Glasses sea freight export from Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen to Austria FCL booking, customs clearance, tax included, double clearance, door-to-door freight forwarding service
Description: Austria is located in the heart of Central Europe and serves as a core hub connecting the markets of East and West Europe. Glasses export must cross two hard thresholds: sunglasses and optical frames must pass CE certification (EN ISO 12312-1/EN ISO 12870), and metal parts must pass nickel release testing (EN 16128:2025, limit value 0.5 μ g/cm ²/week). As a landlocked country, sea freight is transshipped through Hamburg or Koper ports, and land freight is directly transported to Vienna, Graz, and Linz. Double clearance tax included, goods with a value ≤ 150 euros are exempt from customs duties (cancelled from July 1, 2026), and the Austrian VAT rate is 20%, starting from 0 euros. Strictly control shock-absorbing and pressure resistant packaging, support mixed loading and consolidation. The price is negotiable, and the delivery time is 35-50 days. Help you go global in compliance and seize the Central European market!
Austria is located in the heartland of Europe, and Vienna, as a core node connecting the East and West European markets, is an important gateway for eyewear products to enter the Central European market. Due to Austria being a landlocked country, sea freight is usually transshipped through the ports of Hamburg in Germany or Kopel in Slovenia, and then transported by land to places such as Vienna, Graz, and Linz.
Unlike regular goods, the export of glasses to Austria is governed by EU Regulation (EU) 2016/425 and must meet stricter compliance requirements. Andaxun International Logistics has been deeply involved in the export of sensitive goods from Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Dongguan for many years. It is familiar with the regulatory requirements of Austrian customs for eyewear products and provides one-stop services such as full container load/consolidation, double clearance with tax included, and door-to-door service.
1、 Shenzhen to Austria eyewear sea freight price and delivery time: inland transit line, one ticket, one negotiation
Austria is a landlocked country without a direct seaport, and goods need to be transshipped through major European hub ports. From Shenzhen/Guangzhou/Dongguan, the full container shipping to Hamburg or Koper Port takes about 25-30 days, while land transportation to Austria takes about 5-10 days. During the peak season (June September), cabin availability is tight. It is recommended to book 3-4 weeks in advance.
The price is negotiable, with a fixed price that includes all expenses: sea freight, domestic trailer customs clearance, Austrian import customs clearance, customs duties, 20% value-added tax, and final delivery. HS codes for eyeglass products are commonly 9003 (eyeglass frames), 9004 (sunglasses), and 9001 (lenses).
|FCL direct shipping | 35-45 days | Shenzhen to Hamburg/Koper port direct shipping, sea transportation takes about 25-30 days, land transportation takes about 5-10 days|
|LCL sea freight | 38-50 days | Shenzhen/Guangzhou consolidation, European hub port unpacking and distribution|
|DDP door-to-door | 38-50 days | Covering the entire region of Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, etc|
Key points of Austrian tariffs and value-added tax:
-Tariffs: Austria applies the EU unified customs tariff, and the tax rate for eyeglass products is generally between 0% and 16%. Imported goods with a FOB value not exceeding 150 euros are exempt from customs duties.
-Value added tax: Import goods with a FOB value not exceeding 22 euros are exempt from value-added tax; The total amount of tariffs and value-added tax shall not exceed 10 euros and shall also be exempted. The standard VAT rate is 20%, calculated based on the total amount of CIF plus customs duty.
-VAT deferral: Importers with Austrian VAT numbers can apply for deferral, and there is no need to actually pay taxes during customs clearance. Instead, they can declare deductions on a quarterly basis.
-Starting from July 1, 2026, the European Union will officially cancel the tariff exemption policy for imported packages with a value of ≤ 150 euros, and it is recommended to switch to the full container load/less than container load DDP commercial customs clearance mode in advance.
2、 Shenzhen to Austria Glasses Shipping Customs Clearance Documents and Processes: Two Core Compliance Requirements for Glasses Export
The core compliance requirements for exporting glasses to Austria are focused on two major areas: CE certification and REACH regulations. Starting from 2026, Austrian customs will also add registration requirements for the Smart Border Austria system.
1. CE certification - EU mandatory access
Sunglasses are CE certified according to EN ISO 12312-1:2022 standard. The testing items include: lens transmittance, UV resistance, flame retardant testing, impact resistance (tested with 6mm diameter steel balls at a speed of 45m/s), lens sweat resistance, etc. The lens must be labeled with the filter category (0-4 categories) and usage restrictions.
The optical frame is CE certified according to EN ISO 12870 standard. Each material and style of eyeglass frame needs to be tested separately. The testing items include dimensional tolerances, nose bridge flexion, lens retention ability, durability, artificial sweat testing, etc.
-Manufacturers may issue a Declaration of Conformity (DoC), but the testing report must come from a qualified laboratory
-The CE mark must be clearly printed on the product body, packaging or instructions
-Technical documents must be kept for at least 10 years for future reference
2. REACH regulatory compliance - nickel release is a key focus
The EU REACH regulation (EC 1907/2006) controls all chemicals entering the EU market. Special attention should be paid to the issue of nickel release when exporting glasses:
On October 22, 2025, the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) released EN 16128:2025 "Ophthalmic optics - Reference method for nickel release from eyeglass frames and sunglasses". This standard shall be granted national standard status by member states no later than the end of April 2026. The new standard has revised the testing methods and explicitly stated that coating testing is not a screening test. The nickel release rate shall not exceed 0.5 micrograms per square centimeter per week.
3. New regulations for Smart Border Austria (mandatory from February 2026)
Starting from February 2026, all foreign companies trading with Austria must complete registration in the "Smart Border Austria" system and provide a valid EORI number, otherwise they will not be able to complete customs declaration. All non EU importers must hold an Austrian local tax number and be associated with an EORI number.
4. Core customs clearance document list (our company provides professional pre review)
-Commercial invoice: English, including 10 digit HS code, CIF value, complete product description, and EORI number of both parties
-Packing list: detailing the gross/net weight and contents of each box
-Certificate of Origin and Original Bill of Lading
-CE certification certificate and testing report (EN ISO 12312-1, EN ISO 12870, etc.)
-REACH Compliance Declaration and Nickel Release Test Report (EN 16128:2025)
-Product manual and label (compliant with EU requirements)
-EORI number: Austrian format is "AT"+tax number
5. Austrian destination port customs clearance process (our Vienna cooperative customs clearance agency handles the entire process)
-Pre export compliance filing: Assist in completing CE certification and REACH/nickel release testing
-ICS2 pre declaration (24 hours before departure): Complete the entry summary declaration through the EU import control system
-Smart Border Austria Registration: Assisting foreign companies in completing registration in the Austrian customs system
-Electronic customs declaration and payment: Formal customs declaration and payment of customs duties and 20% value-added tax through the Austrian Customs electronic system
-End of line delivery: DPD/Austrian Post delivery to Vienna, Graz, Linz and other locations throughout the country
3、 Shipping packaging requirements for glasses from Shenzhen to Austria: shockproof, pressure resistant, moisture-proof, three-layer protection
Glasses are precision and vulnerable products, subject to rough shipping and high stacking pressure. In addition, multiple loading and unloading processes are involved in inland transportation in Austria, and packaging must be strictly protected against damage and deformation.
|First layer: Inner packaging protection | Each pair of glasses should be wrapped in soft cloth or glasses bag and placed in a lens box, which should be securely closed. The surface of the lens can be covered with a protective film to prevent scratches|
|The second layer: filling and fixing | The carton is filled with sufficient cushioning materials, such as foam plastic, bubble film, pearl cotton, etc. Ensure that all mirror boxes are securely fixed inside the box, without shaking or colliding|
|Third layer: Outer box reinforcement | Five layer double anti corrugated cardboard box is selected. The box is sealed with the word "Gong" and the tape width is ≥ 5cm. The outer box is labeled with "Fragile", "Upward", "Sun Resistant", and "Keep Dry" in both Chinese and English|
Wooden packaging requirements: If wooden pallets or wooden boxes are used, they must have IPPC fumigation markings (ISPM 15 standard). If the markings are unclear or missing, they will face return shipping.
Core points of packaging:
-It is recommended to control the weight of a single box within 20-25kg
-All products must be labeled "Made in China" on the packaging
-Suggest placing desiccants inside the box to prevent moisture
-The batch number, specifications, and commercial invoice of each batch of lenses must fully correspond
4、 Attention to Shenzhen to Austria Glasses Shipping: Five Core Compliance Red Lines for Glasses Exporting to Austria
1. CE certification is an admission ticket (the biggest difference from regular goods)
Sunglasses and optical frames are classified as PPE or medical devices under EU regulations, and goods without CE certification will face the risk of being detained by customs. It is recommended to initiate the certification process 2-3 months in advance.
2. Nickel release testing is a key compliance item for exporting glasses (material safety red line)
The new standard EN 16128:2025 will officially become a national standard by the end of April 2026. Exporters must ensure that metal mirror frame components pass nickel release testing, and the test results must not exceed 0.5 micrograms per square centimeter per week. The new standard clarifies the distinction between coating testing and migration testing, and samples that fail coating testing must undergo migration testing on all components.
3. Smart Border Austria registration is a new threshold for 2026 (easily overlooked)
Starting from February 2026, all foreign enterprises engaged in trade with Austria must complete registration and provide a valid EORI number in the Smart Border Austria system. Non EU importers must hold an Austrian local tax number and associate it with an EORI number. Without registration, customs declaration cannot be completed.
4. Tariff threshold and VAT deferral (core tax cost)
The import tariff threshold for Austria is 150 euros, and the value-added tax threshold is 22 euros. The standard VAT rate is 20%. Importers with Austrian VAT numbers can apply for deferred import value-added tax, and do not need to pay actual taxes during customs clearance. Instead, they can declare deductions on a quarterly basis. Starting from July 1, 2026, the EU will cancel the 150 euro tariff exemption and recommend an early transition to the full container load/less than container load DDP commercial customs clearance model.
5. ICS2 mandatory declaration and document consistency (mandatory requirement 24 hours before departure)
The EU ICS2 import control system requires submission of ENS manifest data 24 hours prior to shipment. Starting from February 3, 2026, ICS2 has been fully switched to V3 version, and the old version system has been discontinued. LCL mixed goods must be separated into separate orders for each customer, specifying the product name, HS code, and weight of each item. All customs clearance document information must be completely consistent.
5、 Shenzhen to Austria Glasses Shipping Andaxun One stop Service Process
① Compliance consultation: Provide product information (product name, HS code, CE certification status, REACH/nickel release testing status, cargo volume)
② Bid lock cabin: One price package, including customs duties+20% value-added tax (VAT deferred with assistance)+ICS2 declaration+Smart Border Austria registration assistance+final delivery
③ Guangzhou Shenzhen Dongguan nearby warehouse: free storage for 5 days, verification of CE certification documents, REACH/nickel release testing reports, and packaging compliance
④ Export customs declaration+ICS2 pre declaration: synchronized operation to ensure completion 24 hours before departure
⑤ Shipping to European hub ports: Hamburg/Koper Port
⑥ Land transportation to Austria+double clearance tax payment: CE/REACH document pre-approval, customs electronic system formal customs declaration, compliant release
⑦ Delivery throughout Austria: Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg and other destinations
Andaxun International Logistics provides one-stop services for Shenzhen to Austria eyewear sea freight, including tax and double clearance, door to door - eyewear export experts in Austria, CE certification assistance+REACH/nickel release compliance guidance+Smart Border Austria registration assistance+ICS2 accurate declaration. Welcome to call for exclusive solutions!
Shenzhen Andaxun International Logistics Co., Ltd
- ☎ Phone: 0755-2968 6566
- 📍 Address: Xintian Avenue, Fuhai, Bao'an District, Shenzhen
- 🚢 Main business: International sea freight, air freight, FBA dedicated line, export of sensitive goods, double clearance and tax package
*(Note: Glasses exported to Austria must obtain CE certification and EN 16128:2025 nickel release testing in advance (effective from the end of April 2026); The import tariff threshold for Austria is 150 euros, the value-added tax threshold is 22 euros, and the standard VAT rate is 20%; Starting from February 2026, the Smart Border Austria system will require mandatory registration; Starting from July 1, 2026, the EU will cancel the 150 euro tariff exemption; FCL takes about 35-45 days, LCL takes about 38-50 days. It is recommended to book shipping 3-4 weeks in advance during peak season. )*

