Recently, a friend asked me if it’s possible to ship items purchased from Amazon Spain directly to their home country or other EU countries. I just happened to try this recently, sending a few small things I bought on Amazon.es to a friend in Germany. The process was quite smooth, so today I’m here to talk about international shipping with Amazon Spain and share some personal experiences. I hope this helps anyone who needs it.
Direct Shipping or Parcel Forwarding?
First, you need to understand a key concept: items on Amazon Spain are sold by two types of sellers: Amazon itself (sold by Amazon) and third-party sellers. Whether an item can be shipped outside of Spain mainly depends on the seller and the product’s nature. Generally, most items sold by Amazon are eligible for direct international shipping, covering a wide range of destinations including most EU countries, the United States, Canada, and even some regions in Asia. When you check out and enter your address, the system will automatically determine if delivery is possible. If your address is not supported for Amazon international shipping, the system will display a message like “Este producto no se puede enviar a la dirección seleccionada” (This item cannot be shipped to your selected address).
If you find an item you love but the seller doesn’t offer direct shipping, your only option is to use a parcel forwarding service. This involves finding a forwarding company in Spain, shipping your items to their Spanish warehouse, and then having them package and send the items to your final address. The advantage of forwarding is that almost any item can be shipped. The disadvantages are a more complicated process, higher costs, and you have to bear the risks during transit. Personally, I prefer to keep things simple and choose direct shipping whenever possible.
What About Shipping Costs and Delivery Times?
Of course, the biggest concerns for most people are the shipping costs and delivery time. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, as it completely depends on your package’s weight, size, value, and destination. I’ve compiled my experience from my recent shipment to Germany and some information I’ve gathered to give you a reference:
| Destination Type | Shipping Method | Estimated Time | Cost Profile |
|---|
| Within the EU | Envío estándar (Standard) | 3-7 business days | Relatively cheap, sometimes free with a minimum purchase |
| Within the EU | Envío prioritario (Priority) | 1-2 business days | Fast, but significantly more expensive |
| Outside the EU | AmazonGlobal estándar (Standard) | 7-15 business days | The most common option, moderately priced |
| Outside the EU | AmazonGlobal prioritario (Priority) | 2-5 business days | Expensive, suitable for urgent items |
It’s important to note that when shipping to non-EU regions, Amazon will automatically deduct the Spanish VAT (IVA) at checkout. However, when the package arrives at the destination’s customs, it is possible highly likely that customs duties will be charged. This cost must be paid by the recipient. So, be sure to calculate this potential expense before placing your order to avoid any surprises.
Overall, shipping items from Amazon Spain to other countries is quite convenient. This is especially true for shipments to other EU countries, where the experience is very similar to domestic online shopping. As long as you carefully confirm the address, shipping fees, and tax information when placing your order, you’re unlikely to run into any major issues. If you’ve done this before, feel free to leave a comment below to share your experiences—tell us what great finds you’ve shipped or any pitfalls you’ve encountered!
