PSA Grading in Ireland: PSA Europe Prices, Frankfurt & How to Submit
Yes, you can get PSA grading from Ireland without sending cards outside the EU: PSA Europe opened its grading facility in Frankfurt, Germany, to direct submissions from collectors across the European Union on 15 September 2026, with prices charged in euro starting at €34.99 per card (introductory price, as of November 2026). Here is what it costs, how long it takes, how the PSA grading scale works, and how to pack and post your Pokémon cards to Germany.
PSA grading in Ireland at a glance
- Where: PSA Europe, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Open since: 15 September 2026, for collectors across the EU (Ireland included)
- Accepts: cards, autographed cards, tickets and packs, including Pokémon and other TCGs
- Cheapest tier: Value, €34.99 per card (introductory; normally €39.99)
- Turnaround: estimated 25 to 100 business days depending on tier
- How: PSA account, Online Submission Center, then post your cards to Frankfurt
- Packing: penny sleeve plus a semi-rigid holder. No toploaders.
- Buy penny sleeves in Ireland: Ultra PRO penny sleeves in stock, shipped tracked from Dublin
Phoenix TCG doesn't grade cards or take submissions: you send your cards to PSA yourself.
PSA Europe: the grading facility in Frankfurt, Germany
PSA announced in September 2025 that it would open its first full-scale authentication and grading facility in Europe, in Frankfurt, Germany. On 9 September 2026 PSA confirmed that from 15 September 2026 at 12:01 AM Central European Time, collectors across the European Union could submit directly to PSA for local grading. PSA says Frankfurt offers all its global service levels for cards, autographed cards, tickets and packs, and reduces the time, cost and delays of international shipping.
PSA's European services are provided by Collectors Universe (Germany) GmbH in Frankfurt am Main, and PSA's European terms state that all charges are made in euro.
PSA grading cost in Europe: prices as of November 2026
Card grading prices on PSA's European pricing page, 4 November 2026. "Max" is the maximum insured value: the most a card can be worth after grading for that tier.
- Value: €34.99 per card (introductory; normally €39.99). Max insured value €450. Estimated 90 to 100 business days.
- Standard: €49.99 (introductory; normally €59.99). Max €900. Estimated 70 to 80 business days.
- Priority: €69.99 (introductory; normally €79.99). Max €1,300. Estimated 50 to 60 business days.
- Express: €199. Max €2,200. Estimated 25 to 30 business days.
- Super Express: €349. Max €4,500. Estimated 25 to 30 business days.
- Premier: €599. Max €9,000. Estimated 25 to 30 business days.
- Premium tiers: from €999 per card, for higher-value cards.
Prices, tiers and turnaround times change, so always check PSA's European pricing page before you submit. Turnaround times are PSA's estimates, not guarantees. Shipping and any applicable taxes are added at checkout.
The PSA grading scale explained
PSA grades each authentic card on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 the best. PSA's grading standards describe a PSA 10 Gem Mint as "a virtually perfect card": four sharp corners, sharp focus, full original gloss, no staining, and front centring within about 55/45. The grades, from top to bottom:
- 10 Gem Mint and 9 Mint: near-flawless; a 9 may show one minor flaw
- 8 Near Mint-Mint and 7 Near Mint: slight fraying or surface wear on close inspection
- 6 Excellent-Mint, 5 Excellent and 4 Very Good-Excellent: visible wear building up
- 3 Very Good, 2 Good and 1 Poor: rounded corners, creases, heavy wear
PSA also gives half grades (such as 8.5) to exceptional cards within a grade, but no 9.5. Counterfeit, trimmed or altered cards get no number. Not sure your card is genuine? Read how to spot fake Pokémon cards first.
How to grade Pokémon cards in Ireland with PSA
- Create a PSA account on psacard.com (PSA's European pages are at psacard.com/en-DE).
- Fill in a submission in PSA's Online Submission Center: list each card, pick a service level and enter its value.
- Get your label: after checkout PSA emails a shipping label. PSA's FAQ says it is valid for 30 days and you're charged for shipping when the carrier scans the parcel.
- Pack your cards exactly as PSA's shipping guide says (below) and include the printed submission form.
- Post it to PSA in Frankfurt am Main using the address on PSA's shipping guide and label.
- Track it in your PSA account. Graded cards come back by courier, signature required.
Shipping cards to Germany: customs and insurance
Ireland and Germany are both in the EU, so posting cards to Frankfurt is an intra-EU shipment: in general, no customs declaration and no import duty either way. Check the total at checkout. One important point from PSA's FAQ: you're responsible for insuring your parcel on the way to PSA; PSA's FAQ says return packages are shipped using PSA's insurance.
How to prepare cards for PSA grading
Follow PSA's European shipping guide exactly; a wrongly packed order can be delayed or charged extra:
- Penny sleeve every card. Clear sleeves only; solid or opaque sleeves cause delays.
- Put each sleeved card in a semi-rigid holder. For standard cards PSA specifies 3 5/16" × 4 7/8". PSA says do not use toploaders, tape, pull tabs or sticky notes.
- Stack cards in the exact order of your submission form, item 1 on top.
- Sandwich the stack between two pieces of cardboard and secure it with 2 to 3 rubber bands, firm but not tight.
- Wrap and box it in a new box, fill the gaps, tape every seam and stick the label on the box.
Our Ultra PRO penny sleeves (pack of 100, €4.99) fit standard-size Pokémon and TCG cards and are clear, acid-free polypropylene. We don't stock semi-rigid holders. Until you're ready to send, keep your best cards in a penny sleeve inside a 3" × 4" toploader (pack of 25, €6.99), then move them into semi-rigids when you pack. More in our guide to protecting trading cards.
Which Pokémon cards to grade: think condition first
Grading measures condition, so inspect a card under a bright light before paying to submit it:
- Centring: are the borders even left to right and top to bottom? For a PSA 10, PSA allows about 55/45 on the front and 75/25 on the back.
- Corners: sharp, with no white showing or fraying.
- Edges: clean, no chips or whitening.
- Surface: tilt it to spot scratches, print lines, dents or fingerprints.
Pick the tier from the card's likely value after grading: PSA can move a card up a tier (and charge the difference) if it's worth more than the max. To get an idea of what a card is worth, see how much are my Pokémon cards worth? Phoenix TCG doesn't give financial advice; prices change. If you're weighing up companies, our PSA vs CGC vs Beckett vs TAG comparison sets out the differences.
Fresh cards to check: Pokémon Pitch Black
A card sleeved straight from the pack has had the least handling. We have Pokémon Mega Evolution: Pitch Black booster packs (€6.99) and booster boxes of 36 packs (€229.99) in stock, plus the rest of our Pokémon range.
Phoenix TCG ships tracked from Dublin across the Republic of Ireland, and you earn Gems on every order with our free membership.
PSA grading Ireland FAQ
Can I get PSA grading in Ireland?
Yes, by post. Since 15 September 2026 collectors across the EU, including Ireland, can submit directly to PSA Europe's grading facility in Frankfurt, Germany, through PSA's Online Submission Center.
How much does PSA grading cost in Europe?
As of November 2026: Value €34.99 per card, Standard €49.99 and Priority €69.99 (all introductory), Express €199 and Premier €599. Shipping and any taxes are extra, and prices change.
Where is PSA Europe?
In Frankfurt am Main, Germany: PSA's first full-scale grading facility in Europe.
How long does PSA grading take from Europe?
As of November 2026, PSA estimates 25 to 30 business days for Express and above, up to 90 to 100 business days for Value. These are estimates, not guarantees.
Do I pay customs sending cards from Ireland to PSA in Germany?
Generally no: Ireland and Germany are both in the EU, so it is an intra-EU shipment with no customs declaration or import duty. Any applicable taxes show at PSA's checkout.
Can I send cards to PSA in toploaders?
No. PSA's shipping guide says to put each card in a clear penny sleeve, then a semi-rigid holder (3 5/16" × 4 7/8" for standard cards), and not to use toploaders, tape or pull tabs.
What is the PSA grading scale?
1 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint), with half grades such as 8.5 (but no 9.5). A PSA 10 is a virtually perfect card.
Does Phoenix TCG offer PSA grading?
No. We don't grade cards or submit them for customers. We do sell penny sleeves, card protection and Pokémon cards, shipped tracked from Dublin.
PSA service, pricing, turnaround and packing details from PSA's official European site (psacard.com/en-DE: pricing, shipping guide, FAQ and terms) and PSA's announcements of 23 September 2025 and 9 September 2026, as of 4 November 2026; PSA may change them at any time. Card images are official Pokémon TCG images from The Pokémon Company International. Product images are our own store listings. Phoenix TCG is not affiliated with PSA. PSA is a trademark of Collectors Universe, Inc. Pokémon is a trademark of Nintendo, Creatures and GAME FREAK. Ultra PRO is a trademark of Ultra PRO International.
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