Do you get customs back if you return a parcel from outside the EU?
Returns and refunds
Short answer
It depends on the value of the parcel and why you send it back. For goods worth more than EUR 150, you can return them and apply for a refund of duty and VAT no later than 3 months after the customs declaration. For goods worth EUR 150 or less, the duty is refunded only if the item is faulty or not what you ordered, and the webshop or carrier applies to Toldstyrelsen for you. If you simply regret the purchase, you do not get the EUR 3 duty back, and the EU handling fee of EUR 2 is never refunded, not even for faulty goods.
Why
- The 3 month deadline runs from the customs declaration, not from delivery.
- For small parcels you contact the webshop or the carrier, not Toldstyrelsen.
- The handling fee from 1 November 2026 cannot be refunded.
Details
If you send an item outside the EU for repair, you may pay duty and VAT on the whole value when it comes back, unless the carrier uses the outward processing procedure before sending.
Tip
Keep the invoice, the return receipt and the customs reference number until the refund is paid.
What may differ
The carrier fee is set by the carrier, and Toldstyrelsen has no influence on it.
Common misconception
You always get the customs back when you return an item.
What actually happens
Below EUR 150 the duty is refunded only for faulty or wrong goods, and the handling fee is never refunded.
People also ask
- How do I apply for a refund of customs?
- Where is my parcel in customs?
- Can I pay customs directly to Toldstyrelsen?
Sources
This answer is for reference only. Entry and customs rules can change, so check the Danish Immigration Service, the Danish police and the Danish Customs Agency before you travel.
Planning and budgetRelated questions
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Do you pay customs on gifts sent to Denmark from outside the EU?
A gift sent by a private person from outside the EU is free of duty and VAT if it is worth EUR 45 or less.
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Can you bring medicine into Denmark?
Yes, from 1 January 2026 you may bring medicine into Denmark for personal use from any country, if it was sold legally in the country where you bought it.
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Can you bring meat and milk into Denmark from outside the EU?
No, travellers coming from a country outside the EU may not bring any meat or dairy products, which includes sausages, cheese and milk.
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Do you have to declare cash over EUR 10,000 when entering or leaving Denmark?
Yes, if you carry cash or other liquid assets worth EUR 10,000 (about 75,000 kr.) or more, you must declare them to Toldstyrelsen when you enter or leave Denmark.