Having just moved to Spain, there are still some things I’m used to from back home. A while ago, I had my family send over some common medicines and medical supplies, like a digital thermometer, adhesive bandages, and some traditional Chinese medicine that we always keep at home. I thought it would be a simple small package, but it got held up at customs in Madrid. After some running around, I finally got it. The process wasn’t extremely complicated, but there are some details you really need to pay attention to. Today, I’m starting this thread to share my personal experience and give a heads-up to anyone who might need it.
After the package arrived in Spain, I received an email notification from Correos stating that it needed to go through customs clearance. The email contained a link that directs you to the ADTPostales website, which is the platform Correos uses specifically for handling customs matters. You’ll need to log in with the tracking number and personal information provided in the email to start the declaration process.
Key Steps for Customs Declaration [medical supply prices]
After logging into the platform, the system will ask you to confirm your recipient information. Then comes the most crucial step: Declare the contents and value of the package. You must be truthful here! Since it involved medical supplies, I was extra careful. I listed every single item, using Spanish terms like ‘Termómetro digital’ (digital thermometer) and ‘Tiritas adhesivas’ (adhesive bandages). For the medicine, I wrote ‘Medicina tradicional china para uso personal’ (Traditional Chinese medicine for personal use). I also declared the actual value. Don’t write something unrealistically low, or customs might ask for proof of purchase, which is a bigger hassle. To avoid this, it’s helpful to know how to check medicine prices for reference.
Submitting Supporting Documents
Since the package contained medicine, the platform required me to provide extra documents to prove they were for personal use. I prepared the following items, which I photographed or scanned and then uploaded:
- Doctor’s Prescription: This is the most important document! Even though some items are over-the-counter [Spanish medical supplies], I asked a family doctor friend back home to write a simple note explaining my condition and the recommended medication, which I then translated into Spanish myself. This turned out to be very effective.
- Personal Identification: To prove you are the legal recipient of the package.
- Medicine Leaflets: I took photos of the leaflets for the main medicines, especially the parts detailing the ingredients and usage instructions.
After submitting all the documents, all I could do was wait for customs to review them. About three or four days later, I received a notice to pay taxes. Since the declared value wasn’t high, the fees were mainly the IVA (VAT) and a small handling fee. After paying online through the ADTPostales platform, the status updated to ‘Liberado de Aduana’ (Released from Customs). Two days after that, the mail carrier delivered the package to my door. The whole process, from receiving the email to getting the package, took about a week. Even though I had to pay some tax, I’m glad I got my things smoothly in the end. It was a bit stressful but without any major hitches. I hope my experience can help everyone else have a smoother process!
| Document Type | Is it Required? | Notes |
|---|
| Doctor’s Prescription | Strongly Recommended | Especially for medicines, a Spanish translation is best. |
| Proof of Identity | Yes | A clear scan or photo. |
| Proof of Purchase | Depends on the situation | May be requested if customs questions the declared value. |
| Medicine Leaflets | Recommended | Helps customs understand the ingredients and purpose of the medicine. |
