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Travel Allowances


These allowances are just a guide to what local customs authorities will allow into each country, free of duty. While we have made every effort to ensure accuracy, amounts quoted could be subject to change without prior notice. We advise that you check with the local customs authorities for the most up to date information, as the below list features only selected flight destinations.

 

From 1st January 2021, British passengers travelling to EU countries are able to take advantage of duty-free shopping, in line with the rest of the world. Your duty-free allowance means you can bring in a certain amount of goods for your own use without paying duty or tax.

The amount that passengers can bring back from non-EU Countries is now increased, and extended to EU countries.

 


New inbound personal allowances when arriving in the UK:
• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or
• 50 cigars or 250g tobacco or 200 sticks of tobacco for heating or any proportional combination of the above

• 42 litres of beer - The beer allowance of 42 litres will equate to three crates of 568ml (pint) cans. If passengers prefer to buy 330ml bottles of beer this would equate to five crates.

• 18 litres of still wine
• 4 litres of spirits or 9 litres of sparkling wine, fortified wine or any alcoholic beverage less than 22% ABV
• Other goods including souvenirs up to the value of £390 (or £270 if arriving by private plane or boat).

Duty free, personal allowance and the VAT Retail Export Scheme changes will apply in England, Wales and Scotland.

 

Duty-free allowance for travellers arriving in the European Union from non-EU countries:

• If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos (max. 3 grams each) or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco.
• 4L of wine and 16L of beer and 1L of spirits over 22% volume or 2L of alcoholic beverages less than 22% volume
• Other goods up to the value of €430 for air and sea travellers and €300 for other travellers (reduced to €175 for children under 15).


UK duty-free allowance for travellers arriving in the European Union from EU countries:

Goods obtained duty and tax paid in the EU are unlimited, as long as they are for your own use. However, if you bring in more than the following, customs officials are more likely to ask the reason for holding the goods:
• 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco.
• 90L of still wine.
• 110L of beer.
• 10L of alcoholic beverages stronger than 22% or 20L of fortified or sparkling wine or other liqueurs up to 22%.

 

Australia
The following items may be imported into Australia by travellers over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
• 25 cigarettes or 25g of tobacco or cigars.
• 2.25L of alcoholic drinks. Customers travelling to and from Australia should only purchase spirits on the second leg of their journey to avoid confiscation in the Far East.
• Personal belongings that you've owned and used for at least 12 months, with exclusion of fragrance or fur apparel.
• Other goods to a value of A$900 (A$450 if under 18).


Barbados
The following items may be brought into Barbados by travellers without incurring customs duty:
• 1L of spirits or wine.
• Customers cannot take cigarettes into Barbados unless they pay the duty.
• Souvenirs up to a value of BBD$100.
All other articles are subject to import duty, other than personal effects required during your visit.


Brazil
The following goods may be imported into Brazil without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes and 25 cigars and 250g of tobacco.
• 24 units of alcohol with maximum allowance of 12 per category of alcohol.
• 10 toiletry items including cosmetics. 3 of the following: watches, toys, games or electronic items


Canada
The following goods may be imported into Canada without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 200g of loose tobacco and 200 tobacco sticks per person over 18 years of age.
• 1.5L of wine or 1.1L of spirits or 8.5L of beer or ale per person over 18 years of age if entering Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, and over 19 years if entering British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon.
• Non-residents can bring gifts to the value of C$60 per gift (excluding advertising matter, tobacco or alcoholic beverages).
• Canadian residents can bring goods to the value of C$200 for trips out of the country of 24 hours or more (excluding alcohol and tobacco) and C$800 for trips of 48 hours or more (including alcohol and tobacco).


China
The following items may be imported into China without incurring customs duty:
• 100 cigarettes and 100 cigars and 500g of tobacco.
• 1.1L of alcoholic beverages with 12% or more alcoholic content.
• Personal articles up to a value of ¥5,000 for Chinese residents.
• Personal articles which will be left in China up to a value of ¥2,000 for non-residents.


Hong Kong
The following items may be imported into Hong Kong without incurring customs duty:
• 19 cigarettes and 1 cigar and 25g of tobacco.
• 1L of alcoholic beverages with 30% or more alcoholic content. No duty on drinks with <30% alcohol content.
There are no duty-free concessions for dutiable goods for trade, business or commercial purposes. When carrying such goods, passengers are required to:
• use the Red Channel;
• declare to the Customs officer the purpose of carrying such goods; and
• lodge import declarations to the Commissioner of Customs and Excise in this connection.


India
Non-resident travellers over 18 may import the following items into India without incurring customs duty:
• 100 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 125g of tobacco.
• 2L of spirits or wine.
• 59ml of perfume or 1/4L of eau de toilette;
• Gifts and souvenirs to the value of Rs8,000 (US$125).
• Reasonable quantities of medicines.

Import by non-residents is only permitted if the national has entered India for a stay of not less than 24 hours, and no more than six months within a 12-month period.


Japan
The following goods may be imported into Japan by travellers 20 years of age and older without incurring customs duty:
• 400 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 500g of tobacco or 500g of a combination of these.
• 3 bottles (approximately 760ml each) of alcohol.
• 56ml of perfume.
• Other goods up to the value of ¥200,000.


Malaysia
The following goods may be imported into Malaysia without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes or 225g of tobacco.
• 1L of alcoholic drinks.
• Food up to the value of RM75.
• 3 pieces of new clothing and 1 new pair of shoes.
• 1 portable electronic item for personal care.
• Other goods up to the value of RM400


Maldives
The following goods may be imported into the Maldives without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 250g of tobacco.
• Goods to the value of MRf6,000.
It’s important to note that while you can drink alcohol in all resorts, it’s illegal to import any alcoholic drinks.


Oman
The following items may be imported into Oman without incurring customs duty:
• 400 cigarettes.
• Up to 2L or 24 cans of alcoholic beverages (non-Muslims over the age of 21 only).
• 100ml of perfume.
• max. 10 DVDs.
Meat products officially require an Islamic slaughter certificate and import licence. Medicines in their original packaging and with the original label should be accompanied by a prescription or medical certificate. Certain medicines may be illegal in Oman and may be treated as narcotics, so you should check with your authorities before you go.


Singapore
The following goods may be imported into Singapore by travellers without incurring customs duty:
• 1L of spirits or 1L of wine or 1L of beer.
• Goods to the value of S$600 (if out of the country for more than 48 hours) or S$150 (if out of the country for less than 48 hours).

There is no duty-free allowance for cigarettes and tobacco products.


United Arab Emirates
The following items may be imported into the United Arab Emirates without incurring customs duty:
• 400 cigarettes and 50 cigars and 500g of tobacco.
• 4L of wine or spirits or 48 cans of beer.
• Goods to the value of AED3,000.


United States
The following goods may be imported by visitors over 21 years of age into the USA without incurring customs duty:
• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars.
• 1L of alcoholic beverage.
• Goods up to a value of US$800 (returning residents who have been out of the country for at least 48 hours; this limit is applicable once every 30 days and is reduced to US$200 for travellers who have already used the allowance or have been out of the USA for less than 48 hours).
• Goods up to a value of US$100 (non-residents visiting the USA for at least 72 hours).

 

If you have any more than the above allowances, you must declare the goods. If you do not, you are breaking the law and may be prosecuted.


Transfer passengers travelling with liquids
If you buy any individual liquid, gel or cream products of more than 100ml on board a flight and are transferring onto another flight, then ask a member of crew to place your purchases and receipt inside a security tamper evident bag, which must be sealed. A number of countries have individual restrictions on liquids. British Airways cannot accept liability for any products opened or confiscated during transit or disembarkation.

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