Newsroom
Online shopping from popular platforms like Temu and Shein is set to get a bit more expensive for Cyprus consumers after the Customs Department clarified new rules affecting parcels coming from outside the European Union.
Under the updated system, the long-standing exemption from customs duties on low-value parcels under €150 is being removed. In its place, a temporary flat charge of €3 per product category per item will apply to all eligible shipments.
In simple terms, that means every item inside a parcel from countries outside the EU could now come with an extra cost added before it reaches your doorstep.
What this looks like in real life
The Customs Department gave clear examples to show how the new system will work:
- If you order a parcel from Asia containing a blouse, a pair of earrings, and a keychain, you will be charged €3 per item, a total of €9, plus VAT on the total value (including the duty).
- If your order includes a silk blouse and a cotton T-shirt, that’s two separate items, meaning a €6 charge, plus VAT.
- If you order several identical T-shirts of the same type, they may be counted as one item, meaning just a €3 charge, plus VAT.
So while a €5 or €10 “fast fashion” bargain might still exist online, the final price could look very different once duties and VAT are added.
When and how you will pay
The charge will either be collected at checkout or upon delivery, depending on the platform.
Some websites may include the fee upfront, meaning you’ll see the full cost before you click “buy.” Others, potentially including some marketplace sellers, will not, which means the courier or post office will ask for payment before handing over your parcel.
Returns won’t guarantee your money back
One important detail for online shoppers: if you return an item, the €3 per item duty is not automatically refunded.
In some cases, Customs may approve a refund if goods are defective or not as described, but this requires a formal request and justification.
VAT refunds, meanwhile, depend on the seller’s own policy, meaning some companies may reimburse it, while others may not.
What it means for Cyprus consumers
For many shoppers in Cyprus who regularly use platforms like Temu and Shein for cheap clothing, accessories, and home items, the change effectively adds a “hidden layer” of cost that could add up quickly.
A basket of small €2–€10 items could suddenly carry several euros in extra charges, enough to change how “cheap” the final bill really feels.
It may also encourage shoppers to:
- Combine fewer items per order
- Check where sellers are based before buying
- Compare final prices more carefully, not just product prices
The Customs Department is urging consumers to read the fine print before ordering, especially the seller’s location and return policies, warning that failing to do so could lead to “unexpected charges, delays, and unpleasant surprises.”
Bottom line
The era of ultra-cheap online shopping from outside the EU isn’t disappearing, but it is getting more complicated. And for Cyprus shoppers used to filling Temu or Shein baskets with impulse buys, the final checkout page might soon be the place where reality hits harder than the discount tags.
