We collect import duties at checkout so customs doesn't chase you for them later. Here's roughly what to expect:
💿Albums & photocards
Usually none
💡Lightsticks & plush
Low
💎Accessories & keyrings
Small
👕Apparel & bags
Standard to higher
ℹ️Estimates only — actual duty shown at checkout
Rates vary by country of manufacture, material, and item price — these are typical ranges, not fixed numbers. Your exact total is always shown before you pay.
Everything you need to know about how we handle customs charges, broken down by where your order is going.
Shipping to the USA
Prepaid at checkout
🌍
Everywhere else
Paid on delivery
Shipping to the USA
Prepaid
All duties are collected at checkout via Royal Mail PDDP.
Your parcel sails through customs and arrives at your door with nothing more to pay. No couriers chasing you for fees, no surprise invoices.
Typical duty by category
CategoryTypical rate
💿Albums & photocards
~0–10%
💡Lightsticks & plush
~10–14%
🎁Fan bundles & Season's Greetings
~10–35%
💄Beauty & cosmetics
~10–35%
🏠Homeware
~10–46%
💎Accessories & keyrings
~11–46%
👕Apparel & bags
~16–53%
ℹ️Estimates only — actual duty shown at checkout
Rates vary by country of manufacture, material, and item price — these are typical ranges, not fixed numbers. Your exact total is always shown before you pay. Duty is calculated on the customs value of your order, not the retail price, so the actual charge is often lower than it looks.
Everywhere else 🌍
On Delivery
Duties are paid to your local courier when your parcel arrives.
Many countries also have a duty-free threshold — small orders often arrive with nothing to pay at all. We can't prepay these for you, since rates and rules are set by your local customs office.
Common destinations & duty-free thresholds
RegionDuty-free underTypical rate
United Kingdom
Domestic order
No duty
Ireland
Threshold removed
€3 / type + VAT
Australia
AUD $1,000
Usually none
Japan
¥16,666
~5–10%
Canada
CAD $20
~5–18%
European Union
Threshold removed
€3 / type + VAT
🌐 Other countries
Varies
Check locally
These thresholds and rates are guides — your local customs office has the final say. We declare every parcel accurately, which keeps clearance fast and avoids fines.
EU & Ireland — important update (from 1 July 2026): The EU has removed the €150 duty-free threshold. Every parcel entering the EU now carries a flat €3 customs duty per product type (HS code) in your order, regardless of value — this replaces the old percentage-based duty until full tariff rates take effect in 2028.
Because the charge is per product type, not per parcel, an order containing several different categories of item can be charged more than once. Items of the same type only count once.
Worked example: an order with 10 photocards + 1 lightstick + 1 t-shirt contains three product types (photocards, lightstick, apparel), so 3 × €3 = €9 in customs duty. The 10 photocards count as a single type, not ten separate charges.
For HobiEgo orders these charges are collected on delivery by your local postal operator, along with import VAT (your country's standard rate, roughly 19–27%) and the operator's handling fee — nothing extra is taken at our checkout. Please factor these in before ordering: under our policy, refused parcels can't be refunded for original or return shipping. A separate EU-wide handling fee is also expected later in 2026, and we'll update this page once it's confirmed.
Common questions
The USA uses a system called PDDP (Prepaid Duty & Tax Delivery Product) via Royal Mail, which allows us to calculate and collect duties upfront before your parcel ships. Most other countries don't have an equivalent system available to UK senders, so duties are collected locally on arrival instead.
Not necessarily. Many product categories, especially albums, photocards, and plush toys, attract little or no duty. The exact amount depends on what you ordered, where it was made, and the customs value. For US customers, the exact figure is always shown at checkout before you pay.
For US customers, duties are prepaid at checkout which means your parcel often clears customs faster than standard international shipments as there is no payment to collect at the border. That said, customs authorities can still select any parcel for inspection, so clearance times are not guaranteed. For other countries, clearance typically takes 1 to 3 working days once your parcel arrives. Occasionally parcels are selected for a physical inspection which can add a few extra days, but this is rare.
For US customers, duties are paid upfront so there is nothing to hold your parcel for. For other countries, parcels are occasionally held if the customs authority wants to verify the contents or value. We declare everything accurately with the correct commodity codes and values, which minimises the risk of delays.
No. We declare every parcel accurately with the correct value and commodity codes. Falsely declaring commercial goods as gifts or undervaluing shipments is illegal and can result in seizure of your parcel, fines, or delays. We never do this as it protects both you and us.
For US customers this shouldn't happen as all duties are collected at checkout. For other countries, if the amount seems higher than expected, check whether your courier has added a handling fee on top of the duty itself, as this is common with DHL, FedEx and UPS. The duty itself is set by your government and we have no control over it. If you believe there has been an error, contact your local customs authority.
If you refuse to pay customs charges and the parcel is returned to us, we are unable to refund the original shipping cost or any return shipping fees incurred. We would strongly recommend checking the expected duty before ordering if you are unsure. US customers can see the exact figure at checkout, and our duty table above gives a guide for other countries.
