Malta to introduce €2 handling fee on non-EU online purchases from November

New charge takes effect on 1 November

Online shoppers in Malta will face an additional €2 handling fee on goods purchased from outside the European Union starting 1 November 2026.

The new Union Handling Fee forms part of wider EU customs reforms aimed at covering the rising costs of processing and monitoring imported goods.

The charge will apply to qualifying online purchases regardless of their value.

Fee added to existing customs charges

The €2 fee comes on top of the temporary €3 customs duty introduced in July 2026 on low-value imports.

Both charges are calculated according to the customs classification of goods rather than the number of individual products purchased.

For example, several identical items may fall under one classification, while a package containing different types of goods could attract multiple charges.

As a result, consumers purchasing low-value goods from outside the EU could face combined customs charges of €5 per classified item, excluding applicable VAT.

Online purchases could become more expensive

Online shopping from outside the European Union is set to become slightly more expensive, with a new €2 handling fee coming into force on 1 November 2026. The fee will apply to non-EU purchases sent through the postal system and is intended to cover the cost of customs processing before items are delivered to customers.