Send a parcel from South Africa to the Netherlands
You book from the Netherlands, the carrier picks up the parcel from the sender in South Africa and delivers it to your door. We create the shipping label and customs invoice automatically.
10% welcome discount on all your bookings for the first 4 weeks · for businesses
UPS SaverExpress See rate 
FedEx Priority ImportExpress See rate The sender doesn't need an account. You can also compare and book without one.
Calculate your shipping costs from South Africa now
South Africa is already set as the pick-up country and the Netherlands as the destination. No need to swap anything round.
Welcome discount · businesses only
10% off all your bookings for the first 4 weeks
Imports included. No credit card, minimum volume or contract.
How to have a parcel picked up in South Africa
Four steps. All the sender has to do is stick the label on the box.
Book from the Netherlands
Enter the pick-up address in South Africa and your own address, with the dimensions and weight. You'll see the price straight away.
Compare and choose
UPS and FedEx side by side, with the price and expected delivery day. You pay, not the sender.
Label to the sender
You get the shipping label and customs invoice by email. Forward them to the sender, who prints them and sticks the label on the box.
Picked up and delivered
The carrier picks up from the sender in South Africa and delivers to you. You follow the shipment with Track & Trace.
What you arrange, what the sender does
With an import shipment, you book and pay. The sender in South Africa doesn't need an account and doesn't have to work anything out.
What you need to book
- ✓The sender's name, pick-up address and phone number
- ✓Dimensions and weight of each box
- ✓For each item: what it is, how many and what it's worth (in English)
- ✓Your EORI number if you import as a business
What the sender does
- ✓Packs the shipment securely, in a well-filled box
- ✓Prints the label and customs invoice and sticks the label on the box
- ✓Has the parcel ready on the pick-up day you choose
Who pays what?
Shipping costs: you pay these when you book.
VAT and import duties: these are for you as the recipient. The carrier pays them to customs on your behalf and settles them with you, on or after delivery.
Calculate your rate from South Africa →Import costs for a parcel from South Africa
South Africa is outside the EU, so your parcel goes through Dutch customs. These are the costs to take into account.
VAT from the first euro
You pay VAT on everything you receive from outside the EU: usually 21%, and 9% for some goods. There has been no exempt threshold since 1 July 2021.
Import duty
Depends on what's inside (the HS code) and where it was made. Since 1 July 2026 the €150 import duty exemption no longer applies. Online purchases up to €150 sent to a consumer by a seller outside the EU pay a fixed €3 import duty per product type until 1 July 2028, whether or not the shop uses IOSS. Other shipments, such as business shipments and samples, pay the normal duty rate for the product, which can also be 0%.
Customs clearance by the carrier
The carrier declares your shipment to customs and pays the VAT and import duties on your behalf, for which it charges a fee. You pay the total to the carrier.
A gift from a private person
A gift from one private person to another worth up to €45 is exempt from VAT and import duties. It must really be a gift, not something you've bought.
Importing as a business
You need an EORI number. With an Article 23 licence, you shift the import VAT to your VAT return instead of paying it up front.
What will customs cost for your shipment?
Enter the product, value and country and you get an instant estimate of the import duties and VAT, with the right HS code and what to put on your customs invoice.
Calculate your import duties ↓
Import duty from South Africa
For products made in South Africa, the trade agreement between the EU and the SADC countries often means lower or zero import duty. The sender does need to add or enclose a proof of origin. You always pay VAT.
Sources: Dutch Customs (import VAT, gifts up to €45, EORI, Article 23 licence); European Commission, flat €3 customs duty on low-value parcels (29 June 2026). More about import duties and importing (in Dutch).
Tips for a parcel from South Africa
Most import delays start on the sender's side. With these four points, you'll get it right first time.
Ask the sender exactly what's inside
The customs invoice lists, for each item, what it is, how many and what it's worth, in English. Words like ‘gift’, ‘parts’ or ‘samples’ are too vague, and they're the most common reason shipments get held at customs.
Have the sender pack it securely
A well-filled box that survives a one-metre drop. If you take out a transport guarantee, ask for photos of the packaging and contents before the box is closed.
Agree on the pick-up day
When you book, you choose the day the carrier comes. Let the sender in South Africa know when that is, so the parcel is ready with its label.
Measure and weigh accurately
Carriers measure again. If the dimensions or weight differ, you'll get an additional charge. Ask the sender to measure the box including packaging and round up.
Booking checklist
Got everything to hand? Then you can book in two minutes
- ✓The sender's name, pick-up address and phone number
- ✓Dimensions and weight of each box
- ✓English description, quantity and value for each item
- ✓EORI number for business imports
Good to know when you book
Importing with DHL? Call to confirm the pickup
If you choose DHL for a parcel from South Africa, call DHL in South Africa yourself to confirm the pickup. Without that confirmation, there is a risk your shipment is not collected.
What can you have picked up in South Africa?
The same rules apply to imports as to sending: anything that isn't allowed on the carrier's plane or lorry, we can't have picked up either.
Watch the video
Key information at a glance
✔Distance: 10,000+ km
✔Picked up at home or a location of your choice
✔Delivered to your door
✔Help with customs documents
✔Compare costs easily and save
✔Direct help from a support team that's ready for you
More about South Africa
Have a shipment picked up in South Africa and delivered in the Netherlands.
The other way round: compare carriers and rates to South Africa.
Read more →Import dutiesHow import duties workHow VAT and import duties are calculated on imports.
Read more →What shippers say about us
Frequently asked questions about importing from South Africa
How do I have a parcel picked up in South Africa?+
You simply book the shipment here, from the Netherlands, with South Africa as the pick-up country. You get the label and customs invoice by email and forward them to the sender, who sticks the label on the box. The carrier then picks up the parcel.
How much does it cost to ship a parcel from South Africa to the Netherlands?+
It depends on the weight, dimensions and carrier. The calculator shows UPS and FedEx side by side, with the price for your shipment. A smaller box often makes a difference, because carriers charge by volumetric weight when it's higher than the actual weight.
How long does a parcel from South Africa take?+
With express, according to the carriers, a parcel from South Africa usually reaches you within 1 to 2 working days after pick-up. Economy takes a little longer, and customs clearance can add a day. You see the expected delivery day for each carrier when you book.
Does the sender need an account or have to pay anything?+
No. You book and pay for the shipment. The sender just gets the label and sticks it on the box.
Do I pay import duties on a parcel from South Africa?+
You always pay VAT, from the first euro. Import duty depends on the product and where it was made. Since 1 July 2026 the €150 import duty exemption no longer applies. Online purchases up to €150 sent to a consumer by a seller outside the EU pay a fixed €3 import duty per product type until 1 July 2028, whether or not the shop uses IOSS. Other shipments, such as business shipments and samples, pay the normal duty rate for the product, which can also be 0%. The carrier pays it on your behalf and settles it with you, plus a fee for the customs clearance.
Who makes the customs invoice?+
We do. When you book, you enter what's inside, how many and what it's worth, and the customs invoice arrives in your inbox with the label. The sender only has to print it.
Can I have a parcel picked up abroad as a private customer?+
Yes. You book without an account and pay straight away, for example with iDEAL. As a business, a free account lets you pay by invoice and gives you a 10% welcome discount for 4 weeks.
Have your first shipment from South Africa picked up with a 10% welcome discount
Register your business account and use the discount on all your bookings for four weeks. No credit card, minimum volume or contract.
- ✓10% discount on all your bookings
- ✓For four weeks, from the day you register
- ✓No credit card, minimum volume or contract
Shipping as an individual? You can compare and book without an account.