Importing goods from the EU to the Czech Republic — step by step

Goods from another EU state enter the Czech Republic without customs duty or clearance; an invoice and a CMR consignment note are enough. The Incoterms clause decides who arranges transport — under EXW and FCA it is the buyer. Transport from Germany and Austria usually takes 1–2 days, from Italy and France 2–3 days, from Spain and Portugal 3–4 days.

Customs within the EU	none, goods are in free circulation
Documents	invoice and CMR consignment note
Who books transport	per Incoterms; under EXW and FCA the buyer
Transit time	DE/AT 1–2 days, IT/FR 2–3 days, ES/PT 3–4 days
Non-EU goods	customs clearance before collection

Importing from another EU country is easier than ever: goods are not cleared through customs and there is no waiting at the border. A few points still matter — who pays for the transport, which documents travel with the goods and how much time to allow.

What you need for an import within the EU

Goods in free circulation in the EU are not cleared through customs between member states. The truck carries the invoice (or delivery note) and the CMR consignment note. The exception is excise goods — alcohol and tobacco — which need an electronic accompanying document issued by the consignor.

If both supplier and buyer are VAT-registered with a VAT number valid in VIES, the supplier invoices without VAT and the buyer accounts for the tax in the Czech Republic. Above the statutory threshold the importer also reports the trade to the Intrastat statistics.

Who books the transport — Incoterms

The delivery clause in the sales contract decides who arranges and pays for transport. We explain them in detail in our article on Incoterms; for imports these are the most common:

Clause	Who books transport	What it means for you
EXW	buyer	goods are ready at the supplier’s warehouse, you arrange the transport
FCA	buyer	the supplier loads the goods, you arrange the onward transport
DAP	supplier	the supplier delivers to your address, unloading is yours
DDP	supplier	the supplier bears all costs up to the destination

Under EXW and FCA the transport is in your hands — you can compare offers and choose the date that suits you.

How to prepare an import enquiry

Loading and delivery address including postcode.
Quantity — number and size of pallets or loading metres, and the total weight.
Date the goods are ready and the required delivery date.
Loading and unloading — dock, forklift, or a tail lift needed.
Type of goods — chilled goods, stackable pallets or oversized items.

The online calculator gives an indicative price and we send a quote within 30 minutes.

How much time to allow

Country of loading	Usual transit time
Slovakia, Austria	within 1 day
Germany, Poland	1–2 days
Netherlands, Belgium	within 2 days
Italy, France	2–3 days
Spain, Portugal	3–4 days

Allow for weekend and holiday truck driving bans in transit countries — see the driving ban calendar and all countries on the transit times page.

Full truck or just a few pallets

From roughly 6–7 loading metres a full truck usually pays off; smaller shipments travel as part loads and you only pay for the space they take. The differences are explained in FTL vs. LTL. Chilled goods travel in a reefer trailer with monitored temperature.

Goods from outside the EU

If goods arrive at a European seaport from overseas (Hamburg, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Koper), they must be customs-cleared before collection. Clearance is handled by the importer or their customs agent; the truck then collects the goods from the terminal or warehouse like a normal EU shipment.

Related services: International transport · Pallet transport

Frequently asked questions

Is customs duty payable on imports from the EU?

No. Goods in free circulation in the EU are not cleared through customs between member states and there is no waiting at the border.

Which documents must travel with goods from the EU?

An invoice or delivery note and a CMR consignment note. Alcohol and tobacco also need the electronic excise accompanying document issued by the consignor.

Who pays VAT on imports from another EU country?

Between VAT-registered businesses with a valid VAT number the supplier invoices without VAT and the buyer accounts for the tax in the Czech Republic.

What does the EXW clause mean?

The goods are ready at the supplier’s warehouse and the buyer arranges and pays for transport including loading.

What is the difference between FCA and EXW?

Under FCA the supplier loads the goods onto the vehicle; under EXW loading is the buyer’s responsibility.

Who books the transport under DAP?

The supplier. It delivers to the destination and the buyer handles unloading.

How long does an import from Germany take?

Usually 1–2 days; from southern and eastern Germany often by the next day.

How long does an import from Italy take?

Usually 2–3 days from loading, depending on the region.

How long does an import from Spain take?

Usually 3–4 days; from Catalonia typically on the third day.

Is it worth importing just a few pallets?

Yes. Smaller shipments travel as part loads and you only pay for the space they take.

When does a full truck pay off?

Usually from about 6–7 loading metres or around 5 tonnes of goods.

What details do you need for an import enquiry?

Loading and delivery address, number and size of pallets, weight, type of goods and the date the goods are ready.

Can you carry chilled goods?

Yes, in a reefer trailer with monitored temperature according to the shipper’s requirements.

Must goods from overseas be customs-cleared?

Yes. Goods from non-EU countries must be cleared before collection from the port or warehouse.

Can you deliver imported goods to Slovakia as well?

Yes. We deliver anywhere in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Jaromír Knapek · Knapek Spedition Freight forwarding and road transport, Břeclav · Published 17. 9. 2026 · Updated 26. 9. 2026