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France

Check our destination guide for postal restrictions and requirements

An update on our pre-departure customs clearance process

From 1 March 2023, there is an additional change to pre-departure customs clearance process due to European Union Import Control System (EU ICS2).

Prohibitions

The following items are prohibited from importation, meaning they won't be allowed to enter the destination country, territory or region.

To check which items are considered dangerous and prohibited for sending from Australia, download our Prohibited and Restricted item list and packaging guide (1.1MB).

  • Anti-parasite products
  • Animals, live
  • Bark from resinous timber
  • Colouring matter
  • Edible vegetables and certain roots
  • Gambling machines
  • Imitation and pirated products
  • Lottery material
  • Material contrary to public order
  • Melatonin
  • Metallic yarn or trimmings of gold thread
  • Metallised
  • Measuring instruments
  • Material harmful to young people
  • Natural or cultured pearls, semi-precious stones and metals
  • Pearls coated with lead salts
  • Printed books, newspaper and pictures- offensive by nature
  • Radio elements
  • Toys, games and sports requisites
  • Vitamins and other nutritional products
  • War material and the like
  • Wadding, felt and woven and non-woven fabrics
  • Wood and articles of wood

Transporting food of any kind is prohibited under International Courier.

Cash and Perfumes are prohibited under International Courier to France.

Batteries

All types of batteries and devices containing them (e.g. laptops, mobile phones, wireless headphones and equivalent, power banks, tablets, etc.) are prohibited from being sent via International Courier.

For International Express articles going to Andorra, French Guiana, Reunion and Monaco, all types of batteries and devices containing them (e.g. laptops, mobile phones, wireless headphones and equivalent, power banks, tablets, etc.), cash and perfumes are prohibited from being sent.

Import restrictions

If an item is subject to import restrictions, it means that provisions must be met before it will be released from customs in the destination country, territory or region.

We recommend you confirm import restrictions with local authorities before posting:

  • Alcohol
  • Animals and animal products
  • Anti-parasite products
  • Bees, honey and waxes
  • Baby’s comforters
  • Books and publications
  • Cereals
  • Contraceptives
  • Electric blankets
  • Fertilizers
  • Foodstuffs, prepared
  • Fruit
  • Gemstones
  • Helmets, motorcycle
  • Instruments, measuring
  • Jewellery, imitation
  • Leeches
  • Medicines
  • Metals, precious
  • Narcotics
  • Pearls and precious stones
  • Plants and parts of plants
  • Radio elements
  • Roots and bulbs
  • Rubber articles
  • Seeds
  • Syringes and needles
  • Television receivers
  • Terminal equipment
  • Tobacco
  • Toys, games and sports requisites
  • Wadding, felt, woven fabrics
  • Wood and articles of wood
  • War material
  • Weapons
  • Alcohol including beer and spirits, all volumes
  • Kangaroo skins
  • Crocodile skins
  • Emu oil
  • Fish oil
  • Bunker oil
  • Coal
  • Petroleum bases products
  • Tobacco and tobacco products.

Okay to send? Send responsibly.

As the sender, it's your responsibility to make sure your items don't break any laws or rules – both within Australia and in the destination country.

Restrictions and conditions can change at short notice so the information on this page should be used as a guide only. For the latest information, you should check the UPU prohibitions & restrictions (PDF 3.2MB) or contact the destination country's customs, postal trade or government authority.

It's also your responsibility to check if the destination country imposes any duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees on the item you're sending. If you're unsure, please contact the consulate office of the destination country.

Special documentation

In addition to our customs forms, authorities in the destination country, territory or region require further documentation for some items.

Invoices

Commercial goods that exceed a value of 76 Euros require an invoice.

Gifts

Gifts do not require an invoice. Mark the address side of gifts envoi isole gratuit.

Customs declarations

Customs declarations must contain sufficient information for the application of duties and controls. France grants duty-exemption to up to 23 Euros.

International Express

For International Express going to Andorra, French Guiana, Reunion and Monaco the sender and receiver details must be addressed with a valid street address in English. A Post Office Box address is not acceptable.

The sender is responsible for finding if the destination country may impose duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees that may be applied on the item that is being sent. Please contact the consulate office of the country you are sending to or contact the Australia Post Customer Contact Centre on 13 76 78.

Delivery locations & exclusions

Before sending to this destination, it’s worth noting a few more details about our international delivery services.

Delivery locations & exclusions data (Personal)

  • International Express (carried via the EMS network) - Parcels deliver to all destinations
    International Express - Parcels does not deliver to a Post Office Box or Poste Restante.
  • Valuables
    An import permit issued by the Banque de France must accompany all valuables. Andorra and Monaco do not accept valuables in Extra Cover letters up to 500g.
  • International Courier
    Check our International Courier page for more details.

    Shipments must be lodged at the counter at a participating Post Office (PDF 832kB) by the cut-off time, which may vary by outlet. Please fill out the online CN23 customs form prior to visiting the outlet.

    International Courier does not deliver to a Post Office Box or Poste Restante.

    Metropolitan delivery to (valid postcodes in brackets):
    • Paris (75001 to 75959)
    • Marseille (13001 to 13730, 13740 to 13998) Note: guarantee of delivery in 2 business days does not apply to 13123, 13129 or 13460.
    • Montpellier (34000 to 34209, 34261 to 34310, 34340 to 34370, 34391 to 34699, 34710 to 34990) Note: guarantee of delivery in 2 business days does not apply to 34120, 34150, 34360, 34520, 34530, 34570, 34600, 34610, 34650 or 34800.
    • Lyon (69001 to 69998)
    • Toulouse (31000 to 31998) Note: guarantee of delivery in 2 business days does not apply to 31250, 31260, 31290, 31350, 31450, 31460, 31540, 31560, 31570 or 31590.
    • Nice (06000 to 06849)
    • Nantes (44000 to 44998)
    • Rennes (35000 to 35998)
    • Strasbourg (67000 to 67999)
    • Bordeaux (33000 to 33998)

For more information from the overseas carrier, check the La Poste website.