Subheading · Chapter 49 · Heading 4909
4909.00: Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings
Subheading 4909.00 belongs to heading 4909 (printed or illustrated postcards) in chapter 49.
What you pay
Importing into UK
Rates by national line · UK Global Tariff
UK lines →- 4909 00 00 00 Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings
Additional duties and import rules
Charges on top of the customs duty, and rules the goods must meet at the border.
Import requirements 1
- Import controlRestriction on entry into free circulation
- Applies to goods from
- Iraq, Ukraine
- Legal act
- S.I. 2020/707, S.I. 2022/395
- Documents
- 9009
- 9010
- 9017
Preferential rates by country
| Agreement or scheme | Countries | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| standard rate (no agreement) | — | |
| DCTS Comprehensive | Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin and 38 moreAfghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Kinshasa, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Kiribati, Laos, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia | Free |
| European Union (including code "EU") | Free | |
| CARIFORUM | Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize and 10 moreAntigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago | Free |
| OCTs (Overseas Countries and Territories) | Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands and 7 moreAnguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands, St Helena, Turks & Caicos Islands | Free |
| Central America | Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama | Free |
| SADC EPA | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia | Free |
| Eastern and Southern Africa States | Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe | Free |
| CPTPP | Brunei, Malaysia | Free |
| UK–Andorra agreement | Andorra | Free |
| UK–Albania agreement | Albania | Free |
| UK–Australia agreement | Australia | Free |
| UK–Canada agreement | Canada | Free |
| UK–Switzerland agreement | Switzerland | Free |
| UK–Côte d’Ivoire agreement | Côte d’Ivoire | Free |
| UK–Chile agreement | Chile | Free |
| UK–Cameroon agreement | Cameroon | Free |
| UK–Colombia agreement | Colombia | Free |
| UK–Ceuta & Melilla agreement | Ceuta & Melilla | Free |
| UK–Ecuador agreement | Ecuador | Free |
| UK–Egypt agreement | Egypt | Free |
| UK–Fiji agreement | Fiji | Free |
| UK–Faroe Islands agreement | Faroe Islands | Free |
| UK–Georgia agreement | Georgia | Free |
| UK–Ghana agreement | Ghana | Free |
| UK–Israel agreement | Israel | Free |
| UK–India agreement | India | Free |
| UK–Iceland agreement | Iceland | Free |
| UK–Jordan agreement | Jordan | Free |
| UK–Japan agreement | Japan | Free |
| UK–Kenya agreement | Kenya | Free |
| UK–South Korea agreement | South Korea | Free |
| UK–Lebanon agreement | Lebanon | Free |
| UK–Liechtenstein agreement | Liechtenstein | Free |
| UK–Morocco agreement | Morocco | Free |
| UK–Moldova agreement | Moldova | Free |
| UK–North Macedonia agreement | North Macedonia | Free |
| UK–Mexico agreement | Mexico | Free |
| UK–Norway agreement | Norway | Free |
| UK–New Zealand agreement | New Zealand | Free |
| UK–Peru agreement | Peru | Free |
| UK–Papua New Guinea agreement | Papua New Guinea | Free |
| UK–Palestinian Territories agreement | Palestinian Territories | Free |
| UK–Serbia agreement | Serbia | Free |
| UK–Solomon Islands agreement | Solomon Islands | Free |
| UK–Singapore agreement | Singapore | Free |
| UK–San Marino agreement | San Marino | Free |
| UK–Tunisia agreement | Tunisia | Free |
| UK–Türkiye agreement | Türkiye | Free |
| UK–Ukraine agreement | Ukraine | Free |
| UK–Vietnam agreement | Vietnam | Free |
| UK–Samoa agreement | Samoa | Free |
| UK–Kosovo agreement | Kosovo | Free |
| UK–South Africa agreement | South Africa | Free |
UK: imports by month
Main suppliers, last 12 months
| Country | Value | Share | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
 China | £50.1m | 84.5% | -11.1% |
 Netherlands | £2.1m | 3.5% | -10.2% |
 Vietnam | £1.6m | 2.7% | -44.9% |
 Italy | £850k | 1.4% | +17.7% |
 India | £814k | 1.4% | -22.7% |
 Poland | £698k | 1.2% | +47.6% |
 United States | £613k | 1% | +25.3% |
 Ireland | £361k | 0.6% | -2.1% |
Same subheading in other tariffs
EU Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line 
Türkiye Free Third-country duty 1 tariff line USA Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
Canada Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Mexico 15% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Brazil 14.4% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Argentina 16% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Peru 6% General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
New Zealand Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Japan Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Taiwan Free General (MFN) 2 tariff lines 
GCC 5% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Norway Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
North Macedonia Free General (MFN) 1 tariff line 
Nigeria 20% General (MFN) 1 tariff line World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$32kUS$32k+US$639k+US$7m+> US$50m
Exports: 158
- China: US$551m
- Vietnam: US$96m
- United Kingdom: US$78m
- Germany: US$51m
- United States: US$50m
- Netherlands: US$38m
- France: US$17m
- Italy: US$11m
- South Korea: US$10m
- Sweden: US$9m
- Poland: US$9m
- Belgium: US$9m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$8m
- Switzerland: US$7m
- Canada: US$6m
- India: US$5m
- Slovakia: US$4m
- Ireland: US$4m
- Philippines: US$4m
- Türkiye: US$4m
- Sri Lanka: US$4m
- Japan: US$4m
- Spain: US$3m
- Austria: US$3m
- Mexico: US$3m
- Czechia: US$3m
- Denmark: US$2m
- Hungary: US$2m
- Australia: US$1m
- South Africa: US$1m
- Taiwan: US$1m
- Portugal: US$894k
- Malaysia: US$701k
- Bangladesh: US$692k
- Israel: US$639k
- Singapore: US$596k
- Thailand: US$508k
- Indonesia: US$498k
- Greece: US$410k
- Serbia: US$392k
- United Arab Emirates: US$364k
- New Zealand: US$331k
- Russia: US$331k
- Colombia: US$287k
- Romania: US$278k
- Norway: US$246k
- Chile: US$223k
- Estonia: US$187k
- Haiti: US$183k
- Lithuania: US$168k
- Latvia: US$161k
- Kenya: US$146k
- Bulgaria: US$145k
- Lebanon: US$132k
- Croatia: US$117k
- Jordan: US$112k
- Rwanda: US$99k
- Brazil: US$94k
- North Macedonia: US$89k
- Finland: US$83k
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$126kUS$126k+US$722k+US$5m+> US$32m
Imports: 204
- United States: US$401m
- Canada: US$87m
- United Kingdom: US$86m
- Germany: US$68m
- Netherlands: US$34m
- Switzerland: US$33m
- Belgium: US$32m
- Ireland: US$28m
- France: US$26m
- Australia: US$26m
- Austria: US$21m
- Japan: US$16m
- Poland: US$11m
- Denmark: US$10m
- Italy: US$9m
- Norway: US$9m
- Sweden: US$8m
- Spain: US$8m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$6m
- China: US$5m
- Portugal: US$5m
- New Zealand: US$5m
- Singapore: US$4m
- Thailand: US$4m
- Czechia: US$4m
- Malaysia: US$4m
- South Korea: US$3m
- Hungary: US$3m
- Finland: US$3m
- Mexico: US$2m
- United Arab Emirates: US$2m
- Slovakia: US$2m
- Philippines: US$2m
- Luxembourg: US$2m
- Greece: US$2m
- Vietnam: US$2m
- Taiwan: US$1m
- Slovenia: US$1m
- Romania: US$1m
- South Africa: US$1m
- Saudi Arabia: US$1m
- India: US$1m
- Indonesia: US$1m
- Ghana: US$986k
- Israel: US$971k
- Malta: US$891k
- Kyrgyzstan: US$871k
- Russia: US$805k
- Bulgaria: US$792k
- Madagascar: US$732k
- Brazil: US$722k
- Cyprus: US$705k
- Qatar: US$693k
- Estonia: US$672k
- Kazakhstan: US$659k
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: US$628k
- Egypt: US$615k
- Serbia: US$599k
- Nigeria: US$583k
- Costa Rica: US$579k
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | US$551m | 54.6% |
| 2 | Vietnam | US$96m | 9.5% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | US$78m | 7.7% |
| 4 |  Germany | US$51m | 5% |
| 5 | United States | US$50m | 4.9% |
| 6 | Netherlands | US$38m | 3.7% |
| 7 |  France | US$17m | 1.7% |
| 8 | Italy | US$11m | 1.1% |
| 9 |  South Korea | US$10m | 1% |
| 10 |  Sweden | US$9m | 0.9% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | US$401m | 39.7% |
| 2 | Canada | US$87m | 8.6% |
| 3 | United Kingdom | US$86m | 8.6% |
| 4 | Germany | US$68m | 6.8% |
| 5 | Netherlands | US$34m | 3.4% |
| 6 | Switzerland | US$33m | 3.3% |
| 7 |  Belgium | US$32m | 3.1% |
| 8 | Ireland | US$28m | 2.8% |
| 9 | France | US$26m | 2.6% |
| 10 |  Australia | US$26m | 2.6% |
Import duty on this product around the world 164
The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty each country applies to goods of this HS subheading: the average over its national tariff lines, with the lowest and highest line where they differ. Goods from countries with a trade agreement often pay less.
- 15%median duty
- 24number of duty-free countries (MFN)
- 60%highest: Barbados, Iran, Zimbabwe
164
| Importing country | MFN duty | lines from – to | data year |
|---|---|---|---|
 Afghanistan | 10% | 2018 · HS 2012 | |
 Albania | 0% | 2023 | |
 Algeria | 30% | 2023 | |
 Angola | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Anguilla | 15% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Antigua & Barbuda | 20% | 2021 · HS 2007 | |
| Argentina | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Armenia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Aruba | 12% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
| Australia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Azerbaijan | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bahamas | 35% | 25% – 45% | 2022 |
 Bahrain | 5% | 2023 | |
 Bangladesh | 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Barbados | 60% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Belarus | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Belize | 20% | 2023 | |
 Benin | 20% | 2023 | |
 Bermuda | 25% | 2023 | |
 Bhutan | 10% | 2022 | |
 Bolivia | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Bosnia & Herzegovina | 10% | 2022 | |
 Botswana | 15% | 2023 | |
| Brazil | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Brunei | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Burkina Faso | 20% | 2023 | |
 Burundi | 35% | 2023 | |
 Cambodia | 7% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cameroon | 10% | 2023 | |
| Canada | 0% | 2023 | |
 Cape Verde | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cayman Islands | 22% | 2021 · HS 2002 | |
 Central African Republic | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chad | 10% | 2023 | |
 Chile | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| China | 6% | 2023 | |
 Colombia | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Comoros | 5% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Congo - Brazzaville | 10% | 2023 | |
 Cook Islands | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Costa Rica | 14% | 2023 | |
 Côte d’Ivoire | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Cuba | 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominica | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Dominican Republic | 20% | 2023 | |
 Ecuador | 30% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Egypt | 40% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 El Salvador | 15% | 2022 | |
 Equatorial Guinea | 10% | 2023 | |
 Eswatini | 15% | 2023 | |
 Ethiopia | 35% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
| European Union (27 countries) | 0% | 2023 | |
 Fiji | 15% | 2023 | |
 French Polynesia | 8% | 2023 | |
 Gabon | 10% | 2023 | |
 Gambia | 20% | 2023 | |
 Georgia | 0% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Ghana | 20% | 2023 | |
 Gibraltar | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Grenada | 20% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 Guatemala | 15% | 2023 | |
 Guinea | 20% | 2023 | |
 Guinea-Bissau | 20% | 2023 | |
 Guyana | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Haiti | 5% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Honduras | 15% | 2023 | |
 Hong Kong SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Iceland | 0% | 2023 | |
| India | 10% | 2023 | |
 Indonesia | 10% | 2023 | |
 Iran | 55% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Israel | 12% | 2022 · HS 2017 | |
 Jamaica | 20% | 2023 | |
| Japan | 0% | 2023 | |
 Jordan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kazakhstan | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kenya | 35% | 2023 | |
 Kiribati | 20% | 2023 · HS 2002 | |
 Kuwait | 5% | 2023 | |
 Kyrgyzstan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Laos | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Lebanon | 20% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 Lesotho | 15% | 2023 | |
 Liberia | 20% | 2023 | |
 Libya | 30% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Liechtenstein | 0% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Macao SAR China | 0% | 2023 | |
 Madagascar | 20% | 2023 | |
 Malawi | 25% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Malaysia | 20% | 2023 | |
 Maldives | 0% | 2023 | |
 Mali | 20% | 2023 | |
 Mauritania | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mauritius | 15% | 2023 | |
| Mexico | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Micronesia | 4% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Moldova | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Mongolia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Montserrat | 20% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Morocco | 40% | 2023 | |
 Mozambique | 20% | 2023 | |
 Myanmar (Burma) | 3% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Namibia | 15% | 2023 | |
 Nauru | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Nepal | 20% | 2023 | |
| New Zealand | 0% | 2023 | |
 Nicaragua | 15% | 2023 | |
 Niger | 20% | 2023 | |
| Nigeria | 20% | 2023 | |
| North Macedonia | 0% | 2023 | |
| Norway | 0% | 2023 | |
 Oman | 5% | 2023 | |
 Pakistan | 20% | 2023 | |
 Palestinian Territories | 12% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Panama | 14% | 10% – 15% | 2023 |
 Papua New Guinea | 7.5% | 0% – 10% | 2023 |
 Paraguay | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Peru | 6% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Philippines | 15% | 2023 | |
 Qatar | 5% | 2023 | |
 Russia | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Rwanda | 35% | 2023 | |
 Samoa | 20% | 2020 · HS 2017 | |
 São Tomé & Príncipe | 20% | 2019 · HS 2017 | |
 Saudi Arabia | 5% | 2023 | |
 Senegal | 20% | 2023 | |
 Seychelles | 50% | 2023 | |
 Sierra Leone | 20% | 2023 | |
 Singapore | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Solomon Islands | 10% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Somalia | 25% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 South Africa | 15% | 2023 | |
| South Korea | 0% | 2023 | |
 Sri Lanka | 20% | 2023 | |
 St Kitts & Nevis | 25% | 2023 | |
 St Lucia | 20% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
 St Pierre & Miquelon | 6% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 St Vincent & the Grenadines | 20% | 2023 | |
 Sudan | 25% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Suriname | 20% | 2023 · HS 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 0% | 2023 | |
 Syria | 20% | 2020 · HS 2012 | |
 Tajikistan | 15% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Tanzania | 35% | 2023 | |
 Thailand | 10% | 2023 | |
 Togo | 20% | 2023 | |
 Tonga | 15% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Trinidad & Tobago | 20% | 2023 · HS 2012 | |
| Türkiye | 0% | 2023 | |
 Tuvalu | 15% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Uganda | 35% | 2023 | |
 Ukraine | 0% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 United Arab Emirates | 5% | 2023 | |
| United Kingdom | 0% | 2023 | |
| United States | 0% | 2023 | |
 Uruguay | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
 Uzbekistan | 10% | 2021 · HS 2017 | |
 Vanuatu | 0% | 2023 | |
 Venezuela | 16% | 2023 · HS 2017 | |
| Vietnam | 20% | 2023 | |
 Wallis & Futuna | 6% | 2021 · HS 2012 | |
 Yemen | 5% | 2017 · HS 2017 | |
 Zambia | 25% | 2023 | |
 Zimbabwe | 51%* | 2023 |
Tariff data years 2017–2023; rates may have changed since. * ad valorem equivalent of specific duties (UNCTAD estimate) · UNCTAD TRAINS, accessed via WITS (World Bank)
Classifications and correspondences
Where this HS subheading sits in the United Nations' statistical classifications, and which codes it had in earlier editions of the Harmonized System.
- SITC Rev. 4
- 89242 Printed/illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages/announcements, whether/not illustrated, with/without envelopes/trimmings.
- End use (BEC Rev. 5)
- Consumption goods · BEC 613202
- CPC 2.1 product
- 32530 Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings or messages, with or without envelopes or trimmings
- ISIC Rev. 4 activity
- 5819 Other publishing activities
Earlier HS editions
| HS | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 4909.00 | unchanged |
| 2012 | 4909.00 | unchanged |
| 2007 | 4909.00 | unchanged |
| 2002 | 4909.00 | unchanged |
| 1996 | 4909.00 | unchanged |
| 1992 | 4909.00 | unchanged |
Correspondence tables of the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
Binding rulings for similar goods 24
Decisions of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CROSS) and HMRC (Advance Tariff Rulings) on goods classified here. A ruling binds only its holder, but shows how the authorities classify similar goods. The descriptions are the authorities’ own, in English.
- N364117 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of a Valentine’s Day cards with novelties kit from China.
- N356168 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of greeting cards, calendars, and journals from China
- N354672 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of Valentine’s Day card puppets from China
- N353994 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of greeting cards and calendars from China and Vietnam
- N353018 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of Valentine’s Day cards with novelty items from China
- N350036 U.S. CBP
The tariff classification of paper cards with envelopes from Cambodia
- 600015372 HMRC
16pk party invites set Lets party invites include - 16x invites 16x white envelopes size -15cm x 10cm
- 600015273 HMRC
Seed paper postcard of approximately 140gsm, made from natural, biodegradable cotton fibres and embedded with crushed wildflower seeds. The postcard is rectangle and in size A6, which is printed upon with a company logo. These are marketed as biodegradable promotional items. No guarantee of…
24 rulings in total for this code
Subheading 4909.00 is a single line in the EU Combined Nomenclature, where the duty is duty-free.
The Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule has one tariff line for subheading 4909.00; the duty is duty-free.
Imports of these goods into the UK came to £59.3m between September 2025 and August 2026 (down 12% on the year before); China supplied 85%, followed by Netherlands.
In 2024, countries exported these goods worth US$1bn (+8.2% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$551m), followed by Vietnam.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings?
Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings fall under HS subheading 4909.00, part of heading 4909, in section X of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on printed or illustrated postcards in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 4909.00 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on printed or illustrated postcards in Türkiye?
Under the Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule, imports under 4909.00 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most printed or illustrated postcards?
China, with US$551m in 2024 (54.6% of world exports).
Where does the UK import these goods from?
In the 12 months to August 2026, the largest suppliers were China (85%), Netherlands (4%) and Vietnam (3%), out of total imports of £59.3m.