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How to Use Sending mail to France |
Transmitting CN code
1. Transmitting CN code of contents
Effective September 22nd, 2023, for items sent to EU countries, it is recommended to transmit the 6-digit HS code of the contents as Electronic Advance Data (EAD). (For more information, please see here.) For mail items sent to France, etc., it is recommended to transmit the 8-digit CN code, a subdivision of the HS code. (Provided that the code up to 8 digits is correct, the full 10-digit TARIC code is not required.)
Target countries/territories
France (mainland), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique and Reunion
*For mail items sent to mainland France, the 6-digit HS code is sufficient for articles that do not require import permits or are already permitted for import. If you are unable to determine whether you will need import permits, it is recommended that you transmit the CN code.
If CN codes are not transmitted, or if the wrong codes are transmitted, there will be a risk that the postal item may be delayed in clearing customs or returned to the sender, or the addressee may have to pay excessive duties based on a decision by destination Customs.
What is the CN code?
The CN code is an item classification code used for exporting and importing items. It is an 8-digit code consisting of the universal 6-digit HS code and an EU-local 2-digit subclass code. For an outline of the CN code, please visit the following website:
The Combined Nomenclature (europa.eu)
2. How to find the CN code
Please see this web page.
3. How to transmit CN code
Please see this web page.
Express Mail Service (EMS) for France
1. Door code on the EMS label
For international express mail (EMS) to France sent to housing complexes where door codes (codes to automatically unlock doors) are required for access into the building where the addressee lives, write the door code and phone number in the addressee section of the EMS label.
Example of a door code of "2004" being filled in: Digicode 2004
If the door code is unknown and the addressee cannot be contacted by phone, the delivery person will not be able to enter the housing complex, and will not be able to leave a non-delivery notice in the post box inside the entrance of the building. The addressee will not receive an arrival notice for the mail, which will be stored at the nearest post office, and will either be delivered after some delay or sent back. In provincial cities, there are cases when delivery may take place even without a door code; but for cities like Paris, a door code and telephone number are absolutely essential.
2. Request from the French Postal Service
Please be sure to enter the value of the contents stated on the Customs declaration form (the EMS label) or the invoice.
(Entering “0 Euros” may result in the item being held by Customs.)
An example of an EMS label filled out.
