to content
GOODS ACROSS BORDERS

POSTING RULE

Send Mobile Phones (Commercial) 🇳🇱 Netherlands

ANSWER

Can I post Mobile Phones (Commercial) to Netherlands?

ALLOWEDVERIFIED · 2026-07-26LOW CONFIDENCE

A phone can be posted to Netherlands; lithium-battery mail rules require the battery installed in the device, and import tax applies above the exemption.

QUANTITY / LIMITS

1-2 handsets; multiple new-in-box units are treated as commercial imports

DOCUMENTS

  • Commercial invoice or proof of purchase showing the transaction value

DECLARATION

Required at the destination customs authority

SOURCE

belastingdienst.nl
Verify against the official customs authority before acting on this answer.Report a correction

Full Details

Posting a phone to Netherlands is permitted; two frameworks apply. Postal dangerous-goods rules require lithium batteries to be installed in the device (UN 3481) — loose spare batteries are barred from international mail. On the customs side Douane (Netherlands Customs — under Tax and Customs Administration) applies the ordinary parcel framework to the declared value: import VAT/GST at 21% applies above the exemption threshold. EU rules apply. €150 customs duty de minimis. BTW (Dutch VAT) applies to all imports regardless of value as of July 2021. Netherlands is a major EU entry point — Schiphol and Port of Rotterdam handle enormous import volumes. Multiple new-in-box units read as commercial imports; single used personal phones (a repaired or forgotten device sent on) are routine.

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Ship the battery installed in the phone, declare the true value, and use tracked service — phones are among the most-pilfered and most-inspected parcel categories.

OFFICIAL SOURCES

POSTING DETAILS

QUANTITY / WEIGHT LIMITS

1-2 handsets; multiple new-in-box units are treated as commercial imports

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

  • Commercial invoice or proof of purchase showing the transaction value

COUNTRY POSTING NOTES

PostNL and customs handle international parcels. BTW (VAT) applies to all goods. Items above €150 require full customs clearance. Netherlands is a frequent re-export hub — goods destined for other EU countries transit through NL regularly.

Sending Mobile Phones (Commercial) to other countries

RULES5,339COUNTRIES85ITEMS111CARRIERS28GUIDES46UNIQUE SOURCES645LATEST VERIFICATION2026-07-26MethodologyChangelog