Where people shop online in Spain and what differs

Key rules

• Import IVA: Parcels from outside the EU pay IVA at 21% in most cases, with no low-value exemption, and customs duty applies only above 150 euros for now.
• Returns: Spanish and EU sellers must give you 14 days to withdraw, while Asian marketplace returns depend on the platform's own policy.
• Speed: Spain-based sellers are fastest, and orders shipped from China take about 7-20 days.

Which one to pick

Use the official website or a Spain-based shop when you want fast delivery and easy returns. Use an Asian marketplace when price matters more than speed and the item is cheap enough that a return would not be worth it.

Delivery

the official website Prime items and Spain-based sellers usually arrive in 1-3 working days. Standard non-Prime orders take about 2-5 days.

Asian marketplace orders shipped from China typically take about 7-20 days. With basic shipping they can take 30 days or more. Some of these items are stocked in an EU or Spanish warehouse, and those arrive in roughly 3-7 days. Check the "ships from" line before you pay.

The Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla are slower for every option.

Returns

With Spanish and EU sellers you have a 14-day right to withdraw from the purchase. You normally pay the return shipping unless the seller offers free returns, and many large retailers do. The refund is due within 14 days.

Asian marketplaces often sell through third-party sellers outside the EU. The platform sets its own return policy, often 30-90 days. Some items have free returns, and some low-value goods are refunded without sending anything back. Sending goods back to China is often impractical and costly. Disputes go through the platform's buyer protection process, and enforcing your consumer rights against a non-EU seller is harder.

Customs and extra charges

Goods from outside the EU pay IVA, with no low-value exemption. If the seller collects IVA at checkout, nothing more is due at delivery. If not, the carrier collects IVA plus a handling fee when the parcel arrives. Items shipped from an EU or Spanish warehouse already include IVA and bring no customs charge.

The EU is removing the duty exemption for low-value parcels, with a temporary flat duty on small parcels planned from 2026. Check the final price at checkout.

The Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla are outside the EU VAT area, so their rules differ.

Shops in other EU countries

A shop in another EU country cannot refuse you because you live in Spain, redirect you without your consent or charge you different payment terms. It does not have to deliver to Spain, though. If it will not ship, it must still let you buy and collect the goods in its delivery area, or arrange your own transport. Audiovisual and copyrighted content and some other sectors are excluded.

The timeline and questions below cover the details.

Timeline and deadlines

• Receive an the official website Prime item or an order from a Spain-based seller: 1-3 working days after ordering

• Receive a standard non-Prime order from a Spain-based seller: about 2-5 days after ordering

• Receive an Asian marketplace item stocked in an EU or Spanish warehouse: roughly 3-7 days after ordering

• Receive an Asian marketplace item shipped from China: about 7-20 days after ordering, sometimes 30 days or more with basic shipping

• Return an item to a Spain or EU seller: within the 14-day withdrawal period

• Return an item to an Asian marketplace under the platform's own policy: often within 30-90 days, depending on the platform and item

Frequently asked questions

Do online shops in other EU countries have to deliver to Spain?

No, a shop in another EU country does not have to deliver to Spain, but it cannot refuse to sell to you because you live there. It must let you buy and then collect the goods or arrange your own transport from the area where it does deliver. Prices can differ only for objective reasons, and some content such as audiovisual and copyrighted material is excluded.

How long does an order from China take to reach Spain?

An order shipped from China usually takes about 7-20 days, and sometimes 30 days or more with basic shipping. Items held in an EU or Spanish warehouse, which AliExpress and Temu increasingly offer, arrive in roughly 3-7 days.

Is returning something to an Asian marketplace seller practical?

Often it is not, because sending goods back to China is costly and slow. Platforms such as AliExpress and Temu set their own return windows, often 30-90 days, and some give free returns or a refund without return on low-value items. If there is a dispute, use the platform's buyer protection process.

Will I pay extra at delivery for an Asian marketplace order?

You may, if the seller does not collect IVA at checkout. When the seller uses the EU import scheme for parcels up to 150 euros, IVA is charged at checkout and nothing more is due at delivery.

References

1. amazon.es