Shipping from China to Reykjavik
China → Reykjavik · via KEF air / Reykjavik sea · clearance by Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn)
For buyers shipping into Reykjavik, the practical question is not the ocean or flight time but what happens after arrival. Reykjavik is capital and the destination for nearly all imports; cargo enters through KEF air / Reykjavik sea, and the inland leg is same-day, so the clearance date is effectively the delivery date.
Clearance itself is handled by Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn), and typical dwell at the gateway runs 2–5 days.
Routing and transit on this lane
Iceland is served by feeder services from Rotterdam, Hamburg or Aarhus rather than by direct Asian calls, so sea transit is long and sailing frequency, not vessel speed, is what determines the date. Air via Keflavík is disproportionately popular here for that reason.
| Air gateways used | KEF (Keflavík) |
|---|---|
| Air transit, China to gateway | 5–8 business days |
| Sea gateways used | Reykjavík, Reyðarfjörður |
| Sea transit, China to gateway | 38–50 calendar days |
| Gateway serving Reykjavik | KEF air / Reykjavik sea |
| Inland leg to Reykjavik | Same day from the gateway |
| Typical clearance / dwell | 2–5 days |
| Peak season to plan around | Sep–Nov |
Import duty and tax position for Reykjavik
Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn) assesses duty and tax on cargo arriving for Reykjavik consignees. Current regime: VAT 24% standard, 11% reduced; customs duty 0% on most manufactured goods, with a de-minimis position of ISK 2,000 for duty; VAT applies from the first króna.
Conformity is the part most first-time importers underestimate: CE marking under EEA rules; Icelandic labeling for food. Getting this wrong is expensive because it usually cannot be fixed after the cargo has landed.
Restrictions and known friction points for Iceland: Feeder frequency drives the schedule — a missed connection can cost a full week. Most duty is zero but 24% VAT dominates landed cost.
Air, sea or overland into Reykjavik?
| Mode | Transit to gateway | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Air Freight | 5–8 business days | time-critical, high-value and low-volume cargo |
| 🚢 Sea Freight | 38–50 calendar days | volume cargo where cost per kilo matters more than speed |
Transit shown is China departure to the Iceland gateway and excludes the same-day inland leg to Reykjavik and 2–5 days of clearance.
Before you book: Reykjavik checklist
- Book earlier than the transit time suggests during Sep–Nov, when space on this lane tightens.
- Compare gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000) — the higher figure is what gets billed on air and express.
- Photograph carton markings and seal numbers before departure — it makes any claim far easier to settle.
- Declare lithium batteries, magnets, liquids and powders up front — retro-declaring after booking usually means re-planning the whole shipment.
- Plan around the China-side windows too: Chinese New Year and Golden Week both compress capacity on the Iceland lane.
- Get the conformity paperwork moving early: CE marking under EEA rules; Icelandic labeling for food.
Mode guides for Reykjavik
Frequently asked questions
How long does shipping from China to Reykjavik take?
China to the Iceland gateway is 5–8 business days by air, 38–50 calendar days by sea. On top of that, allow 2–5 days of clearance with Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn) and a same-day inland leg to Reykjavik.
What duty and tax will I pay importing into Reykjavik?
Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn) applies: VAT 24% standard, 11% reduced; customs duty 0% on most manufactured goods. The de-minimis position is ISK 2,000 for duty; VAT applies from the first króna. Under a DDP arrangement these are pre-paid, so nothing is collected on arrival in Reykjavik.
What documents does Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn) require?
A commercial invoice with HS codes, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where it lowers duty, and any product certification (CE marking under EEA rules; Icelandic labeling for food). We prepare and file these as part of the service.
When is the busiest time on the China–Iceland lane?
Space and rates tighten around Sep–Nov, plus the China-side windows of Chinese New Year in January or February and Golden Week in early October. Book one to two weeks earlier in those periods.
Can you deliver door-to-door in Reykjavik?
Yes. Delivery to a Reykjavik address is quoted as one figure covering freight, duty and tax owed to Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn), and the same-day inland leg. Confirm whether your consignee wants the goods at a warehouse, a marketplace fulfillment center or a shop front, because the last-mile requirement differs.
How is the chargeable weight calculated for Reykjavik?
We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight — length × width × height in centimeters divided by 6000 for air — and bill the greater of the two, rounded up to the next kilogram. Light, bulky cargo is almost always billed on volume.
Other delivery cities in Iceland
References & official sources
Duty rates, thresholds and conformity requirements for Iceland change by ministerial decision, sometimes mid-year. The figures on this page are buyer-planning references, not a customs ruling — confirm the current position for your own HS code with Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn) or your broker before you ship.
- Iceland Revenue and Customs
- WTO — Tariff Profiles (applied MFN duty by country)
- ICC — Incoterms 2020 rules (DDP, DAP, FOB definitions)
- IPPC — ISPM 15 wood packaging standard
- WCO — Harmonized System nomenclature
- IMO — IMDG Code for dangerous goods by sea
Page data last reviewed: November 2026.
Shipping by industry
This page covers the route and clearance picture for the destination. Packing, classification and the compliance step that actually holds a shipment depend on what you are sending — these guides cover that by commodity.
- Outdoor Products Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure
- Fasteners Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Electric Motors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Wire & Cable New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Wall Panels Building Materials & Construction Products
- Injection Molded Parts Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Furniture Furniture & Home Products
- Home Storage Products Furniture & Home Products
- Exhibition Display Equipment Retail, Display & Commercial Fixtures
- Aluminum Coils Steel & Metal Materials
- Pipe Fittings Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Generators New Energy, Power & Electrical
Checking the Iceland duty position yourself
Duty and tax figures on this page are planning estimates. The binding assessment is made by Iceland Revenue and Customs (Skatturinn) against your declared HS code at the time of entry; where the amount is material, verify the current rate through ITC Market Access Map before committing to an order.
Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.
For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.
Watch: the process behind this route
This guide covers routing and clearance for Reykjavik. The video below covers the wider shipping process that sits around it.
Bills of Lading 101 - What Is a Bill of Lading — Flexport. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.
Customs clearance in Iceland
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.
Iceland clearance requirements →