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Travellers arriving in France may bring 4 L of alcohol duty-free. Anything above the allowance must be declared at the red channel. Same EU rules as Germany. For travelers from outside the EU: 4L still wine + 16L beer + 1L spirits; 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco (age 17+). Goods: €430 duty-free for air/sea travelers, €300 for others. France also has specific rules on cheese (many raw milk cheeses require health certificates when importing from non-EU).

200 cigarettes per traveller (or proportionally less in cigars / tobacco). Above-limit tobacco must be declared.

Yes. Cash and equivalent bearer instruments above USD 11000 (EUR) must be declared on arrival.

€150 EUR (~USD 165). Same EU rules: €22 VAT exemption removed as of 1 July 2021. Customs duty de minimis €150. IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop) allows overseas sellers to collect VAT at point of sale and remit to tax authorities.

TVA 20% standard; 10% restaurants, transport; 5.5% food, books, energy; 2.1% pharmaceuticals and press. Applied to imports plus EU CN8 tariff at customs entry. EU IOSS for ≤EUR 150 ecommerce.

Prescription medicines for personal use are generally allowed in reasonable quantities (typically 30-90 days' supply), accompanied by the original prescription and ideally a doctor's letter. Some controlled substances need import authorisation. Verify with Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs) for your specific medicine.

Gifts are accepted by post but are still subject to France's import rules. Tax-relief gift thresholds (where they exist) are typically much lower than commercial thresholds. Declare honestly on the CN22/CN23 — undervaluation is treated as fraud.

A customs declaration filed with Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs), a commercial invoice, packing list, and transport document (AWB or B/L). Add a Certificate of Origin to claim FTA preferential duty. Sector-specific imports (food, plants, animals, medicines, electronics, dangerous goods) need additional permits.

The green channel is for travellers with nothing to declare. The red channel is for travellers carrying anything above allowances or any restricted goods. Spot checks happen at both. Lying or hiding goods can lead to seizure plus penalties.

Narcotics and controlled substances; Counterfeit goods (especially luxury goods — strictly enforced); Nazi memorabilia and hate propaganda. See the full prohibited list on this page.

Firearms and weapons (strict licence requirements under French law); Counterfeit luxury goods (France is a major enforcer due to luxury goods industry); Plants and plant products from outside EU. Restricted items typically need a permit, certificate, or declaration. See the full restricted list on this page.

Use the red channel at the airport. Most ports of entry into France accept either a paper declaration or, increasingly, an electronic declaration via an app or kiosk. Be ready to show receipts, prescriptions, or permits.

Most countries restrict animal-origin food (meat, dairy) for biosecurity reasons; sealed commercial packaged food is sometimes permitted. Verify with Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs)'s agricultural / biosecurity authority before bringing food.

Vape rules are changing fast worldwide; France may have specific restrictions, age limits, or outright bans. Verify on the current Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs) guidance before travel — bans have grown markedly since 2023.

Many countries require advance import authorisation for opioids, stimulants, and certain psychiatric medicines. Carry the original prescription, doctor's letter, and original packaging. For controlled substances, contact France's health authority before travel.

Yes. Duty-free purchases at the destination airport on arrival count toward your alcohol and tobacco allowance, even though they were purchased after immigration. Buying duty-free at departure rather than arrival does not bypass the allowance.

Above the de minimis, customs assesses duty and VAT/GST on the goods value (plus, in some regimes, freight + insurance). The carrier or postal operator usually clears it and bills the recipient. Recipients can refuse delivery if they don't want to pay.

Yes. If you don't want to pay duties or taxes, you can refuse the parcel and the carrier will return it to sender or destroy it. This does not affect your tax record but means the goods don't enter France.

Standard clearance for compliant parcels is typically same-day to a few days. Holds for incomplete declarations, biosecurity inspection, sanctions screening, or anti-counterfeit checks can take longer. Provide complete declarations to avoid delays.

Your carrier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, postal operator) is the first contact — they handle clearance on your behalf. If you need to deal directly with the authority, contact Direction générale des douanes et droits indirects (DGDDI — French Customs) via the contact route on their official site.

Watch for: fake "customs fees" demands by SMS or email; impostor officials at airports; unsolicited phone calls about a "stuck parcel"; payment requests by gift card. Real customs authorities do not ask for payment via SMS link or gift cards. See our scams page for documented patterns.