Non-EU customs allowances

Leaving the airport through customs

Most UK ports and airports have three exits or 'channels', while some have only one exit, with a red point phone for declaring goods. 

Use the Red Channel if you:

• have goods to declare; or
• have any sums of cash (notes, coins, bankers' drafts or any cheques including travellers' cheques) of 10,000 Euro or more (or the equivalent in another currency); or
• have commercial goods; or
• have tobacco products from an EU country that are over the limits for imports from that country; or
• are not sure what you should declare.   

Use the Green Channel if you are travelling from a non-EU country with:

• no more than the customs allowances: and
• no banned or restricted goods

Use the Blue Channel if you are travelling from a EU country with:

• no banned and restricted goods; and
• no tobacco products  that are over the limits for imports from that country.  
• If you bring in goods on which tax has been paid in an EU country, you do not have to pay any tax or duty on them in the UK.
  

The amounts you are allowed

When travelling from a non-EU country you can bring the following into the UK for your own use without paying UK tax or duty: 

• 200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250g of tobacco
• 2 litres of still table wine 
• 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume; or 2 litres of fortified wine (such as port or sherry), sparkling wine or other liqueurs
• 60cc of perfume 
• 250cc of eau de toilette 
• £145 worth of all other goods including gifts and souvenirs   

If you have not exceeded your allowances, go through the green channel. If you have any more than these allowances you must declare the goods in the red channel or use the red point phone. If you do not, you are breaking the law and may be prosecuted. 

You should also be aware that: 

• If you are under 17 you cannot bring tobacco or alcohol into the UK.
• You are entitled to the allowances above, only if you travel with the goods and do not sell them. 
• If you bring in something worth more than the limit of £145, you must pay charges on the full value, not just the value above £145. 
• You and anyone you are travelling with cannot pool your individual allowances to bring in an item worth more than the limit. You will have to pay charges on the full value of the item. 
• If you are bringing back any duty-free or tax-free goods you bought when you left the UK, these count as part of your allowance.   
• If you also have tobacco or alcohol goods that you bought in an EU country (other than tobacco products over the limit for imports from that country), you will not have to pay any more duty or tax on these so long as: they are for your own use; and you can show that you have paid duty and tax in an EU country, for example by producing the receipt.   
  

Air transfers

If you arrive by air and are transferring to a flight to another EU country, at the transfer point you need only declare goods in your hand baggage. You do not declare your hold baggage until you collect it at your final destination. 

The same usually applies if you are transferring to a UK domestic flight. But in some cases we must clear both your hand luggage and hold baggage at the transfer airport. The airline will tell you when this is necessary. 

Further information

For further information about UK customs and its rules and restrictions, visit HM Revenue & Customs – Information for travellers (www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/arriving/index.htm).