Customs on the Canary Islands — Everything You Need to Know
Why pay customs on parcels to the Canary Islands? Full guide to import VAT (IGIC), customs clearance and the H7 form.
Anyone receiving a parcel on the Canary Islands — whether ordered from Germany, mainland EU, mainland Spain, or a third country — has to pass through Canary Islands customs. Politically the Canaries are part of the European Union, but for customs purposes they are treated as a third country. This has wide-ranging consequences for anyone shopping online or receiving gifts on the islands.
This guide explains in plain language why customs exist on the Canaries, what fees apply, what documents you need and how to clear customs as fast and cheap as possible.
Why are there customs on the Canary Islands?
The Canaries have a special status within the European Union. Politically EU and part of the Kingdom of Spain — but outside the EU VAT territory and treated as third-country for customs. This special arrangement was set when Spain joined the EU in 1986 and amended in 1991.
Practical consequences:
- Shipments from EU mainland (also from Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla) to the Canaries need a customs declaration.
- IGIC (Impuesto General Indirecto Canario) applies instead of mainland VAT — typically 7% on goods.
- For some categories there are additional AIEM taxes (e.g. tobacco, some electronics).
- Even a Madrid-to-Las Palmas shipment requires a customs declaration.
What taxes and fees apply? (Canary import VAT)
For a typical EU-mainland parcel to the Canaries you can expect:
| Item | Rate | Where |
|---|---|---|
| IGIC | 7% (standard) | On goods value + shipping |
| AIEM | 0–25% | Special tax on certain goods (tobacco, alcohol, some electronics) |
| Customs duty | 0–17% | Only on third-country imports above €150 |
| Carrier handling fee | €5–60 | Varies by carrier (DHL, Correos, FedEx, UPS, GLS) |
Why do I have to pay customs on the Canaries?
Because the Canaries are treated as a third country for customs even though they are politically part of the EU. The reason is fiscal-economic — the islands as a remote region get a special status that protects local industry (AIEM) and lowers consumer tax burden (IGIC 7% instead of 19% VAT).
H7 form vs full DUA — when do you need which?
There are two paths to clear your parcel:
Simplified H7 form (up to €150 value)
The H7 form (Declaración Simplificada H7) was introduced in 2021 and is the right choice for private recipients and online shopping. It's a one-page document filled out online in 5 minutes.
Conditions:
- Goods value (excluding shipping) up to €150
- Private recipient or small business
- No special permits required (no large food/weapons/tobacco imports)
Full DUA (over €150 or commercial)
Anyone importing over €150 or commercially needs the full DUA (Documento Único Administrativo). Required:
- EORI number (economic-operator ID)
- TARIC code of the exact goods
- Full invoice with Incoterms
- Often a customs agent or freight forwarder
More details in our DUA and simplified import clearance guide.
How a typical Canary shipment works
- Online order with a Canary delivery address
- Shipping by the seller (Amazon, Otto, Zalando, AliExpress, etc.)
- Arrival at customs — usually at the main customs offices in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) or Santa Cruz de Tenerife
- Carrier notification by email or SMS: "Parcel at customs, action required"
- Submit H7 form — yourself via ImportCanariasFacil or via the carrier (extra cost)
- Pay IGIC + carrier fee
- Release and delivery in 1–3 working days
Common typing variants in searches
When searching online, many people type misspelled variants — but they all describe the same phenomenon:
- "kanarenzol" instead of "Canary customs"
- "kanaren zohl" instead of "Canary customs"
- "tenerifa" instead of "Tenerife"
- "warum hängt mein paket auf teneriffa"
- "paket steckt fest tenerifa"
When are Canary customs particularly expensive?
Three scenarios where total cost gets uncomfortably high:
- Third-country imports (China, US, UK post-Brexit) over €150 → full DUA + duties + carrier fees can be 40–60% of the goods value.
- Express shipping with FedEx or UPS — carrier handling fees here are €30–60 and often higher than the IGIC itself.
- Gifts without invoice — customs estimates the value, often in your disfavor, and clearance takes longer.
Special case: shipments from mainland Spain
Many wonder: "Why customs on a Madrid order?" The answer is in EU tax law: the Canaries are part of Spain but not part of the Spanish VAT territory. So the Madrid seller can ship you the order net (without VAT), and you pay IGIC 7% on the Canaries. Net effect: less tax than you'd pay in Madrid — but you go through customs.
How to save time and money
- First H7 form on ImportCanariasFacil is free (no credit card needed)
- OCR recognition: upload your invoice as PDF/JPG, all fields are extracted automatically
- Bundle multiple orders: fewer carrier handling charges
- Prefer IOSS sellers: IGIC is paid at order time → faster clearance
- Keep value + shipping under €150 → H7 instead of DUA
What Import Canarias Facil does — and what you do
Import Canarias Facil is not a customs broker. We are a guided online tool that helps you fill out the H7 form (invoice OCR, validation, PDF download). We explain step by step what to do as the recipient of a parcel ≤ €150 — whether your shipment is C2C (gift from a private sender) or B2C (Amazon, AliExpress, online shops).
What we do:
- Guided workflow for the H7 form with OCR recognition of your invoice
- PDF export of the completed form
- Step-by-step instructions for the next actions (carrier submission, payment, release)
What you as the parcel recipient do:
- Submit the completed H7 PDF to your carrier (DHL, Correos, FedEx, UPS, etc.) or upload it via the AEAT portal
- Pay IGIC (7% on goods + shipping) + carrier handling fee
- Obtain customs clearance and arrange final delivery
Communication with logistics companies and customs authorities stays between you and them. We do not act on your behalf.
Related articles
- Parcel at Canary customs — step-by-step
- Calculate Canary customs fees
- DUA vs simplified import clearance
- Amazon, AliExpress and Canary customs
FAQ
What does customs cost on a €100 online order to the Canaries?
At €100 goods value plus €15 shipping you'll pay roughly €8 IGIC and €10–25 carrier handling fee. Total surcharge: €18–33.
Why is my parcel stuck at customs in Tenerife?
Because the H7 form has not yet been submitted or the invoice is missing. In most cases there's an open action on your side — check the carrier portal.
Do I need a NIE or NIF for customs?
Yes. A Spanish tax ID (NIF, NIE or CIF) is mandatory in the H7 form.
Can I avoid customs?
No. Customs declaration is legally required for every shipment to the Canaries. But you can avoid overpriced carrier handling fees by filing the H7 yourself.
Does it work without an H7 form?
No. Without H7 (or DUA at higher values) the parcel is not released and after 30 days it goes back to the sender — at your cost.
Practical example 1: Tenerife student orders a textbook
Maria, a student in La Laguna, orders a specialist book on Amazon.de for €65 (€8 shipping). She is surprised that during checkout the note "Delivery may be delayed" appears. A week later DHL emails her: "Parcel at customs, action required."
What happens in detail:
- Customs is waiting for the H7 form (value below €150 → simplified version)
- Maria has to pay IGIC: 7% of €73 = €5.11
- DHL offers self-clearance handling for €18
Maria has two options:
- Option A: DHL handles it → final price: 65 + 8 + 5.11 + 18 = €96.11
- Option B: H7 self-filed via ImportCanariasFacil → final price: 65 + 8 + 5.11 + 0 (first form free) = €78.11
Saving: €18. For future orders she pays €8.95 per H7 — still cheaper than the carrier handling fee.
Practical example 2: Hamburg family sends a gift to grandparents on Lanzarote
Bea and Klaus from Hamburg send a box with family photos, a book and chocolate to grandma's 80th birthday — estimated total value €45. They use DHL Standard.
What happens with the shipment?
- Reaches customs on Lanzarote
- Carrier contacts the grandparents: C2C shipment, value declaration needed
- Grandma (86) is overwhelmed by the customs portal
Solution: her grandson Diego (lives on Tenerife) takes over:
- Logs into ImportCanariasFacil
- Selects C2C workflow
- Enters estimated value €45
- Ticks "no invoice available"
- IGIC: 7% on €45 = €3.15
- H7 PDF generated in 5 minutes
- Grandma pays €3.15 online → parcel released within 24 hours
Lesson: even C2C shipments need an H7. With help from a digitally-savvy family member, it's manageable.
Deep-dive: How exactly is IGIC calculated?
IGIC stands for "Impuesto General Indirecto Canario" — the Canary VAT. It has multiple rates:
| Rate | Application | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 0% | Basic foods, some books | Bread, water, certain books |
| 3% | Reduced rate | Newspapers, audiobooks, some foods |
| 7% | Standard rate | Most consumer goods |
| 9.5% | Increased rate | Jewelry, furs |
| 13.5% | Special rate | Tobacco (in addition to AIEM) |
| 20% | Luxury rate | Very rare, hardly used |
What is the difference vs. IVA on the mainland?
IVA (Impuesto sobre el Valor Añadido) is the Spanish VAT on the mainland with rates of 4%, 10% and 21%. The Canary IGIC completely replaces it.
Advantage for consumers in the Canaries: usually lower taxes than on the mainland (7% vs 21%). Disadvantage: a customs barrier that complicates online shopping from the mainland.
What is AIEM?
AIEM (Arbitrio sobre Importaciones y Entregas de Mercancías en las Islas Canarias) is a special tax on the Canaries. It protects the local industry by making imported competing products more expensive. Areas of application:
- Tobacco: up to 25%
- Alcoholic beverages (spirits, some wines): up to 25%
- Some construction materials: 5–15%
- Specific electronics: 0–10%
Practical tips for regular island shoppers
If you frequently receive parcels in the Canaries:
- Apply for an EORI number — free, simplifies future DUA shipments
- Get an NIE in time — at the police or Spanish consulate
- Find preferred senders — some online shops ship without issues, others refuse
- Plan combined orders — one larger order every 2–3 months
- ImportCanariasFacil subscription (€48.95/month) pays off from ~6 shipments/month
What to do in disputes?
If customs rejects your declaration or charges higher rates than expected:
- Written appeal to the Aduana (within 30 days)
- Consult a tax advisor (cost €80–200)
- Contact Canary consumer protection (OMIC) for carrier issues
- Online forum for Canary residents (e.g., Tenerife forum) — many have similar experiences
Frequently asked questions — extended
Are there allowances for personal shipments?
Yes. Personal shipments under €22 value are usually IGIC-free, but the customs declaration is still mandatory. That is the smallest threshold.
How do Lanzarote and Tenerife differ in customs?
Functionally identical. The main customs offices are in Las Palmas (for the eastern islands) and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (for the western islands). Shipments are usually routed to the nearest customs office.
Can I have parcels sent to a friend who handles the customs declaration?
In theory yes. In practice, the NIF/NIE of the declared recipient is used. If your friend clears it, their NIE goes on the H7.
What if I live in the Canaries but have no NIE?
Then you need one before you can receive parcels from the mainland. Apply at the Spanish police (Extranjería).
Do Brexit rules apply?
Yes. Shipments from the UK have been treated as third-country imports since 2021 → DUA-required from €150, customs duties 0–17%, higher carrier fees.