Before You Pack: Here’s What’s Allowed Into Europe

If you're planning a trip to any of the countries in the European Union, you might be wondering what you're allowed to bring in and take out.

The EU is known for having strict requirements around entry, like travel insurance and Schengen visas. What can go in and out of the zone is no different.

There are several different categories with limitations or certain rules, including alcohol and tobacco, animal products, and even plants and perfume.

We're going to take a look at what the rules are so you know what you can bring in and out.

First, when we are talking about the European Union, we are talking about:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

When it comes to the regulations, the EU has guidelines, but countries can also have their own guidelines that fall within those perimeters.

For example, the EU may have a general rule that a traveler can bring 200 cigarettes into the EU. However, a specific country in the EU can have a 40 cigarette maximum.

This is why it's good to know the European Union's regulations, but it's imperative to know your specific destination's too.

Bringing alcohol and tobacco in and out of Europe

From a country outside of the EU.

Travelers are allowed to bring alcohol in and out of the EU, but there are some limits.

Typically, excise duties have to be paid in the country where alcohol/tobacco is being consumed. This doesn't make a lot of sense for travelers who want to buy alcohol or tobacco in one country and bring it to another it before using it.

For clarity, an excise duty is a tax on specific items. Products like alcohol and tobacco often have a tax like this. Sometimes in the States it's referred to as a "sin tax."

Because it isn't really realistic, you do not have to pay an excise duty to the European Union when you bring alcohol and tobacco in, so long as it's for personal use and under a specific maximum quantity.

Alcohol customs regulations in the EU when entering from a non-EU country

When entering or exiting the EU (from/to a non-EU country), you need to make sure that:

• Your alcohol is intended for personal use or gifting.
• You are carrying under the maximum limit set by the EU/your destination.

In the EU, travelers coming from non-EU countries can bring:

• Up to 4 liters of still wine

AND

• Up to 16 liters of beer

In addition to 4 liters of wine and 16 liters of beer, travelers can bring either:

• 1 liter of spirits (gin, whiskey, etc.) OR
• 2 liters of fortified wine OR
• 2 liters of sparkling wine

That said, you are able to mix and match a little bit. For instance, you can bring half a liter of spirits and one liter of fortified wine, but you can't exceed the quantities above.

Can I bring alcohol into the EU?

How much alcohol can I bring back from Europe?

Tobacco customs regulations in the EU when entering from a non-EU country

Countries in the EU differ a bit when it comes to tobacco allowance. Generally speaking, there are two rules of thought. Some countries choose to have a higher limit. Others choose a lower.

It gets a bit more nuanced than that, even.

For countries that choose to institute a lower limit, it can depend on how the traveler enters that country. For some countries, it might only apply to land and sea entry. For others, it the allowance can apply to all travelers who enter (so, land, sea, and air).

European countries with a higher tobacco limit allowance

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, and Sweden all have higher limits for bringing tobacco in.

Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia also have higher limits for travelers arriving by air specifically.

The limits:

• 200 cigarettes OR
• 100 cigarillos OR
• 50 cigars OR
• 250 grams of tobacco.

Like with alcohol, travelers can "mix and match" the numbers, so long as you stay below the total limit. For example, instead of bringing in 200 cigarettes, you could bring 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars.

European countries with a lower tobacco limit allowance

The following countries have a lower limit allowance for tobacco when entering the country at a land or sea border: Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovakia.

Estonia and Romania have a lower tobacco allowance at all entry points.

The limits:

• 40 cigarettes OR
• 20 cigarillos OR
• 10 cigars OR
• 50 grams of tobacco.

The same is true; you can mix and match, so long as you don't exceed the maximum allowance. As an example, you could bring 20 cigarettes and 5 cigars.

Can I bring cigarettes to Europe?

Can I bring cigars to Europe?

Bringing perfume in and out of Europe

Many travelers don't know that there are even rules around perfume. In this case though, the maximum allowance isn't dependent on something like weight or size; it's measured by value.

Though, if you're flying, do keep liquid allowances in mind if you're bringing it in your carry on.

If you're traveling by air or sea, you can't bring in more than 430€ worth of perfume. If crossing into the EU by land, the limit is 300€.

Some countries in the European Union lower this maximum for travelers under the age of 15, so always check with your destination specifically.

Bringing animal products and food in and out of Europe

If you're coming to the European Union from any country outside of the EU, you cannot bring most animal products or byproducts with you. There are a few exceptions, which include eggs, honey, fruit, vegetables, and fish.

You cannot bring:

• Red meat, even dried, like sausage or jerky.
• Poultry products (other than eggs).
• Dairy/milk products.

You can bring:

• Up to 20kg of eviscerated (gutted) fish, or one eviscerated fish total. Whichever weighs more.
• Up to 2kg of powdered infant milk, so long as it does not require refrigeration before opening and the package has not been broken or opened (unless it is currently in use).
• Up to 2kg of pet food for health-related reasons. The food must be for a pet that is traveling with you, and it has to be shelf-stable, meaning it does not need refrigeration. The package cannot already be open, unless it is currently in use.
• You can bring up to 2kg of other food products, so long as they don't contain milk or meat. The EU gives honey as an example.

Keep in mind that these aren't the only rules around food coming in and going out.

There are also specific rules around food products that contain ingredients from endangered animals or plants. In some cases, you may even need a permit to travel with specific foods.

Before bringing food in our out of the EU, make sure you look at your destination's specific guidelines and restrictions.

Can I bring meat to Europe?

Bringing plants in and out of Europe

You can bring plants in and out of the EU, so long as you have a plant health certificate. Make sure to check with your destination (even if that's back home) to make sure you're allowed to bring in plants. Just because they can enter/leave the EU, doesn't mean they can enter/leave your next port of call.

The purpose of this certificate is to show that the plant is free from certain pests.

There isn't currently a limit as to how many plants you can take with you, and whether they're rooted/potted or cut.

Again, make sure you look at the rules for your specific destination.

Can you bring plants into Europe?

Cash allowances in the EU

You can bring cash in and out of the EU (from a non-EU country), but if you're traveling with more than 10,000€ (or the equivalent in another currency), you will need to declare it when you go through customs.

There will be an official cash declaration form that you will need to submit.

The money can be in the form of banknotes/bills, coins, traveler's checks, money orders, promissory notes, coins with a gold content of 90% or higher, and bullion (including bars, nuggets, and clumps where the gold content exceeds 99.5%).

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