7 Shipping

Packages sent from U.S. to France:

• Custom duties may be high (check your local post office for exact prices)
• Send packages to the program office:

Name of student

APA- Academic Program in Aix-en-Provence

30, avenue Victor Hugo

13100 Aix-en-Provence France

• To avoid paying customs taxes, Write: “SANS VALEUR COMMERCIALE / EFFETS PERSONNELS” on the front of the package. We also recommend that you avoid insuring these packages, since that can also lead to declaring its value and therefore paying custom taxes.
• Do not send prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs. They will be confiscated by Customs.
• Allow extra time for delivery of packages, especially around holidays.

Mail sent from France to the U.S.:

• Students should visit the local post office in Aix for information on shipping packages.
• Stamps are readily most easily purchased at post office machines, the post office counter, and to a certain extent at shops called “Tabac”
• Mailboxes for letters and postcards are located throughout the city (look for a yellow metal box attached to walls with blue “Poste” lettering).

Using Overnight Transporters:

• Customs duties can be very expensive, especially when packages from the US are sent via overnight transporter. The overnight transporter will pay customs and send you the bill for the customs fees even after having released your parcel.