Duty Free Rules for Flying
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- Airlines will always try to sit children with their parents (subject to check-in)
- Some airlines will allow travel for unaccompanied minors. Please email us to check.
- The fare is based on the child's age on the date of travel.
- More detailed information can be found here Traveling with children
- Most airlines will let infants travel with their parent(s) for free. However some airlines will charge up to 10% of the adult ticket price. Click on 'Price Breakdown' to find out more.
- If you are pregnant, but due before the flight departure date, please contact us once your baby is born and has a name. We can then add him/her to your ticket.
- Infants will not be given a seat. The airlines expect parents to travel with them on their lap.
- Airlines regard infants as being under 24 months old.
- The fare is based on the child's age on the date of travel.
- More detailed information can be found here Traveling with children
Duty Free Rules
Ever wondered how much you are allowed to buy at the airport or if there are restrictions on how much alcohol or cigarettes you can purchase? Read on for Alternative Airline’s guide to Duty Free shopping rules.
What is Duty Free Shopping?
A duty-free shop is a shop which sells goods or products without the addition of duty, which is defined as taxes, fees or VAT. They are often found in international terminals of the airport, but also sometimes at border crossings or ship port terminals.
Prices at duty-free shops are typically lower than prices outside of the duty free area, but shoppers need to be savvy to ensure they are entitled to a reduction and get the best deal. As with any shop or mall, some airports have better duty-free shopping than others, so be sure to read our guide to the best airports for shopping to be able to plan your travels around the airport shops.
People often take advantage of cheaper duty-free goods to buy items such as cigarettes, wine, beer or liquor. Find out how to transport these items in our prohibited items blog, and also read about flying with wine here.
Who qualifies for duty free?
Duty free eligibility depends on where you are travelling to and from, and in some cases how long you have been in your destination.
In the UK, people travelling outside the European Union will be eligible to duty free goods. Those travelling within the UK or EU will have to pay the tax and VAT.
How much duty free am I allowed?
The following table summarises the limits to imports into the country without the addition of customs duty. Use this guide when doing your duty free allowance to see how much you are allowed to buy. In most cases, this is the allowance without incurring customs duty.
| Country | Cigarettes/Tobacco | Alcohol | Other Goods |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | ‘A reasonable amount of tobacco products for personal use’ | ‘A reasonable amount of perfume products for personal use’ | |
| Albania | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 1L of spirits (over 22% alcohol content) OR 2L spirits (less than 22%) OR 2L wine. | 250ml eau de toilette OR 50ml perfume. Goods up to €430. |
| Algeria | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 1L spirits OR 2L wine. | 50g perfume OR 0.25ml eau de toilette. Goods to the value of DZD50,000. |
| Angola | 400 cigarettes OR 500g tobacco | 2L wine AND 1L spirits | 3 x 250ml eau de toilette OR 50ml perfume. Personal use items up to value of AOA142,560. |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 1L wine OR spirits. | 170ml perfume. |
| Argentina | Personal Goods up to value of US$300, plus US$300 good purchased at duty-free shops in airport. | ||
| Australia | 50 cigarettes OR 50g tobacco OR cigars. | 2.25L alcohol. | Goods to a value of A$900. |
| Austria* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L alcoholic beverages (under 22%) | Goods to a value of €430. |
| Azerbaijan | 600 cigarettes. | 3L alcohol | 10kg food products AND 125g caviar. Goods up to a value of US$1,500. |
| Bahamas | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 454g tobacco. | 1L spirits. | Goods up to a value of B$100(visitors), B$300(residents) or B$500(residents who have been out of the country for over a year). |
| Bahrain | 400 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 1L alcohol AND 6 cans beer. | 240ml/8oz perfume. Gifts up to a value BHD250. |
| Bangladesh | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 225g tobacco | 2 bottles alcoholic beverages up to 1.25L | 250ml perfume. Gifts to value of BDT500. |
| Barbados | 1L spirit OR wine. | ||
| Belarus | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 3L alcohol | Goods up to value of €1,500, weighing no more than 50kg. |
| Belgium* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L fortified wine or spirits (up to 22%) OR 4L wine OR 16L beer. | Goods to a value of €430. |
| Belize | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L wine OR spirits | Personal items value up to BZ$200. |
| Bermuda | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 500g tobacco. | 1L wine AND 1L spirits | Personal items value up to BD$50 (visitors) or BD$200 (residents). |
| Bolivia | 450 cigarettes OR cigars OR 500g tobacco. | 3L alcohol | Purchases up to value of US$1,000. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 250g tobacco. | 1L spirits (over 22%) AND 2L wine. | 60ml perfume AND 250ml eau de toilette. Gifts to value of KM200. |
| Botswana | 200 cigarettes AND 20 cigars AND 250g tobacco | 2L wine AND 1L spirits | 50ml perfume AND 250ml eau de toilette. Goods up to value of R500 (within SACU zone) or R3,000 (visitors outside SACU). |
| Brazil | 200 cigarettes AND 25 cigars AND 250g tobacco. | 12L alcohol | 20 items worth more than $10 each, with no more than 3 being the same item. Total value of these items should not exceed US$500 |
| British Virgin Islands | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 230g tobacco | 0.95L wine or spirits. | |
| Bulgaria* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Cambodia | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 200g tobacco | 2L wine | 350ml perfume |
| Cameroon | 400 cigarettes OR 125 cigars OR 500g tobacco | 1L spirits AND 3L wine | |
| Canada | 200 cigarettes AND 50 cigars AND 200g tobacco | 1.5L wine OR 1.14L spirits OR 8.5L beer | Gifts up to value of C$60 per gift (Non-residents). Goods up to value of C$200 (Residents). |
| Cape Verde | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L spirits AND 2 x 1L wine | 250ml eau de toilette AND 50ml perfume |
| Chile | 400 cigarettes AND 50 cigars AND 500g tobacco | 2.5L alcohol | Gifts to a value of US$300. |
| China | 400 cigarettes AND 100 cigars AND 500g tobacco | 1.5L alcohol consisting of 2 x 750ml. No limit for beer(less than 12%) |
Personal articles up to a value of ¥5,000 for Chinese residents. |
| Colombia | 200 cigarettes AND 50 cigars AND 250g tobacco | 2 bottles of alcoholic beverages | Goods for personal use up to a value of US$1,500. |
| Costa Rica | 400 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 500g tobacco | 5L alcoholic beverages | Goods up to a value of US$500. |
| Croatia* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L alcoholic beverages (under 22%) | Goods to a value of Kn3,200. |
| Cuba | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 3L alcoholic beverages | Laptop for personal use. Gifts up to value of CUC$50.99. |
| Cyprus* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L alcoholic beverages (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Czech Republic* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L alcoholic beverages (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | 100 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 227g tobacco | 1 bottle of alcohol | ‘Reasonable amount of perfume for personal use’. |
| Denmark* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L alcoholic beverages (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Dominican Republic | 200 cigarettes OR 1 box of cigars. | 1L alcohol | Gifts up to a value of US$100. |
| Ecuador | 400 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 500g tobacco | 3L alcohol | 300ml perfume (individual) OR 600ml perfume (per family). Other goods up to a value of US$500. |
| Egypt | 200 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 200g tobacco | 1L alcohol | Other goods up to value of 1500E£. |
| El Salvador | 500g tobacco in any form. | 5L alcoholic beverages. | 2kg sweets. Goods to a value of US$500. |
| Estonia* | 40 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 50g tobacco | 4L wine (excluding sparkling) AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Goods to a value of €430. |
| Ethiopia | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 2L alcoholic drinks | 500ml perfume. Gifts not exceeding value 500 Birr. 100g gold and other precious metals. 30g precious stones. 100g semi-precious stones. |
| EU (EU country to another EU country) (see below for countries following this rule) | 800 cigarettes OR 400 cigarillos OR 200 cigars OR 1kg tobacco. | 10L spirits (over 22%) OR 20L spirits (up to 22%) OR 90L wine OR 110L beer. | |
| Fiji | 200 cigarettes OR 200g cigars or 200g tobacco goods | 2.25L spirits OR 4.5L wine/beer | Other goods up to value of F$1,000. |
| Finland | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L alcoholic beverages (under 22%) | Goods to a value of €430. |
| France* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Georgia | 400 cigarettes OR 50 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 4L alcoholic beverages | Goods to a value of GEL3,000, up to 30kg in weight. |
| Germany* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Ghana | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 2L wine AND 1L spirits | 50ml perfume AND 250ml eau de toilette |
| Greece* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Grenada | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L wine OR spirits | 300ml perfume. Goods to value of EC$300. |
| Hong Kong | 19 cigarettes OR 1 cigar OR 25g tobacco | 1L alcohol over 30% volume. | |
| Hungary | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L alcoholic beverages (under 22%) | Goods to a value of €430. |
| Iceland | 200 cigarettes OR 250g tobacco products | 1L spirits AND 0.75L wine AND 3L beer | 3kg of food with value no more than kr88,000. |
| India | 100 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 125g tobacco | 2L wine OR spirits | Gifts to value of Rs8,000. |
| Indonesia | 200 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 100g tobacco | 1L alcohol | Gifts to value of US$250. |
| Iran | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | Importation of alcohol is illegal in Iran. | |
| Iraq | 200 cigarettes OR 25 cigarillos OR 10 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L spirits AND 2L fortified wine AND 2L wine AND 8L beer | |
| Ireland* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L alcoholic beverages (under 22%) | Goods to a value of €430. |
| Israel | 200 cigarettes OR 250g tobacco products | 1L spirits AND 2L wine | 0.25L cologne or perfume. Gifts and goods to value of US$200. |
| Italy* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L alcoholic beverages (under 22%) | Goods to a value of €430. |
| Ivory Coast | 200 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 150g tobacco | 1 bottle alcoholic drink. | 380ml eau de toilette AND 75ml perfume. Goods to value of XOF10,000. |
| Jamaica | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 230g tobacco | 1L alcoholic drinks | 170ml perfume AND 340ml eau de toilette. US$500 other goods (residents only) |
| Japan | 400 cigarettes OR 100 cigars OR 500g tobacco OR 500g combination of these. | 3 x 750ml bottles alcohol | 60ml perfume. Other goods to value of ¥200,000. |
| Kazakhstan | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 200g tobacco | 3L alcoholic beverages | Reasonable quantity of perfume for personal use. Goods to value of €1,500. |
| Kenya | 250g tobacco products | 1L spirit OR 2L wine | 500ml of perfume and eau de toilette, of which no more than a quarter can be perfume. |
| Kuwait | 500 cigarettes OR 900g tobacco. | Alcohol is banned import. | |
| Latvia* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Lebanon | 800 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 1kg tobacco | 2L spirits (over 22%) OR 4L other alcohol | 1L eau de cologne AND 100ml perfume. Personal belongings not exceeding L£2 million. |
| Lithuania* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Luxembourg* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Malaysia | 200 cigarettes OR 225g tobacco | 1L alcohol | Food up to value of RM75. Goods to value of RM400. |
| Maldives | 200 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | Illegal to import alcohol. | Goods to value of MRf6,000 |
| Malta* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Mauritius | 250g tobacco products | 1L spirits AND 2L wine OR beer | Goods to value of Rp15,000 |
| Mexico | 10 packs cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 200g tobacco | 3L spirits AND 6L wine | Other goods to value of US$500 |
| Moldova | 200 cigarettes AND 50 cigars OR cigarillos | 2L wine AND 5L beer | Other goods to value of €300. |
| Morocco | 400g tobacco | 1L spirits AND 1L wine | 150ml perfume OR 250ml eau de toilette. Gifts to value of Dh2,000. |
| Myanmar | 400 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250 tobacco | 2L alcohol | 150ml perfume. Other goods to value of US$500. |
| Nepal | 200 cigarettes AND 50 cigars AND 20g tobacco | 1.15L spirits OR wine OR 12 cans beer | Medicine not exceeding value of Rs10,000. Canned food not exceeding Rs1,000 in value. Fresh Fruit not exceeding Rs2,000. 50g gold ornaments and 100g silver ornaments. |
| Netherlands* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| New Zealand | 50 cigarettes OR 50g tobacco OR cigars. Or a mixture weighing no more than 50g. | 4.5L wine OR beer AND 3 bottles of 1.125L spirits OR Liqueur | Other goods to a value of NZ$700. |
| Nigeria | 200g tobacco | 1L spirits AND 1L wine. | 284ml perfume. Gifts to value of ₦50,000. |
| Norway | 200 cigarettes OR 250g tobacco and 200 leaves of cigarette paper | 1L spirits (over 22%) AND 1.5 wine (under 22%) AND 2L beer (under 4.7%) | Goods to value of Kr6,000 (including alcohol and beer). 10kg meat products, cheese and foodstuffs. |
| Oman | 400 cigarettes | 2L OR 24 cans of alcoholic beverages | 100ml perfume. 10 DVDs. |
| Pakistan | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 500g tobacco | Alcohol is a banned import. | Other goods to value of US$100. |
| Panama | 10 packs cigarettes OR 2 packs tobacco | 5 bottles OR 3.8L alcohol | Goods to value of B/.2,000. |
| Peru | 20 packs cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 3L alcoholic beverages. | Purchases of value to US$500. |
| Philippines | 2 cartons cigarettes OR 2 tins tobacco | 2 bottles of alcoholic drinks. | Goods to value of US$1,000 |
| Poland* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Portugal* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Puerto Rico | 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars | 1L alcoholic beverages | |
| Qatar | 400 cigarettes | Alcohol is a banned import | Goods to value of QR3,000 |
| Romania* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Russia | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 3L alcohol | Goods to value €1,500 up to 50kg |
| Saudi Arabia | 600 cigarettes OR 100 cigars OR 500g tobacco | Alcoholic drinks banned import. | Goods to value of SAR3,000. |
| Serbia | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L alcohol | 1 bottle each of perfume and eau de toilette. Goods to value of €100. |
| Seychelles | 200 cigarettes OR 250g tobacco | 2L spirits AND 2L wine | 200ml perfume OR eau de toilette. Food items not exceeding Rs3,000. |
| Singapore | No duty free allowance for cigarettes or tobacco products. | 1L spirit AND 1L wine AND 1L beer | Goods to value of S$600. |
| Slovenia* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| South Africa | 200 cigarettes AND 20 cigars AND 250g tobacco | 1L spirits OR liqueurs AND 2L wine. | 50ml perfume AND 250ml eau de toilette. Other goods to value of R5,000. |
| South Korea | 200 cigarettes | 1 bottle of alcohol up to 1L | 60ml perfume. Goods to value US$600 |
| Spain* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Sri Lanka | No duty free allowance for tobacco products. | 2 bottles wine AND 1.5L spirits | Small quantity of perfume AND 250ml eau de toilette. Souvenirs up to US$250 in value. |
| St Lucia | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 225g tobacco | 1.2L alcoholic beverages | Goods to value of US$250. |
| Sweden* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| Switzerland | 250 cigarettes OR 250g tobacco products | 5L alcoholic drinks (up to 18%) AND 1L alcohol (over 18%) | Goods to value of SFr300. |
| Taiwan | 200 cigarettes OR 25 cigars OR 454g tobacco | 1L alcoholic beverages | |
| Tanzania | 250g of either cigarettes, cigars and tobacco | 1L spirits OR wine | 500ml of perfume and eau de toilette, of which no more than a quarter can be perfume. |
| Thailand | 200 cigarettes OR 250g cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L alcohol | Goods to value of ฿10,000 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1.5L wine or spirits | Goods to value TT$3,000 |
| Tunisia | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 500g tobacco | 1L alcoholic drinks (over 25%) and 2L alcoholic drinks (less than 25%) | |
| Turkey | 600 cigarettes AND 100 cigarillos AND 50 cigars AND 250g tobacco | 1L alcoholic drinks (over 22%) OR 2L alcoholic drinks (less than 22%) | 5 bottles (max 120ml each) of perfume and eau de toilette. 1kg each of tea, coffee, chocolate or confectionery. Gifts to value of €430 |
| Ukraine | 200 cigarettes OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco | 1L spirit AND 2L wine AND 5L beer | Food products to a value of €200, up to 2kg. Other goods to value of €1,000. |
| United Arab Emirates | 400 cigarettes AND 50 cigars AND 500g tobacco | 4L wine OR 4L spirits OR 48 cans of beer | Goods to a value of AED3,000. |
| United Kingdom* | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250g tobacco. | 4L wine AND 16L beer AND 1L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L spirits (under 22%) | Other goods up to value of €430. |
| United States of America | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigars | 1L alcoholic beverage | Goods to a value to US$800 (residents) or US$100 (non-residents) |
| Venezuela | 200 cigarettes AND 25 cigars | 2L alcoholic drinks | 4 small perfume bottles. Goods to value of US$1,000. |
| Vietnam | 200 cigarettes OR 100 cigars OR 500g tobacco | 1.5L spirits (over 22%) OR 2L fortified wines or liqueurs (under 22%) OR 3L other alcoholic drinks | Other goods to value of ₫10,000,000. |
*Rules are for travelling to this EU country from a country outside the EU. If you are travelling to this country from another country in the EU, please refer to the EU row.
EU countries who follow the general EU rule are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and U.K.
Please also note that these regulations often come with restrictions on who is carrying them. For example, in some Muslim countries, Muslim travellers are not permitted to transport alcohol. Additionally, some have restrictions on the age that you can transport good, based on the laws surrounding age of purchase in that country. There are also rules regarding customs and money. Read more about how much money you can fly with here.
Duty Free
FAQs
What does duty-free mean?
Duty-Free is a term used to describe purchasing products without the inclusion of fees such as duty and tax. These discount prices are only available to passengers travelling outside the European Union, and not within the EU. Duty-free items usually include items such as spirits, cigarettes, cigars and tobacco.
What are the duty free rules for connecting flights?
For flights connecting through the EU, if your duty-free items from the first leg of your journey has been packaged into a tamper evidence bag and you have proof of purchase, you can take it through the airport to your next flight.
For flights connecting within the United States or Canada, you will have to place it in your hold luggage, as the 100ml liquid restrictions will still apply.
What happens if I ignore Duty Free Rules?
If you ignore the rules of a country’s duty-free rules, it may result in you having to pay extra tax, or duty, to the country upon arrival. It could also mean that you spend unnecessary time in the screening area, while officers check your bags and purchases at duty-free. It may also mean that your purchases are confiscated all together, if you have purchased something that is prohibited by the country.
Why do the airport need to know where I am flying when purchasing goods?
When making duty free purchases at the airport, passengers will often be required to display a boarding pass. This is because, as the table above shows, your destination will determine how much and which items you are allowed to purchase.
Has duty free been abolished?
Not quite. For passengers flying outside of the European Union, they can still purchase duty free items as always. However, in 1999, duty free purchases was withdrawn within the EU. this means passengers travelling from one country in the EU to another country in the EU can no longer access duty free prices. However there are still many products available at great discount prices - makes sure you read our blog on the best airports for shopping.
