Partner Program: Requirements to get started

What you need in order to kick start your Partner Program onboarding with Zalando.

Updated April 19, 2024

Important

While we appreciate your interest in joining, please note that it's not possible to register your interest in or sign up to sell on Zalando. We'll get in contact with you and reach out with an offer to sell on Zalando.

This article contains information relevant to prospective partners who have already been contacted by a Sales manager. It contains an overview of all the necessary documents and confirmations needed to start your onboarding. Please note that all information should be communicated to your Sales manager, except for your KYC questionnaire, which will be requested after you have signed your Partner Program contract.

For all partners

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Products must have an EAN number 13 (European Article Number). Find more information here.

Products must be correctly labelled in compliance with EU regulations.

Decide on your integration method. You can work with one of Zalando’s preferred integrators or onboard via the zDirect User Interface (UI) (ZFS partners only).

Familiarise yourself with the Image and content guidelines, and the Article onboarding and management process.

Review of the Platform Rules.

For partners launching in the France, Germany, Austria and / or Spain, ensure you are informed about the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations and registered with the relevant organizations.

Review the Quality Assurance requirements.

Prepare your KYC (Know Your Customer) documents, this is a legal requirement based on the German Money Laundering Act. (These will need to be uploaded after your contract has been signed.)

Regardless of your chosen logistics solution(s), legal representation / importer / customs representation in the EU is mandatory in order to clear goods through customs, along with an EU-based return address.

10.

Zalando Marketing Services (ZMS) can help you to kick start your partnership with Zalando.

Requirements depending upon:

EU

non-EU brand requirements

Bank account information

11.

Partners must provide an IBAN banking number. Further details can be found here.

VAT

12.

Partners will need to either have a local VAT registration in each country where sales are made, or use the One Stop Shop (OSS) in order to fulfill tax obligations. More information about the OSS can be found here.

Please note: OSS can only be used for sales made to EU customers.

For partners using ZFS, a German VAT number is mandatory along with the local VAT number(s) in the market(s) in which ZFS is the logistics solution.

If your business is registered outside the UK and you are selling in the UK, you need to provide your Fixed establishment address. Read more about the applicable deemed supplier requirements here.

Partners must have a German VAT number if using ZFS.

When using own fulfillment, a VAT certificate for the country where the goods are stored in the EU, VAT number where the Legal entity has been established and OSS is required.

If your business is registered outside the EU and you are selling in the EU, you need to provide your Fixed establishment address. Read more about the applicable deemed supplier requirements here.

Logistics

13.

Decide on the logistics solution that best suits you. You can find further details about the various logistics requirements here.

If you decide on self-fulfilment, rather than Zalando Fulfillment Solutions (ZFS), then please ensure you are working with a last mile carrier from the approved list here. You must offer free shipping and returns. Find more on required delivery documentation here.

When using self-fulfilment, must also provide your outbound warehouse(s) address and your corresponding VAT ID(s) for the location(s) to Zalando in order to be able to sell on Zalando. Read more about the deemed supplier requirements here.

Please be aware that Slovakia, Slovenia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Croatia are currently only available via ZFS and are excluded from self-fulfillment.

Partners without an EU legal entity must use Zalando Fulfillment Solutions (ZFS) to deliver to EU customers. An EU-based return address is mandatory in all cases.

CH, NO, and UK are not available via ZFS. Partners selling in these countries must use self-fulfilment. Please ensure you are working with an approved last mile carrier per market from this list.

All of your SKUs must be cleared for customs. Partners bear all of the costs and risks related to the shipping and return of articles, with a return period of 100 days.

Please note: Neither Zalando nor ZFS assist partners with the customs clearance process. It is your full responsibility to take care of this process, as well as of any charges incurred.

EU Legal entity

14.

An EU legal entity is required for partners using their own logistics/CE labelled goods/ Beauty. Otherwise, the contract can be signed with their non-EU entity.

14.

Goods must have customs clearance. Legal representation / importer / customs representation in the EU is mandatory in order to clear goods through customs.

EU Return address

15.

ZFS is available for partners that can provide a return address within Europe. The address is needed for deactivated stock, end of season/unsold goods and faulty items.