Summer is here and with it the time of holidays, travelling and discovering new places. Many of us use the holidays not only for relaxation, but also for shopping abroad. Whether you are heading to the beaches of Croatia, the historical sights of Italy and Greece or exotic adventures in Egypt, Tunisia and Thailand, it is a good idea to know what the import limits are for consumer goods. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprises during customs clearance and allow you to enjoy your holiday to the full.

Limits on imports of goods from the European Union into the Czech Republic

Free movement of goods applies to travel within the European Union. This means that as a consumer, you can take on holiday and bring back from holiday any goods in any quantity for personal consumption. However, you must be careful with tobacco products, alcoholic beverages or fuel, as these are goods subject to excise duty and related rules.  You can only import a limited quantity of these goods without customs clearance. The EU has set minimum limits, but individual Member States can set higher limits. Please see the table below for the specific limits on the importation of these goods by persons over the age of 18 from the European Union into the Czech Republic.

When importing goods up to the limit, you pay VAT and excise duty already in the price, at which you bought the product, so you do not pay any additional tax or surcharge. When checking at customs, you will indicate that the goods are for your own consumption or as a gift. It is well to bear in mind that these goods must not be traded further.

Limits on imports of goods from third countries into the Czech Republic

When returning from outside the EU, the rules for importing cigarettes or alcohol are much stricter. European countries can apply lower or higher limits to imports of goods from third countries. In the case of the Czech Republic, higher limits apply, which are as follows for tobacco products:

The quantity of the first 4 items represents 100% of the total permitted quantity of tobacco products - i.e. not all can be permitted at the same time, but the proportion of products can be combined, so that the sum does not exceed the total permitted limit of grams of tobacco. For example: a combination of 100 cigarettes and 50 cigars.

Imports of alcohol from third countries are also more strictly limited in the Czech Republic than imports from the European Union. Specifically, the following limits apply:

The last 3 items for alcohol above again represent the total amount allowed in this category of alcoholic beverages, which can be divided according to your preferences.

For arrivals from outside the European Union, limits also apply to all other goods imported occasionally for personal use or as a gift. Up to the limit, these goods are duty-free. However, unlike excise goods, this is not a quantitative limit. There is a value limit of EUR 430 for passengers aged 15 and over, EUR 200 for passengers aged under 15 and EUR 300 for the crew of the means of transport.

Import limits on consumer goods for Czechs travelling to popular holiday destinations

Not only when returning from the holiday, but also when packing for it, we need to be careful how many consumer goods we bring in our luggage.

Croatia, Italy and Greece are top destinations for Czech people within the European Union, due to their beautiful beaches, rich history and excellent cuisine. In these countries, you can use the same limits as for importing goods into the Czech Republic. The only difference here is the fuel, where you can carry a maximum of 10 litres in a portable canister in addition to the fuel contained in your car’s fuel tank.

It is more interesting when travelling to third countries that do not have the same established rules as the EU countries, but you need to find out more about what consumer goods you can import before you go, in order to avoid difficulties at the customs. Below we summarise the conditions for the most popular exotic countries.

Egypt

Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country and alcohol consumption is therefore restricted and regulated. You can bring a maximum of 1 litre of alcoholic beverages in your luggage. For tobacco products, you can take a maximum of 200 cigarettes, or 25 cigars, or a maximum of 200 grams of tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco must then be declared on arrival at customs.

Tunisia

Persons over 18 years of age may import duty-free alcoholic beverages up to a maximum of 2 litres (up to 25% alcohol) or 1 litre (over 25% alcohol) per person. It is also possible to import 200 cigarettes, or 100 short cigars, or 50 cigars, or 500 grams of tobacco per person.

Thailand

In Thailand, the following limit is set for duty-free imports of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes for own consumption: 1 litre of alcoholic beverages; 200 cigarettes and 250 grams of tobacco or combined tobacco products up to a weight of 250 grams. Compliance with the limit is strictly enforced in Thailand. If it is exceeded, a substantial fine is required and the goods in question are seized in their entirety. The fine is payable immediately and failure to pay it carries the risk of arrest by the police and, in the worst case, imprisonment.

In conclusion

It is important to note that this article provides only a brief listing of the countries and customs regulations to be considered when importing consumer goods. When planning your holiday, especially to countries outside the European Union, it is essential to familiarise yourself with the specific customs rules and restrictions applicable to your destination. Remember that each country has its own laws and regulations.

In addition to the outlined parameters of consumer goods, beware of the export of illegal goods in all holiday destinations, of course, which, in addition to drugs, may include for example corals or shells or products made from the skin of rare animals and from ivory. You may also come across countries that require special permits to export selected souvenirs or other goods.

In any case, always check with the relevant customs office or official government website for up-to-date information on the country before you leave. In this way you will avoid any inconvenience and ensure that your holiday runs smoothly and without complications. Enjoy your holiday and have a safe trip!