When travelling within the European Union, there are no limits on the quantity of goods you may purchase or carry, provided that the goods are intended for your personal use and not for resale.
VAT and excise duties are included in the purchase price, so no additional taxes or duties need to be paid in another EU country.
However, guide levels apply to tobacco products and alcoholic beverages.
Tobacco products and alcohol
Each country may set different quantities of tobacco products and alcoholic beverages regarded as being intended for personal use. If you carry quantities exceeding these levels, you may be asked to prove that the goods are intended for your personal use.
The guide levels set by individual countries must not be lower than:
- 800 cigarettes
- 400 cigarillos
- 200 cigars
- 1 kg of tobacco
- 10 litres of spirits
- 20 litres of fortified wine, such as port or sherry
- 90 litres of wine, of which no more than 60 litres may be sparkling wine
- 110 litres of beer
Important information before travelling
If you plan to carry cigarettes for personal use to another EU country, you are advised to check whether that country applies similar restrictions.
When travelling within the EU, you are advised to check in advance whether particular goods are subject to restrictions in the countries concerned. This information should be obtained from the competent authorities or diplomatic missions of the relevant EU countries.
The websites of the customs administrations of countries that are members of the World Customs Organization can be found on the WCO website.
More useful information is available on the European Union website: Travelling in the EU - Your Europe.