Travel – Duty Free limits
Changes to the duty-free limits when travelling to the UK from a non-EU country took effect from 1 January 2010.
Travellers returning to the UK from outside the EU are now allowed to bring £390 (increased from £340) worth of goods in addition to the alcohol and tobacco allowances when arriving back in the UK by sea or air. There is a smaller limit of £270 for travellers not arriving by sea or air, which includes private pleasure-flying or private pleasure-sea-navigation.
As a reminder the alcohol and tobacco allowances remain as follows:
- 200 cigarettes; or 100 cigarillos; or 50 cigars; or 250g of tobacco
- 4 litres of still table wine
- 16 litres of beer
- 1 litre of spirits or strong liqueurs over 22 per cent volume; or 2 litres of fortified wine (such as port or sherry), sparkling wine or other alcoholic beverages of less than 22 per cent volume.
Where the value of imports exceeds any of these amounts, you are required to tell a Customs officer.