Duty-free is about how much you can bring; customs is about what you can't. Food, plants and undeclared cash trip up travelers most — here's what to leave behind or declare.
| Item | Bringing in | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh fruit & vegetables | Usually banned | Biosecurity risk — eat or bin before landing. |
| Meat & dairy | Often banned | Strict into US, EU, Australia, NZ. |
| Plants, seeds, soil | Permit / declare | Usually needs a phytosanitary certificate. |
| Packaged / processed food | Often OK — declare | Commercially sealed is safer; still declare. |
| Cash over $10,000 (or €10,000) | Must declare | Legal to carry, illegal not to declare. |
| Prescription medication | Declare | Keep in original packaging + a copy of the script. |
| Alcohol & tobacco | Within allowance | Over the limit → declare & pay duty. |
| Counterfeit goods | Seized | Fakes can be confiscated and fined. |
| Wildlife / ivory / coral | Banned (CITES) | Many "souvenirs" are illegal to import. |
| Weapons & certain knives | Restricted | Permits required; rules vary widely. |
Rules differ by country and change — this is general guidance, not legal advice. Check the destination's customs/biosecurity authority, and remember: the arrival card asks these questions for a reason. Declare, don't gamble.
Packaged, commercially sealed food is often allowed if declared, but fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy and plant products are usually banned for biosecurity reasons — especially into the US, Australia and New Zealand. When in doubt, declare it or leave it behind.
Yes if it's over the threshold — typically US$10,000 (or €10,000 entering/leaving the EU), including cash and equivalents. Carrying it is legal; failing to declare it is not and can mean seizure and fines.
If customs finds an undeclared restricted item, you can face on-the-spot fines, confiscation, delays, and in serious cases prosecution. Declaring the same item usually just means it's inspected or taken — which is why declaring is always the safer move.