French Customs

You’ll pass French Customs after baggage claim, before you enter the public arriving hall.

It is the responsibility of the traveler to comply with the allowances relevant to the country they are travelling to.
The overview provided below features the regulations applicable for importing & exporting goods for private use.

VAT Refund-Tax RefundDuty Free allowances
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Quantity & Value limits

For goods having no commercial character :
When entering France/EU

You are allowed to bring in France & EU the following amount of duty/tax free goods, provided you travel with the items and do not intend to sell them (if you go over this allowance, you may have to pay duty and/or tax) :

■ 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco.

■ 4 litres of still wine.

■ 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22% volume or 2 litres of fortified wine, sparkling wine or other liqueurs that are less than 22% volume.

■ 16 litres of beer.

Within the EU

As a private individual, there are no limits on what you can buy and take with you when travelling between EU countries as long as the products purchased are for your own use and not for resale.

These maximum amounts must be at least :

■ 800 cigarettes.

■ 400 cigarillos (cigars weighing maximum 3 grams each).

■ 200 cigars.

■ 1 kg of tobacco.

■ 10 litres of spirits.

■ 20 litres of fortified wine.

■ 90 litres of wine (including a maximum of 60 litres of sparkling wines).

■ 110 litres of beer.

When leaving the EU

If you are travelling to a destination outside the EU (and certain areas within the EU such as the Canary Islands) you can buy goods free of duty and tax in so-called “tax-free shops” in airports and ports.
You should however bear in mind that these goods may be subject to duty free and tax free allowances in your non-EU country of destination.

For goods intended for commercial or trading purposes :

Must be declared regardless of their value.
This also applies to goods subject to restrictions (e.g. narcotics, weapons, ammunition, protected plant and animal species,…).

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Restrictions

Counterfeit items

Counterfeit items are absolutely prohibited.
You are forbidden from buying them or bringing them into France, regardless of quantity.
Customs officers seize all counterfeit goods and customs fines are calculated based on the value of the genuine products that have been counterfeited.

Drugs

Drugs of any type (including cannabis) are absolutely prohibited.
Possessing or carrying them risks criminal sanctions (imprisonment, fines).

Protected animals or Plant species

Pursuant to the Washington Convention protecting plant and animal species threatened with extinction,
you must not transport any endangered animal or plant species or one that presents a danger to the European ecosystem.

Medications and Food

You must check before your departure regarding the provisions applicable in this domain, both with regards to your destination country and for your return through France.
If you are arriving from a Non-EU country, you may not bring with you any meat or dairy products without official veterinary documentation.

Cash, Securities and Valuables

If you are in possession of cash, securities, or valuables in an amount equal to or greater than €10,000 (or its foreign currency equivalent), you must declare it to Customs when crossing the French border, regardless of your destination or return country.

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Customs desks (Douane) at CDG Airport

Where to find French Customs :
Terminal 1

CDGVAL Level (Hall 6)

Terminal 2A

Exit 5

Terminal 2B

Arrivals level

Terminal 2C

Exit 12

Terminal 2E

Departures level, Exit 8d

Terminal 2F

Arrivals level, Exit 10a

Terminal 3

Departures, after security

Customs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport can provide you with further information :
Email : ids@douane.finances.gouv.fr
Tel : + 33 1 72 40 78 50
www.douane.gouv.fr
www.ec.europa.eu