The Customs Administration has issued key clarifications on customs procedures for goods purchased online from non-EU countries, responding to the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce and consumer protection concerns. These clarifications are published as a comprehensive FAQ addressing customs declarations, duties and VAT, courier authorisations, simplifications for low-value and private shipments, prepaid import charges, restrictions, fees, and refund or correction procedures
Customs Authority in Croatia Clarifies Rules for Non-EU Online Purchases and E-Commerce Imports
Public
Croatia
Author: Vukašin Santo
Category:
Fiscal subject related
General information
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1945
Content accuracy validation date:
17.12.2025
Content accuracy validation time:
08:08h
The Customs Administration has published essential clarifications regarding customs procedures for goods purchased remotely from countries outside the European Union. Due to the increasing volume of cross-border e-commerce and the need to better protect consumer rights, the authority has released a detailed FAQ section on its official website.
Most common questions raised by consumers:
- Do goods purchased online from non-EU countries require customs procedures?
- Can a private individual submit a customs declaration on their own, and can the e-Građani system be used for this?
- Who authorised Croatian Post and express couriers to transport and submit postal and courier shipments to customs authorities?
- What qualifies as an express courier and an express shipment, and which regulation defines this?
- Are there any customs simplifications for goods sent from a private individual in a third country to a private individual in the EU?
- Are “free” or complimentary shipments exempt from customs duties and VAT?
- Besides required import duties, does customs charge any additional fees when processing remote-purchase parcels?
- Is there a simplified customs declaration for low-value goods frequently imported through e-commerce?
- Some online platforms offer the option for customers to prepay import charges at checkout – is this legal?
- Are restrictions and prohibitions on certain goods applicable to remote purchases from third countries?
- Can a buyer request a refund of import duties when returning goods to the seller, and can errors in customs declarations be corrected?
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