Grading news / PSA Europe · 6 minute read · Checked 29 September 2026

Quick answer: Since 15 September 2026, PSA grades trading cards in Frankfurt, Germany. Collectors across the European Union can submit directly to PSA Europe with a PSA account, pay in euros and avoid the transatlantic customs round trip. PSA says the Frankfurt facility offers all globally available service levels for cards, autographed cards, tickets and packs. The packing rules stay the same: clear penny sleeve, semi-rigid holder, no toploaders, tape or pull tabs.

For European collectors this is the biggest change to PSA grading in years. Until now, a PSA submission from Germany, Austria or the rest of the EU usually meant shipping to the United States, customs paperwork on the way back, or paying an intermediary. This guide explains what PSA Frankfurt changes, what stays the same and how to prepare a clean first submission.

What is PSA Europe in Frankfurt?

PSA Europe is PSA's first full-scale authentication and grading facility in continental Europe, located in Frankfurt am Main. PSA announced that EU collectors could submit directly from 12:01 AM Central European Time on 15 September 2026, and that the facility offers the same globally available service levels across cards, autographed cards, tickets and packs. PSA Europe is led by Managing Director Matthias Peuckert.

According to PSA, Frankfurt is one of six PSA grading facilities worldwide. Categories that are not offered in Europe still need a different route, so check the current service list before submitting anything unusual.

What changes for collectors in Germany and the EU?

  • No transatlantic customs round trip. A parcel from an EU country to Frankfurt stays inside the EU customs union, so there is no export and re-import process for the cards.
  • Euro pricing and EU terms. Orders placed with PSA Europe are charged in euros. Check at checkout whether VAT is included in the displayed price.
  • Shorter shipping distance. Shipping within the EU is usually simpler and cheaper to insure than an international parcel, though you still need to arrange appropriate coverage yourself.
  • Direct submission without a middleman. A free PSA account is enough for a direct order. Authorised dealers can still submit on your behalf if you prefer that service.

What stays the same

The grading standards, the label and the certificate system are PSA's. A PSA 10 from Frankfurt is still a PSA 10, assessed under the same published standards. Just as importantly, the packing requirements do not become looser because the parcel travels a shorter distance.

PSA's standard-card method calls for a clear penny sleeve and a semi-rigid holder of 3 5/16 × 4 7/8 inches, with both sides visible. Toploaders, tape, pull tabs and sticky notes are not permitted. That also applies to pull-tab storage sleeves, including our own Pull Tab Card Sleeves: great for your binder or display routine, but not for a PSA submission.

PSA Europe service levels and prices

On 14 September 2026 PSA introduced a new Standard service level and renamed two others: Regular is now Priority, and Walk-Through is now Premier. The Value tiers remain paused while PSA reduces its backlog.

Independent trackers reading PSA's European pricing page in late September 2026 reported the following euro prices. Treat them as a snapshot and confirm the live price, VAT treatment and turnaround at checkout.

Service level List price Launch price Max insured value Estimated turnaround
Standard €59.99 €49.99 €900 80-90 business days
Priority (formerly Regular) €79.99 €69.99 €1,300 70-80 business days
Express €199.00 - €2,200 25-30 business days
Super Express €349.00 - €4,500 25-30 business days
Premier (formerly Walk-Through) €599.00 - €9,000 25-30 business days

The maximum insured value decides which tier a card belongs in. Choose the tier by your honest estimate of the card's value after grading, not its raw value. If PSA judges a graded card to be worth more than your tier covers, you can be asked to move up a tier and pay the difference. Our PSA submission guide explains this in detail.

How to submit cards to PSA Frankfurt: step by step

1. Create a PSA account and start the order

Open a free PSA account, start a submission online or in the app and choose the service level. Enter every card accurately: set, number, language, variant and declared value. Save the confirmation.

2. Inspect and decide before you pay

Check centering, corners, edges and surface, and compare a realistic result with the full cost, including both shipping legs. A card that does not make sense to grade stays a card that does not make sense to grade, even with a closer facility.

3. Prepare each card to PSA's rules

Place each card in a clean, clear penny sleeve such as our Base Card Sleeves, then into a semi-rigid holder. Compare the holder's published dimensions with PSA's 3 5/16 × 4 7/8 inch specification before you buy or use it. Our Semi Rigid Card Shield lists 85 × 126 mm; check it against the current PSA guidance for your order. Never clean, press or treat a card. See How to Prepare Cards for Grading.

4. Pack, label and ship

Stack the cards in the exact order of your submission form, protect the stack between supports, cushion it in a new, strong box and include the printed form. Use the tracking label from your order and ship to the address printed on your own paperwork, not one copied from a forum. Reports indicate the shipping label is only valid for a limited period after checkout, so do not create the order weeks before you are ready to ship.

5. Insure the inbound journey yourself

Check PSA Europe's terms for when its responsibility begins. Inbound transit is generally your risk, so choose a carrier service and insurance that actually covers collectibles at your declared value.

6. Track the order and check the return

A delivery scan in Frankfurt is not the same as intake into the grading queue. Follow the order in your PSA account, then reconcile every returned slab against your inventory and protect it with a PSA Graded Slab Sleeve.

Direct, dealer or another grader?

For EU collectors, direct submission to PSA Frankfurt is now the most straightforward PSA route. An authorised dealer can still make sense if you want help with packing, bundling or communication, but compare their price with PSA's own euro prices first.

PSA is not the only grader in Germany. CGC grades eligible TCG submissions in Munich, and Beckett operates a European service. Which one fits depends on your card, your goal and the label you want. Our comparison PSA vs BGS vs CGC vs TAG helps you decide.

Your PSA Frankfurt checklist

Check What to confirm
Eligibility The card type is offered by PSA Europe and you ship from an EU country.
Tier The service level's max insured value fits the card's expected graded value.
Cost Grading fee, VAT treatment, both shipping legs and insurance are included in your calculation.
Sleeve Clear penny sleeve, clean and undamaged, no pull tab.
Holder Semi-rigid holder checked against PSA's 3 5/16 × 4 7/8 inch specification; no toploader.
Order Cards stacked in the exact sequence of the submission form.
Box New, strong box, supported stack, no loose movement, printed form inside.
Address and label Destination and tracking label taken from your own order confirmation.
Insurance Inbound coverage confirmed for collectibles at the declared value.

Frequently asked questions

When did PSA Frankfurt open?

PSA opened direct submissions for EU collectors to its Frankfurt facility on 15 September 2026 at 12:01 AM Central European Time.

Are cards sent to PSA Frankfurt graded in Germany?

PSA describes Frankfurt as a full-scale authentication and grading facility offering all globally available service levels for cards, autographed cards, tickets and packs.

Can I still use a toploader for PSA Europe?

No. PSA's standard-card packing method uses a penny sleeve and a semi-rigid holder and excludes toploaders, tape, pull tabs and sticky notes.

Is PSA Frankfurt cheaper than sending cards to the US?

The grading fees are similar, but the total cost for EU collectors is usually lower because there is no transatlantic shipping or customs round trip. Check VAT, insurance and return shipping at checkout.

Can collectors from the UK or Switzerland submit to PSA Frankfurt?

PSA's announcement refers to collectors across the European Union. If you ship from outside the EU, check PSA's current guidance or use an authorised dealer.

Are the Value tiers available in Europe?

Not at the time of writing. PSA has kept its Value tiers paused and introduced the new Standard tier as its lowest-priced open option.

The short version

PSA Frankfurt removes the hardest part of PSA grading for European collectors: the long, customs-heavy journey. It does not remove the need for honest card selection, correct packing and good records. Get those right, and your first Frankfurt submission can be the easiest PSA order you have ever sent. Save the Grade.

Related guides

Sources

Checked 29 September 2026. Sources: PSA - PSA Opens New Standard Service Level and Begins Grading in Europe (9 September 2026); PSA - Shipping Guide; PSA - Terms and Conditions; ICv2 - PSA Adds Grading Service Tier, Opens PSA Europe Facility (22 September 2026); independent reporting of PSA's European pricing page (September 2026). Prices, tiers and turnaround times can change; PSA's live checkout and your order confirmation always take priority.

Grade Saver Pro is the grading sub-brand of Saver Pro and is independent of PSA. This is educational guidance, not a grading service or a promise of a result. No grading-company endorsement is implied.