Target region Switzerland
Delivery time
Advantage
Zurich & surroundings
1-2 working days
Faster than from Germany (3-4 days)
Basel & Northwest Switzerland
1-2 working days
Proximity to the border offers maximum advantage
Bern & Mittelland
1-2 working days
Express options available
Geneva & Lausanne (Romandie)
2-3 working days
Direct route via western Switzerland
St. Gallen & Eastern Switzerland
1-2 working days
Minimum distance
Ticino (Italian Switzerland)
2-3 working days
Via Gotthard/San Bernardino
An added advantage: From this location, we also serve Germany, Austria, Italy, France, and the Benelux countries. One warehouse – all of Europe.
Dissatisfied customers due to unexpected costs.
With standard DAP customs clearance, customers have to pay unexpected customs duties and parcel service fees at their doorstep. This ruins the customer experience and can lead to deliveries being refused. Especially in Switzerland, customers with high purchasing power expect a seamless shopping experience, as they are accustomed to from local Swiss shops.
Exploding processing costs in Swiss customs clearance.
Incorrect customs documents lead to delays, high administrative fees, or even refusal of acceptance. Without an experienced fulfillment service provider for deliveries to Switzerland, every shipment becomes a risk. Swiss customs authorities are known for their meticulous inspections. Mistakes are not tolerated and costly.
Returns chaos.
Returns from Switzerland must be re-imported. Without proper handling, you risk double customs duties (additional EU import VAT) on your own goods. This returns trap destroys margins and makes profitable business in Switzerland impossible.
Complexity of VAT processing in Switzerland.
Swiss VAT differs fundamentally from EU VAT. You need a fiscal representative in Switzerland, must register, and must pay the VAT correctly. This process can take months without expertise and can lead to additional tax demands if mistakes are made.
Why many shops avoid Switzerland.
The consequence: Many European D2C brands completely forgo the lucrative Swiss market or lose money because they underestimate its complexity. Yet Switzerland has the highest purchasing power in Europe and less competition than Germany.
Our Swiss import solution is based on years of expertise and is designed to offer your team process reliability and your customers a seamless buying experience. These are the building blocks of our all-in-one import solution for importing to Switzerland.
We offer both customs clearance methods, but for B2C shops we clearly recommend DDP Fulfillment Switzerland. Process. Herein lies the difference and the reason why your customers will prefer DDP:
Your customer is the importer. Upon delivery, they must pay Swiss VAT (8.1% or 2.6%) and a (often high) customs clearance fee charged by the parcel service.
Result: High dissatisfaction, many refusals to accept, poor conversion rates, negative reviews, wasted marketing budget.
You are the importer. We handle all customs clearance in Switzerland and VAT payment behind the scenes. Your customer receives the package like a domestic shipment – at no extra cost.
Result: Maximum customer satisfaction, higher conversion rates, fewer returns, premium brand perception, competitive advantage.
criterion
DAP
DDP (recommended)
importer
End customer
She/
Costs for customer upon delivery
VAT + often high customs duties
None – all inclusive
Customer Experience
⚠️ Negative (surprise costs)
✅ Premium (like CH-Inland)
Refusals to accept
High
Minimal
Conversion Rate
base
much higher than with DAP
effort for you
High
Small amount
Competitive advantage
None
Massive – most use DAP
Margin maintenance
⚠️ High return costs
✅ Predictable costs
To offer DDP fulfillment to Switzerland, you need a Swiss VAT registration and a fiscal representative. This sounds complicated, but we’ll support you with it:
We will put you in touch with the fiscal representative. No lead time, no bureaucracy.
Our systems ensure that every shipment transmits the correct documents digitally to guarantee smooth customs clearance in Switzerland. We use electronic pre-declarations (for faster processing times).
If you do not yet have an EORI number for Swiss exports, we will assist you with the application process. We ensure that you operate in full compliance with Swiss customs regulations.
What happens if a Swiss customer returns something? Our process prevents the “returns trap” (double customs clearance) and protects your margin.
We consolidate returns and use an optimized re-import process. This ensures that your goods can be returned to the EU trade cycle duty-free.
Our returns process in detail:
The result: You only pay customs duties once (on export) and not again on re-import. This saves costs per return and makes the difference between profitable and unprofitable business in Switzerland.
We make expansion into Switzerland predictable and transparent. Here’s how the collaboration works:
We analyze your product range, shipping volume, and target group in Switzerland. Together, we define the optimal strategy (DDP recommended) and simultaneously establish contact with the fiscal representative for Swiss VAT registration.
Integration of your shop system (Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, etc.) with our system. Crucially, we check and validate all HS codes for your products to prevent customs issues from the outset. We test the entire process with test orders.
You send your goods to our warehouse in Austria (directly on the Swiss border). We register each item, validate the customs documents, and make your inventory available. All products are now “Switzerland-ready”.
Your first Swiss orders are now being processed. We automatically handle customs clearance, generate the correct documents, print the labels, and ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). Your customer in Switzerland receives the package at no extra cost – just like from a Swiss shop.
We continuously optimize. You can scale your Swiss business without additional effort.
The biggest lever for your scaling: Why operate two warehouses (one for the EU, one for Switzerland) and split your inventory?
With MH Direkt you benefit from our core USP: One camp. All of Europe.
From our central fulfillment warehouse in Austria (directly on the Swiss border), you can supply Switzerland and the entire EU. You have one inventory, one contact person, and a single platform for your entire European expansion.
Your advantages with e-commerce fulfillment in Switzerland:
As your logistics partner for Switzerland, we offer more than just “sending packages to Switzerland”:
Storage & inventory management
Customs & Document Service
Picking & packing
Shipping & Tracking
Returns management
Value-Added Services
Our expertise goes beyond standard e-commerce. We understand the industry-specific requirements of the Swiss market:
Fashion & Apparel
Beauty & Cosmetics
Food & Supplements
Electronics & Tech
Factor
Own logistics + DAP
Fulfillment Switzerland DDP with MH Direkt
Setup time CH export
8-12 weeks (VAT, broker, processes)
2-4 weeks (we manage everything)
Time spent per day
2-4 hours (customs documents!)
0 hours (fully automatic)
Refusals to accept
❌ frequently
✅ rare
Customer Experience
⚠️ Negative (surprise costs)
✅ Premium (like CH-Inland)
Return costs
❌ High (double customs duties)
✅ Optimized
Error rate in customs documents
⚠️ frequently
✅ low (automated)
Scalability
❌ Limited by your capacity
✅ Infinitely scalable
Swiss shipping costs
⚠️ Retail prices
✅ Large customer conditions
Fixed costs with 0 orders
High (broker fee, setup)
Minimal (only when used)
Expansion into EU markets
❌ Separate setup required
✅ Already integrated (one warehouse)
We work with all common platforms and can also integrate customized solutions:
Native integrations:
Marketplace integrations:
API & Custom Solutions:
Dashboard & Reporting:Dashboard & Reporting:
Average integration time: 2-5 days (depending on platform and complexity)
After many years of experience in fulfillment in Switzerland, we keep seeing the same avoidable mistakes:
Every product needs a correct, harmonized system code for customs clearance in Switzerland. Incorrect codes lead to delays, additional demands for payment, and in the worst case, fines.
Our solution: We check and validate all HS codes before the first shipment. For complex products, we obtain binding customs tariff information.
Missing information (country of origin, material description, value, HS code) will stop shipments at the border. The subsequent processing will cost you real money.
Our solution: Automated document creation with all mandatory information.
Shops rely on DAP (Direct Arrival Point) to supposedly save themselves effort, but in doing so, they lose customers due to delivery refusal. Plus: negative reviews.
Our solution: We strongly recommend DDP for B2C and will manage the additional workload for you. This will significantly increase your conversion rate.
Many shops have no plan for Swiss returns and end up paying double customs duties (once upon export, again upon re-import). This wipes out any profit margin.
Our solution: A structured reimport process from day 1. Your returns arrive duty-free.
VAT registration and setup with the fiscal representative often take 8-12 weeks without a partner. Many shops start their expansion into Switzerland far too late.
Our solution: Through our established partnerships, we reduce the time to 2-4 weeks.
Switzerland has a standard VAT rate of 8.1% and a reduced rate of 2.6% (for groceries, books, etc.). Incorrect application will result in additional payments.
Our solution: We are familiar with the regulations and automatically apply the correct rate. This includes regular updates when laws change.
Even with DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), customers should see on the product page that all taxes and fees are already included. Otherwise, they will question the higher price.
Our solution: We provide you with shop snippets and best practices for communicating with Swiss customers.
The costs for fulfillment in Switzerland are made up of several components. We explain each of them:
Storage costs: Identical to our EU rates – no Swiss surcharges. You only pay for the storage space you use.
Picking and packing costs: Per successfully completed order. No distinction between Switzerland and the EU.
Shipping costs Switzerland: Depending on weight. DDP shipping is slightly more expensive than DAP, but it eliminates refused deliveries and protects your brand.
Document service: Automatic creation of all customs documents.
Returns re-import: A processing fee per return ensures a correct re-import process. Significantly cheaper than double customs clearance.
Setup fee (one-time): Coverage includes onboarding, integration, and initial warehousing. Transparently calculated.
What we do NOT charge:
❌ No long-term contracts (flexible notice periods)
❌ No account management fees
❌ No hidden surcharges or handling fees
Important: Unlike hidden fees with DAP (which your customer pays and which damage you through negative reviews), with DDP all costs are predictable and part of your calculations. You can calculate transparently and set your prices accordingly.
For nearly 30 years, we have been managing Swiss logistics for European D2C brands. We know every pitfall at Swiss customs and have developed solutions for every challenge.
Our fiscal representatives, shipping partners, and customs service providers are long-standing, reliable partners. You benefit from established processes and special conditions.
Modern warehouse management systems (WMS), automated document creation, interface to Swiss customs and real-time tracking for maximum transparency and efficiency.
⚡ Average customs transit time: < 24 hours
Shipping accuracy: 100%
Return success rate for reimports: 100% (no double customs clearance)
⭐ Refusals to accept DDP: < 1 %
Delivery time to Switzerland: 1-2 working days
Multilingual expertise. Our team speaks German and English.
End the logistics chaos when shipping to Switzerland. Talk to our fulfillment experts about your DDP implementation and receive a clear offer that will reduce your process costs, protect your margins, and increase your conversion rate.
Many successful Swiss integrations with significantly higher conversion rates thanks to DDP. 100% transparency.
Take advantage of Europe’s most powerful market – without the complexity.
With proper pre-registration (interface) and documentation, DDP shipments typically clear Swiss customs within 24 hours. Our electronic processes and established relationships with customs authorities minimize delays. Most shipments pass through customs without manual inspection.
Yes, a Swiss VAT registration (UID number) is required for DDP fulfillment. You also need a fiscal representative in Switzerland, as foreign companies cannot register directly. Setup takes 2-4 weeks.
With DAP (Delivered at Place), your customer is the importer and must pay customs duties, VAT, and a customs clearance fee upon delivery. This often leads to refused deliveries. With DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), you are the importer and handle all customs costs behind the scenes. The customer receives the package without any additional charges – just like a domestic shipment within Switzerland. DDP is the recommended solution for B2C shops and increases conversion rates.
We consolidate Swiss returns in a hub and re-import them into the EU as a single shipment. Correct declaration (referencing the original export) prevents double customs duties. The goods are returned to your EU warehouse duty-free and ready for resale. You only pay a small processing fee; no additional import VAT is levied.
The pure warehousing and order picking costs are identical. Additional costs arise from: (1) Swiss VAT (8.1% or 2.6% of the merchandise value), (2) costs for fiscal representation, (3) slightly higher shipping costs for DDP handling. These additional costs typically amount to €3-5 per shipment, but are offset by significantly lower return rates and higher conversion rates. We will provide you with a transparent quote based on your product portfolio.
With our established processes, you can go live within 2-4 weeks. The setup includes: (1) VAT registration coordinated by us, (2) shop integration (2-5 days), (3) HS code validation, (4) warehousing, (5) testing with test orders. Without a partner, the process often takes 8-12 weeks or longer.
We offer native integrations for Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Shopware, and all major e-commerce platforms. We can also connect custom shops via APIs. Integration typically takes 2-5 days. Important: Our system automatically detects Swiss orders and triggers the DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) process.
German 
