Why parcels to Melilla go through customs
Many people are surprised the first time: you buy something from a shop in Madrid or Barcelona, send it to Melilla and the parcel gets stuck “at customs”. It is not a mistake. According to the Spanish Tax Agency, Melilla is outside the EU customs territory and outside the VAT area. Any shipment entering the city is treated as an import, even if it leaves from mainland Spain.
That means two things:
- The parcel needs a customs declaration.
- IPSI must be paid, the tax that replaces VAT in Melilla. In return, mainland Spanish VAT is not normally charged.
The same applies the other way round: a parcel leaving Melilla for mainland Spain enters the VAT area and is treated as an import.
Parcel held at customs: what to do
If your shipment is stuck, it is usually because customs needs some information or a document to clear it: an invoice proving the value, a clear description of the contents or the recipient’s details. What you need to do:
- Find the notice from the courier or Correos and the tracking number.
- Find your proof of purchase (invoice, receipt or order confirmation).
- Message us on WhatsApp with those details. We tell you what is missing and clear the parcel for you.
We mainly assist in Spanish, but write to us in English and we will get back to you.
CN22 and CN23 declarations
Postal shipments subject to customs carry a contents declaration. For Correos shipments from mainland Spain to Ceuta, Melilla or the Canary Islands, the international forms are used:
- CN22: the simplified declaration, for small, low-value shipments.
- CN23: the detailed declaration, for higher value or heavier shipments. It comes with the commercial invoice when required.
An incomplete declaration or a vague description, such as “gift” or “clothes”, is one of the most common reasons for parcels being held. If you ship to Melilla often, we help you prepare the paperwork properly from the start.
Courier shipments and online shops
We do not only clear Correos parcels. We also handle courier shipments and online sales from shops with customers in Melilla. If your shop sells to Melilla, it helps to be clear on:
- Which documents go with each shipment.
- How to tell your customer that they will pay IPSI when receiving the parcel.
- What to do when an order is held at customs, so you do not lose the sale.
For larger shipments, with pallets or business goods, the procedure is a full customs clearance for goods, and we can also take care of the shipping between mainland Spain and Melilla.
Our nearest office
We clear parcels from our offices in Melilla and Málaga. You can visit us, call us or, fastest of all, send us a photo of the notice and the proof of purchase on WhatsApp.