Parcel forwarding from France to Hong Kong: a free port, no customs duties
Hong Kong is the simplest destination we serve in Asia: a free port, no customs duty on an ordinary parcel, no VAT on arrival. Here's what that changes, the delivery times we see, and the little that's left to know.
Hong Kong has a long-standing appetite for French luxury, new or secondhand, and a French community settled there for decades. What it lacks is access to French sites: brands rarely deliver there, and French sellers on Vinted, Leboncoin or Vestiaire Collective don't ship there. A French address settles that — and Hong Kong, on arrival, complicates nothing.
This guide explains where the price of a shipment comes from, how to bring it down, and what awaits you on arrival. The exact price of your own parcel to Hong Kong is calculated live on our estimator, from its weight and size.
Two ways to get a parcel to you
You order yourself. On French sites that accept your card, you enter your FrenchShopper address at checkout. To the shop you're a French customer; the parcel lands at our warehouse, we receive it, and we forward it to you. The address is free and comes with your account.
We buy for you. On Vinted, Leboncoin, and any seller who only ships within France or rejects a Hong Kong card, you send us the link: we check it, quote it, and once you've paid, we buy with our own French account and card. The details are here.
Either way, your items wait for free for 45 days in our warehouse so you can gather several — and everything leaves in one box, with one shipping charge.
How the shipping price is built
Our price covers transport, packaging and insurance, and it depends on two things: the weight of the box and its size. Carriers charge on whichever is higher, actual or volumetric weight — a big half-empty box is billed as if it were full. For every shipment to Hong Kong, you see all the available offers, with their price and delivery time, before you pay.
The rule that matters: the price rises far more slowly than the weight. A lone 1 kg parcel is the worst ratio between what you get and what you pay; several orders in one box is the best. Estimate your parcel from its real weight, before you order anything.
The delivery times we see
On our measurements to Hong Kong, Colissimo International shows delivery seven days after handover to the carrier; Chronopost Express and DHL Express show five. Each offer displays its own time before you pay.
The free port: what it means for your parcel
Hong Kong collects neither customs duties nor VAT on imported goods. A parcel of clothes, shoes, cosmetics, books or electronics arrives without anyone asking you for tax. The only exceptions are excise duties on four categories: liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol. For everything else, what you pay us is what you pay, full stop.
That said, a parcel is still inspected: the declaration must be accurate, and some products remain banned or regulated at import — medicines, animals, plants, some foods. Check with Hong Kong Customs before an unusual order.
What we do, and what we don't
- We declare the real value of your items, even where there's no tax: it's what makes the insurance pay out, since it covers the declared value.
- We don't slip in anything subject to excise without talking to you: a bottle of spirits in a box of clothes is a held parcel.
- Any fee a carrier might charge for a particular formality is never in our price.
The Hong Kong address, without mistakes
Hong Kong has no postal code. Give the building name, the floor and flat number, the street, the district and the island or territory — Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories — in English. A local phone number is essential: it's what the courier uses to find the building.
Frequently asked questions
Are there customs duties or VAT in Hong Kong?
Not on an ordinary parcel: Hong Kong is a free port, with no customs duties and no VAT on imported goods. Only four types of products carry excise duties — liquor, tobacco, hydrocarbon oil and methyl alcohol.
How long does a parcel from France to Hong Kong take?
On our measurements, about seven days with Colissimo International, and five with Chronopost Express or DHL Express. Each offer shows its own time before you pay.
Do I need a postal code for Hong Kong?
No, there isn't one. Give the building, floor, flat, street, district and territory, in English, and above all a local phone number.
Does French Vinted ship to Hong Kong?
No. French sellers almost all restrict their listings to France. For anything on Vinted or Leboncoin, we buy it for you with our French account, then ship it with the rest of your finds.
