# What can I bring into this country?

> Cash, medicine, food — and what gets taxed or taken.

URL: https://allproblemssolved.aplusz.app/en/what-can-i-bring-in/  
Language: English (en)

## The problem

Every border limits cash, medicines, food and goods, and travellers find out at the desk.

Who it hits: Every traveller.

### The shapes it takes

- Cash declaration limits, on arrival and departure
- Medicines, prescriptions and permits
- Food, plants, animal products
- Alcohol and tobacco allowances
- Duty-free value of shopping and gifts
- Drones and vapes
- Pets: microchip, rabies tests, quarantine
- Items banned outright

### What this page gives you

What you may bring in, and what gets taxed or taken.

## Where are you going, and what's in your bag?

Not sure? Take the red channel or tick “yes” on the form — declaring costs nothing; not declaring can cost the goods and a fine.

## Every country's rules on this page

### European Union (all 27 member states)

- Cash: Declare cash of 10,000 EUR or more when you arrive — and when you leave. Banknotes, coins, cheques and other payment instruments all count.
- Alcohol or tobacco: Arriving from outside the EU, each adult (17+) may bring 1 litre of spirits (or 2 litres up to 22%), 4 litres of still wine and 16 litres of beer, plus 200 cigarettes — some EU countries allow only 40 cigarettes to travellers arriving by land or sea.
- Shopping and gifts: Other goods up to 430 EUR per person arriving by air or sea, 300 EUR by land; lower amounts can apply to children. Above that, declare and pay.
- Food: From outside the EU you may not bring any meat or dairy products (except from a few neighbours, and up to 2 kg of infant milk or medical food). Up to 20 kg of fish is allowed; plants need a health certificate.
- A drone: A drone with a camera or weighing 250 g or more: register as an operator in one EU country before you fly.
- A pet (dog or cat): Up to 5 pets. A microchip, then a rabies vaccine at least 21 days before travel, and an official health certificate. From many non-EU countries, also a rabies blood test (at least 0.5 IU/ml) taken at least 30 days after the vaccine and 3 months before travel.
- Official: https://www.advantageaustria.org/ws/zentral/business-guide/reisen-nach-oesterreich/einreise/zollbestimmungen/zollbestimmungen.en.html · https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/animal-products-movements/personal-imports_en · https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/movement-pets_en

### United Kingdom

- Cash: Declare cash of 10,000 GBP or more when you arrive — and when you leave. Banknotes, coins, cheques and other payment instruments all count.
- Alcohol or tobacco: Each adult (17+) may bring 42 litres of beer and 18 litres of still wine, plus 4 litres of spirits or 9 litres of drinks up to 22%, and 200 cigarettes (or 250 g of tobacco). Go over one allowance and duty is due on everything in that category.
- Shopping and gifts: Other goods up to 390 GBP — 270 GBP if you arrive by private plane or boat. Above that, tax and duty are due on the total value, not just the part over.
- Food: Since April 2025 travellers may not bring meat or dairy products from the EU into Great Britain — not even a sandwich or cheese from duty-free. They're seized, and fines can reach £5,000 in England.
- A pet (dog or cat): A microchip, a rabies vaccine at least 21 days before travel, and a health certificate. Dogs need a tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before arriving (except from a few countries). From unlisted countries, a rabies blood test and a 3-month wait. Pets must arrive with an approved carrier or route.
- Official: https://www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods/arriving-in-Great-Britain · https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain

### United States

- Cash: Declare cash of 10,000 USD or more when you arrive — and when you leave. Banknotes, coins, cheques and other payment instruments all count.
- Alcohol or tobacco: Visitors aged 21 or over may bring 1 litre of alcohol and 200 cigarettes for their own use.
- Shopping and gifts: Visitors staying at least 72 hours may bring gifts worth up to 100 USD duty-free (not counting alcohol). Declare the value of everything that will stay in the US.
- Food: Declare all fruits, vegetables, plants, meat and other animal products — undeclared items can bring a penalty and are seized.
- A drone: Drones over 250 g must be registered with the FAA before flying.
- A pet (dog or cat): Dogs must be at least 6 months old, microchipped, and arrive with a CDC Dog Import Form receipt; dogs that were in countries at high risk of rabies need more. Check the CDC page before booking.
- Official: https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/cbp_form_6059b_english_0.pdf · https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/index.html

### Canada

- Cash: Declare cash of 10,000 CAD or more when you arrive — and when you leave. Banknotes, coins, cheques and other payment instruments all count.
- Alcohol or tobacco: Visitors of legal drinking age may bring 1.5 litres of wine, or 1.14 litres of alcohol, or 8.5 litres of beer, plus 200 cigarettes.
- Shopping and gifts: Gifts for someone in Canada: up to 60 CAD each, duty-free (not alcohol or tobacco).
- Official: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca

### Australia

- Cash: Declare cash of 10,000 AUD or more when you arrive — and when you leave. Banknotes, coins, cheques and other payment instruments all count.
- Alcohol or tobacco: Each adult (18+) may bring 2.25 litres of alcohol and just 25 cigarettes (or 25 g of tobacco) — plus one open packet. Go over and duty is due on the whole category.
- Shopping and gifts: Other goods up to 900 AUD per adult, 450 AUD per person under 18; families travelling together can pool theirs.
- Food: Declare all food, plant material and animal products on the arrival card — undeclared items can bring an on-the-spot fine or worse.
- A vape: Nicotine vapes are tightly controlled in Australia — check the rules before packing one.
- A pet (dog or cat): Cats and dogs need an import permit and can come only from approved countries, with a stay in the post-arrival quarantine station. From many countries, preparation takes about 7 months.
- Official: https://www.abf.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/duty-free · https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/cats-dogs

### New Zealand

- Cash: Declare cash of 10,000 NZD or more when you arrive — and when you leave. Banknotes, coins, cheques and other payment instruments all count.
- Alcohol or tobacco: Each adult (17+) may bring 4.5 litres of wine or beer and 3 bottles of spirits (up to 1.125 litres each), and 50 cigarettes or 50 g of tobacco.
- Shopping and gifts: Goods bought overseas up to 700 NZD in total, including gifts.
- Food: Declare all food, plants and animal products — biosecurity officers check bags on arrival.
- Medicine: Declare medicine if you bring more than three months' supply, or medicine not prescribed to you.
- A pet (dog or cat): Pets can come only from approved countries, with an import permit for many, and quarantine for some. Start early.
- Official: https://www.customs.govt.nz/travel-to-and-from-new-zealand/travel-by-air/on-your-arrival/ · https://www.mpi.govt.nz/bringing-and-sending-to-nz/pets-travel-and-recreation/travelling-to-nz-with-pets/

### Japan

- Cash: Declare cash of 1,000,000 JPY or more when you arrive — and when you leave. Banknotes, coins, cheques and other payment instruments all count.
- Alcohol or tobacco: Each adult (20+) may bring 3 bottles of alcohol (760 ml each), 200 cigarettes (or 10 packs of heated tobacco, 50 cigars or 250 g), and 2 ounces of perfume.
- Shopping and gifts: Other goods up to 200,000 JPY in total; single items up to 10,000 JPY aren't counted.
- Food: Meat products, including sausages and jerky, need an export certificate from the country of origin — without one they're refused.
- Medicine: Stimulants are banned in Japan, including some ADHD medicines (such as Adderall). Bringing more than a month's supply of prescription medicine needs an import certificate before you travel.
- A drone: Drones of 100 g or more must be registered before flying in Japan.
- A pet (dog or cat): Dogs and cats need a microchip, two rabies vaccines, a blood test (at least 0.5 IU/ml) and a 180-day wait, and quarantine must be notified at least 40 days before arrival. Otherwise, quarantine of up to 180 days.
- Official: https://www.customs.go.jp/english/c-answer_e/keitaibetsuso/7104-2_e.htm · https://www.maff.go.jp/aqs/english/animal/dog/import-other.html

### Singapore

- Cash: Declare cash of 20,000 SGD or more when you arrive — and when you leave. Banknotes, coins, cheques and other payment instruments all count.
- Alcohol or tobacco: Adults (18+) who spent 48 hours or more outside Singapore — and aren't arriving from Malaysia — may bring 2 litres of alcohol duty-free (for example 1 litre of spirits and 1 of wine). There is no duty-free allowance for cigarettes or tobacco: all of it is taxed and must follow Singapore's plain-packaging rules.
- Shopping and gifts: New goods up to 500 SGD tax-free after 48 hours or more away, 100 SGD after less. Not declaring can bring a fine of up to 20 times the duty and tax.
- A vape: Vapes are banned in Singapore — buying, having and using them are offences, and they're seized at the border.
- A pet (dog or cat): Pets need an import licence and vaccinations; depending on the country they come from, a blood test and quarantine apply.
- Official: https://www.customs.gov.sg/at-customs/arriving-in-singapore/duty-free-concession-gst-relief/ · https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs

### Thailand

- Cash: Declare cash of 20,000 USD or more when you arrive — and when you leave. Banknotes, coins, cheques and other payment instruments all count.
- Alcohol or tobacco: Each adult may bring 1 litre of alcohol and 200 cigarettes (or 250 g of cigars or tobacco). Extra cigarettes are fined heavily, pack by pack.
- Shopping and gifts: Personal effects up to 20,000 THB.
- A vape: Vapes and e-liquids are banned in Thailand — importing and having them are offences, and they're seized.
- Official: https://aip.caat.or.th/2024-02-22-AIRAC/pdf/VT-GEN-1.3-en-GB.pdf

You're travelling inside the EU: there's no duty-free allowance, but goods for your own use move freely.

Inside the EU, some countries still ask you to declare €10,000 or more — check with the countries you leave, cross and enter.

## The general rules

- Most countries require you to declare cash above a set amount — often the equivalent of US$10,000 — when you arrive and when you leave. Undeclared cash can be seized.
- Declaring is not a tax: you keep the money, the form just records it.
- Most countries allow about 1 litre of spirits and 200 cigarettes duty-free for adults; above that, you pay duty or declare.
- Most countries let you bring in new goods up to a set value without tax; above it, declare and pay on the total. Keep your receipts.
- Meat, dairy, fresh fruit, plants and seeds are the usual bans. Declare all food if you're not sure — it's the declared food that doesn't get you fined.
- Keep it in the original packaging, with your name on the label where possible.
- Carry the prescription or a doctor's letter (in English) with the medicine's generic name and dose.
- Bring only what you need for the trip — each country sets its own limit, often one to three months' supply.
- Strong painkillers, stimulants (ADHD medicines), sleeping pills and medical cannabis often need a permit before you travel — ask the country's embassy or health authority.
- Most countries let you bring a drone but ask you to register before flying, and ban flights near airports, crowds and government sites — check the aviation authority's rules first.
- Vapes are banned in a growing number of countries, sometimes including possession by tourists — check before you pack one.
- Hong Kong bans bringing in vapes and other alternative smoking products (air-to-air transit excepted).
- India bans importing e-cigarettes.
- A microchip first — the standard ISO chip — then the rabies vaccine: a vaccine given before the chip may not count.
- Many countries also want a rabies blood test, then a waiting period of months before the pet may travel.
- An official health certificate, issued a few days before travel.
- Some countries require an import permit, arrival at set airports, or quarantine — and some list banned breeds.

### Customs authorities

- Philippines: https://customs.gov.ph
- India: https://www.cbic.gov.in
- United Arab Emirates: https://icp.gov.ae
- South Korea: https://www.customs.go.kr
- Hong Kong: https://www.customs.gov.hk
- Taiwan: https://web.customs.gov.tw
- Mexico: https://www.anam.gob.mx
- Türkiye: https://ticaret.gov.tr
- Vietnam: https://www.customs.gov.vn
- Indonesia: https://www.beacukai.go.id
- Malaysia: https://www.customs.gov.my
- Egypt: https://www.customs.gov.eg
- Morocco: https://www.douane.gov.ma
- Kenya: https://www.kra.go.ke
- South Africa: https://www.sars.gov.za
- Brazil: https://www.gov.br/receitafederal

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