Why France
Centrally located in the European Union and a leading global economic player, France offers U.S. businesses a favorable environment for international expansion. France ranks as the world’s fifth-largest economy and second in international trade in Western Europe, and market share in all French industrial and service sectors is highly competitive. With substantial agricultural resources, a large industrial base, sound infrastructure and a highly skilled workforce, it attracts many U.S. and foreign investors.
There are 65 million people in France — including nearly 10 million in Paris — as well as many suppliers, who represent an appealing market for exporting to one of the most modern countries in the world. France is the eighth-largest U.S. trading partner in total goods imported and exported, with more than $1 billion in commercial transactions taking place between the two countries every day. And local partners are available in most sectors.
- France Shipping Options
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FedEx offers you a choice: premium services when timing is urgent and economy services when reliability and savings are most important. Take advantage of our most popular FedEx® services for shipping to France.1
International Service Transit Time Transit Time U.S. to France France to U.S. FedEx International Priority® 2 business days 1 business day FedEx International Priority® Freight 2 business days 1 business day FedEx International Economy® 4 business days 3 business days FedEx International Economy® Freight 4 business days 3 business days
1For additional service options, see the international shipping services chart.
We also offer two flat-rate packaging options for your FedEx International Priority® shipments: the FedEx® 10kg Box and the FedEx® 25kg Box. These flat-rate shipping boxes are free and available at FedEx Express locations, including FedEx World Service Center® locations and FedEx Office® Print and Ship Centers. Learn more about our flat-rate shipping options.
FedEx in France
Our infrastructure gives your business access to customers and suppliers in France, along with connections to the rest of Europe, the Middle East and Asia. FedEx provides fast, time-definite service for your shipments to France with three Boeing 777 Freighters, the most advanced air freighter:- Direct flights between Memphis and Paris.
- Direct flights between Paris and the FedEx Asia Pacific Hub in Guangzhou, China.
- Flights connecting Paris to New Delhi and Mumbai, India; and to the United Arab Emirates.
Our European sorting center at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport is the largest FedEx hub outside the U.S., and we operate 14 distribution centers throughout France. Our dedicated express network, FedEx EuropeOne®, provides next-business-day delivery to 38 major European cities with later cut-off times and earlier delivery due to the additional late-night sort at our Paris hub. And FedEx AsiaOneTM, based in Guangzhou, China, provides next-business-day delivery to 22 key Asian cities.
- Document Assistance
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Every country has its own customs requirements and shipping specifications. We’ve simplified international shipping with FedEx® Electronic Trade Documents. By automating the preparation and flow of international documents, this service saves you money while ensuring on-time delivery of shipments to France. The required documents are country-specific, with prompts to help you prepare everything needed for a shipment to France and other international destinations.
Common Documents Description Air Waybill A shipping label that must accompany all international shipments. Can be created with an electronic shipping solution, such as FedEx Ship Manager® — or completed manually. Electronic Export Information (EEI) Formerly known as the Shipper’s Export Declaration, the EEI must be filed with goods valued at US$2,000 or more from the U.S., Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands to foreign destinations. Connect with the federal Automated Export System and submit the required information using the FedEx Ship Manager solution. Using FedEx Export AgentFile®, you can authorize FedEx to file an EEI on your behalf. A filing fee and certain limitations apply. Commercial Invoice The main document used by customs officials for control, valuation and duty determination. Serves as the basis for all other documents covering the shipment. Necessary for all shipments with a value of at least US$1 and relating to commercial transactions, regardless of the value. Must be in English or accompanied by a translation. Required details include the buyer and seller, a detailed description of the goods, quantity, purchase price or fair market value, terms of the sale, and the date. Should show freight, insurance, commission and other charges as separate items. Should be signed and, if possible, attested to by a bank. Pro Forma Invoice Acts as a preliminary invoice, presenting the same information as the final invoice without claiming payment. Enables the end purchaser to apply for letters of credit, import licenses or foreign exchange allocation. Packing List Supplies shipment data, including the number and types of items being shipped. Also documents the weight and volume of your shipment — helpful information for reserving space with the shipping company. Should be signed. Certificate of Origin Verifies the country in which the product was manufactured. Required by certain foreign countries for tariff purposes. Must be validated and notarized by a local chamber of commerce. Form A - Certificate of Origin May be required under formal entry for goods claiming preferential duty or exemption under the various agreements of Generalized System of Preferences. Should be produced at the time of entry and must be in the importer’s possession at the time of entry. Origin of the goods must be detailed on the Commercial Invoice. Price List A detailed list of all commodities in the shipment with their unit and total prices. Purchase Order A commercial document issued by a buyer to a seller on the terms of a transaction, including types of products, quantities and prices. Declaration of Antiquity Must appear on the invoice for goods more than 100 years old. The statement must include the words “circa date,” followed by the year of manufacture, whether known or estimated. Import Permits Required from Service des Titres du Commerce Extérieur (SETICE) for the following:
- Cinematographic film
- Firearms, ammunitions and explosives
- Fish
- Livestock, animals and their parts
- Milk, cheese and other dairy products
- Radioactive materials and nuclear reactors
- Some vegetables
- Steel
- Textiles and clothing
- Wheat, barley and other grains
To avoid delays, all documents must be correct and consistent. The air waybill and Commercial Invoice require some of the same information:
- “Consignee” is the recipient, the person to whom a shipment is being sent.
- “Shipper” is the sender, the person with whom the shipment originates.
- The value to declare for customs purposes is the price paid or payable for the goods, including any selling commissions, assists, royalties, packing and proceeds. It does not include freight and insurance charges.
- The Schedule B number, or Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code, is the commodity classification number. For the correct number, go to FedEx® Global Trade Manager or the U.S. Census Bureau website — or call the U.S. Census Bureau at 1.800.549.0595, option 2.
- Genuine samples up to the value of US$200 are not subject to duties. The Commercial Invoice and air waybill must state “Sample supplied free of cost,” and contents need to be marked as samples.
- A description of the contents includes:
- What the product is
- What material it’s made of
- Schedule B or HTS code
- Intended use
- Country of manufacture
- Parts or serial numbers (if applicable)
- Quantity and unit of measure
- Value, per unit and in total
- Review the France country profile. Avoid surprises by checking the France country profile, which includes the latest information on import and export provisions.
- Research your market thoroughly. The marketplace, economy, customs and laws in France are quite different from those you may be accustomed to in the U.S.
- Ensure your project is economically feasible. U.S. companies should be especially thorough about revenue projections and business goals when entering a market outside the U.S. — other markets may be different than your own.
- Know your associates. Get to know your business contact in France through your legal counsel, in addition to doing your own research.
- Establish a very specific contract. With a business associate who resides in another country, it’s a good idea to employ more detailed terms than you might with a U.S. associate, just to make sure everyone’s in agreement.
- Understand your payment terms. France’s payment customs differ from those in the U.S. in many ways, so include very specific payment terms to ensure you are paid in full and on time.
- Protect your intellectual property rights. U.S. businesses should not rely on the same protection of their intellectual property that they enjoy in the U.S. Your best strategy is to protect yourself from infringement before you encounter a problem.
- Make sure the goods are not prohibited. Check the list of import prohibitions for France.
- Provide a door code. This is part of the address for residential deliveries in Paris.
- Gifts valued up to 45 euros are allowed for duty/tax-free entry.
Support Services for Shipping to France
FedEx Resources
| If you need to: | Then go to or call: |
| Estimate duties and taxes | FedEx® Global Trade Manager |
| See restricted or prohibited items for France | France country profile on FedEx Global Trade Manager |
| Get tips for describing shipment contents | International Document Overview on FedEx International Shipping site |
| Get regulatory assistance | FedEx International Regulatory Consulting 1.800.851.3336 |
| Get international shipping assistance | FedEx International Customer Support 1.800.GoFedEx 1.800.463.3339 (and say "international services") |
| Find general support | FedEx Customer Support |
Helpful Links
- General Directorate of Customs and Excise: information from the customs administration for France.
- U.S. Commercial Service: trade specialists providing counsel and a variety of products and services to assist U.S. businesses with exporting.
- U.S. Commercial Service in France: market research, details on trade regulations, and contact info for trade specialists and experts in eight offices throughout France.
- American Chamber of Commerce in France: assists U.S. companies wishing to trade with France.
FedEx Tools
These tools can help simplify the management and processing of your international shipments to France.
| Tools | Features |
| FedEx Ship Manager® at fedex.com | Complete forms, print labels, track the status of shipments, get rates and transit times, and manage billing and claims. |
| FedEx InSight® | Proactively monitor all of your inbound and outbound international shipments without a tracking number. |
| FedEx® Global Trade Manager | Find international documents, estimate duties, taxes and landed cost, and more. You can also manage the documentation process with Product Profiles, which lets you create, store and edit information on up to 500 commodities. |
| FedEx® Electronic Trade Documents | Automate the document submission process, save time and money, and enjoy greater peace of mind. |
