SwitzerlandSchweiz

Travellers arriving in Switzerland may bring 5 L of alcohol duty-free. Anything above the allowance must be declared at the red channel. Switzerland has generous duty-free allowances. Alcohol: up to 5L of alcoholic beverages below 18% ABV and up to 1L above 18% ABV for travelers 17+. Tobacco: up to 250 cigarettes or 250g of tobacco products (17+). General goods: CHF 300 (approximately USD $330) worth of goods per adult traveler per day for personal use. Watches: up to two watches may be imported duty-free for personal use, making Switzerland notable for watch purchases.

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

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

CHF 5 minimum tax — effectively CHF 65–150 depending on good type (~USD 22). Switzerland is not in the EU VAT area. Swiss VAT (MWST/TVA/IVA) is 8.1% standard rate. Low-value goods imported into Switzerland are subject to Swiss VAT when the total import value exceeds CHF 5 in tax liability — for standard-rated goods, this equates to approximately CHF 62 in value. Mail-order and e-commerce sellers with over CHF 100,000 in annual Switzerland revenue must register for Swiss VAT and collect it at point of sale. Switzerland's de minimis is higher in practice than many EU neighbors due to the CHF 5 minimum duty threshold.

MwSt 8.1% standard (raised from 7.7% in January 2024); 2.6% reduced (food, books, newspapers); 3.8% accommodation. Applied to imports above CHF 5 tax-de-minimis. Switzerland is outside EU but in EFTA — imports from EU clear under EU-Switzerland bilateral agreements.

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 Federal Customs Administration (Eidgenössische Zollverwaltung — EZV / Office fédéral de la douane et de la sécurité des frontières — BAZG) for your specific medicine.

Gifts are accepted by post but are still subject to Switzerland'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 Federal Customs Administration (Eidgenössische Zollverwaltung — EZV / Office fédéral de la douane et de la sécurité des frontières — BAZG), 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 (although Switzerland has a liberal harm-reduction policy domestically, importing drugs remains illegal); Counterfeit goods; Pornographic material involving minors. See the full prohibited list on this page.

Firearms and weapons (Swiss Weapons Act — Waffengesetz; permit required for prohibited weapons); Medicines and pharmaceuticals (Swissmedic authorization required for commercial import; personal use quantities permitted with documentation); Food products from outside Switzerland and EU/EFTA (Swiss food safety standards; phytosanitary requirements for plants). 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 Switzerland 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 Federal Customs Administration (Eidgenössische Zollverwaltung — EZV / Office fédéral de la douane et de la sécurité des frontières — BAZG)'s agricultural / biosecurity authority before bringing food.

Vape rules are changing fast worldwide; Switzerland may have specific restrictions, age limits, or outright bans. Verify on the current Federal Customs Administration (Eidgenössische Zollverwaltung — EZV / Office fédéral de la douane et de la sécurité des frontières — BAZG) 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 Switzerland'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 Switzerland.

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 Federal Customs Administration (Eidgenössische Zollverwaltung — EZV / Office fédéral de la douane et de la sécurité des frontières — BAZG) 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.