Shipping to the Canary Islands from the mainland

The Canary Islands are outside the VAT customs territory: every shipment carries a commercial invoice with value, description and HS code, and the buyer pays IGIC and, depending on value, clearance. With per-SKU data stored properly, the paperwork is automatic and the parcel does not stall.

Published1 November 2026 · Vialog Fulfillment

What you need per SKU

Clear description, unit value, HS code (TARIC) and country of origin. An order with a SKU missing this data should not ship until it is completed.

Carriers and times

Correos and the big carriers cover the Canaries with 2 to 5 day transits. Some high-volume stores handle it with their own carrier from the provider’s warehouse: the label is ready and the carrier collects there.

Shipping to the Canary Islands from the mainland: frequently asked questions

Is VAT charged on shipments to the Canary Islands?

No: sales to the Canary Islands from mainland Spain go out without VAT, like an export, and the Canarian IGIC applies on arrival. That is why the commercial invoice travelling with the parcel shows the value without VAT, and your store should show Canarian buyers the price without it and warn them of charges on arrival.

What is the DUA for a shipment to the Canary Islands?

The DUA (single administrative document) is the customs declaration that accompanies goods entering the Canary Islands. For parcels, the carrier or its customs agent usually files it from the commercial invoice in the parcel, and its cost may be passed on to the buyer depending on the shipment’s value.

Why does a parcel get held at Canary Islands customs?

Almost always because of paperwork: a commercial invoice with no value, a vague description, no HS code or incomplete recipient details. It also stalls if the buyer does not pay IGIC and clearance when asked; you avoid it by storing that data per SKU and warning buyers about the charge before they buy.