There has been a marked increase in packages from the United States being held at customs. In many cases, students are being asked to pay hefty import tariffs. Furthermore, customs officials will require a Spanish fiscal number in order to clear a package that is being held. Syracuse Madrid staff can’t provide you with this number, and host families aren’t required to do so. As a result, you may have to resort to paying a broker to release your shipment.
Encourage your loved ones to avoid sending you packages by mail as most articles can be obtained in Spain. If articles must be sent by mail, advise loved ones to not send irreplaceable or valuable items because there’s no surefire way to be able to avoid paying customs duties or tariffs. Be prepared to pay 21% IVA (VAT), up to 17% duty, and a flat fee for processing each package. Syracuse Madrid staff are not customs brokers and won’t be able to assist you beyond helping you identify the necessary documentation.
Have mail sent to Syracuse Madrid and not to your host family’s address:
Syracuse Madrid
[YOUR NAME]
Calle Miguel Ángel, 8
28010, Madrid, Spain
Post offices (correos) in Spain are generally open from 8:30am to 2:30pm, Monday through Friday, although many are now open from 8:30am to 8pm, Monday through Friday, and 9:00am to 2:30pm on Saturdays. Many El Corte Inglés department stores have their own post office, and these generally have the same hours as the department store itself. For more information, call +34 902 19 71 97, or visit the official Correos website or Correos Aduanas.