UK customs regulations

Duty-free allowance

Tobacco limit

Restricted to travellers 18 years and over. Passengers can bring in one from the following:

• 200 cigarettes;
• 100 cigarillos;
• 50 cigars;
• 250g tobacco;
• or 200 sticks of tobacco for electronic heated tobacco devices.

Passengers can split this allowance - so passengers could bring in 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars (both half of their allowance).

Bringing alcohol

Restricted to travellers 18 years and over. Passengers can bring in:

• Beer - 42 litres
• Wine (still) - 18 litres

Passengers can also bring in either:

• Spirits and other liquors over 22% alcohol - 4 litres
• Sparkling wine, fortified wine (for example port, sherry) and other alcoholic drinks up to 22% alcohol (not including beer or still wine) - 9 litres

Passengers can split this last allowance, for example passengers could bring 4.5 litres of fortified wine and 2 litres of spirits (both half of their allowance).

Passengers can bring in other goods worth up to £390.

• If passengers go over their allowance they pay tax and duty on the total value of the goods, not just the value above the allowance.
• Passengers may have to pay import VAT and customs duty if they exceed their allowance.

When travelling from the EU

Passengers do not need to pay any tax or duties on personal goods they bring into Great Britain as long as they are within their personal allowances. If the goods are over their allowances they will need to declare them, pay any customs duty due, pay any excise duty due (for tobacco or alcohol) and pay any import VAT due. When passengers declare their goods they need to declare each item they bought. When they declare their items, they may not need to pay customs duty on items where all the following are true:

• they were grown or made in the EU using only EU ingredients or materials;
• they bought them in the EU; and
• they are bringing them in from an EU country.

If these are true, passengers can claim a zero rate of customs duty for each item. If the total value of all the items passengers declare is less than £1,000 the evidence for each item can be:

• A label or packaging showing it was grown or made in the EU; or
• Evidence it was hand-made or grown in the EU (for example, a document or written note from the person or business passengers bought it from).

If the total value of all the items passengers declare is over £1,000, they can claim a zero rate of customs duty if they can prove each item was grown or made in the EU. A Border Force officer might ask to see this evidence. If passengers are unable to show this, they will have to pay any customs duty they owe.

Prohibited items

The following are goods which cannot be brought into the country.

• Controlled drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, MDMA, and cannabis.
• Weapons, such as flick knives, knuckledusters, truncheons, and blowpipes.
• Self defence sprays and electric shock devices, such as stun guns.
• Indecent and obscene materials such as books, magazines, and other media.
• Counterfeit and pirated goods.
• Meat and dairy products from outside the EU.

Restricted items

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to arrival.

• Firearms, explosives, and ammunition may be imported with a permit. Realistic imitation firearms may only be imported for an authorised purpose or function, such as participating at an historical re-enactment.
• Samurai swords require a permit, and may only be imported for an authorised purpose, such as participation in martial arts events or religious ceremonies.
• Cats, dogs, and ferrets are subject to a mandatory health inspection at the first point of entry on EU territory. They must also have a microchip or tattoo, and have been properly vaccinated against rabies. A Common Veterinary Entry Document certifying the healthy inspection must be provided with the customs declaration. Pets travelling within the EU must have a valid pet passport. For further information, please visit the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.
• Endangered animals, plants, and their derivative products protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) may require protected species permits. For further information, please visit the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs.
• Certain radio transmitters may be imported with a permit.
• Rough diamonds may only be imported with a valid Kimberley Process Certificate.
• Plant products from the UK, including fruit and vegetables, require a phytosanitary certificate, and are subject to certain restrictions. For further information, please visit Bringing fruit, vegetables and plants products into the UK.
• 2kg of products of animal origin such as milk powder, baby food, and food for medical purposes can be brought in personal baggage as long as they are still packaged and do not require refrigeration.
• Food products of animal origin, such as honey and eggs, may be brought in from outside the EU in small quantities. For further information, please visit Bringing food products into the UK.