POSTING RULE

Send Tobacco Cigarettes → 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

Q: Can I post Tobacco Cigarettes to United Kingdom?

Postal restrictions apply for tobacco cigarettes Sending tobacco cigarettes by post to United Kingdom requires compliance with carrier dangerous goods policies and destination customs regulations. Verify current regulations with the destination customs authority. Rules change frequently and enforcement varies by port of entry and individual officer. Enforcement in United Kingdom carries fines from GBP 250 to GBP 20,000 under Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 s.167 (untrue declarations); Universal Postal Convention Art. 20 (typical personal cases are handled as civil infringements).

Q: What are the restrictions for sending Tobacco Cigarettes to United Kingdom?

Quantity/weight limits: Royal Mail prohibited article; couriers may carry up to 800 cigarettes duty-paid per addressee; commercial import requires HMRC tobacco duty registration. Documentation required: HMRC Excise Duty registration (W1 licence) for commercial tobacco importers, Commercial invoice with quantity and HS code 2402.20.

ANSWER

Can I post Tobacco Cigarettes to United Kingdom?

RESTRICTEDVERIFIED · 2026-07-25MEDIUM CONFIDENCE

Postal restrictions apply for tobacco cigarettes

QUANTITY / LIMITS

Royal Mail prohibited article; couriers may carry up to 800 cigarettes duty-paid per addressee; commercial import requires HMRC tobacco duty registration

DOCUMENTS

HMRC Excise Duty registration (W1 licence) for commercial tobacco importers
Commercial invoice with quantity and HS code 2402.20

DECLARATION

Required at the destination customs authority

SOURCE

gov.uk

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Full Details

Sending tobacco cigarettes by post to United Kingdom requires compliance with carrier dangerous goods policies and destination customs regulations. Verify current regulations with the destination customs authority. Rules change frequently and enforcement varies by port of entry and individual officer. Enforcement in United Kingdom carries fines from GBP 250 to GBP 20,000 under Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 s.167 (untrue declarations); Universal Postal Convention Art. 20 (typical personal cases are handled as civil infringements).

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Declare quantities above the standard 200-cigarette / 50-cigar / 250g personal allowance to UK Border Force; bring the purchase receipt to compute excise + VAT. Keep duty-free purchases sealed in the original retailer bag for audit.

OFFICIAL SOURCES

gov.uk gov.uk

POSTING DETAILS

QUANTITY / WEIGHT LIMITS

Royal Mail prohibited article; couriers may carry up to 800 cigarettes duty-paid per addressee; commercial import requires HMRC tobacco duty registration

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

—HMRC Excise Duty registration (W1 licence) for commercial tobacco importers
—Commercial invoice with quantity and HS code 2402.20

DESTINATION CUSTOMS

His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

COUNTRY POSTING NOTES

Items sent by post valued over £135 require a customs declaration. Royal Mail and courier services handle customs clearance for postal imports. Certain items are prohibited from being sent internationally via post (batteries alone, aerosols, etc.).