EU / Schengen customs allowances: alcohol, tobacco and the €10,000 cash rule
"Schengen" and "the EU customs union" are different things, but traveller allowances follow the EU customs border: arrive from any non-EU country — the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Taiwan — and the EU-level allowances apply, with member states choosing some of the details (especially tobacco). This page summarises the European Commission's official guidance.
Data verified as of 2026-10-29
Every number on this page was checked against the European Commission's Your Europe "Alcohol, tobacco and cash" page on the date above, with source links at the bottom. Member-state details vary — re-check the official page and the arrival country's customs before you travel.
Key takeaways
- Alcohol (17+): 4 litres of still wine + 16 litres of beer, plus either 1 litre of spirits (over 22% vol) or 2 litres of intermediate products (splittable).
- Tobacco high tier: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250 g; some member states apply a lower tier (40 cigarettes…) to land/sea arrivals — or to all arrivals.
- Other goods: €430 by air/sea, €300 by land/sea; some countries apply €150 for under-15s.
- Cash of €10,000 or more must be declared entering or leaving the EU (Regulation 2018/1672); "cash" includes bearer instruments and gold.
- Moving goods between EU countries is different again — separate own-use indicator levels apply (e.g. 800 cigarettes).
Alcohol allowance (from outside the EU)
| Category | Allowance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Still wine | 4 litres | Both allowed together |
| Beer | 16 litres | |
| Spirits over 22% vol / undenatured alcohol 80% vol+ | 1 litre | Choose one; may be split proportionally |
| Fortified or sparkling wine and other drinks under 22% vol | 2 litres |
The minimum age is set by member states; the EU-level guidance gives no alcohol or tobacco allowance to travellers under 17, and several states set higher ages.
Tobacco: the high/low tiers
| Tier | Cigarettes | Cigarillos | Cigars | Tobacco | Applied by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Higher | 200 | 100 | 50 | 250 g | Most member states; air/sea arrivals |
| Lower | 40 | 20 | 10 | 50 g | Some states for land/sea arrivals (Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia); Estonia and Romania for all arrivals |
Products can be combined as long as the total doesn't exceed the cap. If you're crossing into one of the lower-tier states by land, your cigarette allowance may be 40 sticks — check that country's customs site before you stock up.
Goods and cash
| Item | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Other goods, air/sea arrivals | €430 |
| Other goods, land/sea arrivals | €300 |
| Travellers under 15 | €150 in some states |
| Portable fuel in a canister | Up to 10 litres beyond the tank |
| Cash (incl. bearer instruments, gold) entering/leaving the EU | Declare €10,000 or more |
Under Regulation (EU) 2018/1672, "cash" covers banknotes and coins, bearer-negotiable instruments (bearer cheques, traveller's cheques), prepaid cards, and commodities used as highly liquid stores of value such as gold coins and bullion.
Travelling between EU countries
There is no customs border inside the EU, but "own use" has indicator levels; above them you may be asked to prove the goods are for personal use, or pay excise: 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 1 kg of tobacco, 10 litres of spirits, 20 litres of fortified wine, 90 litres of wine (max 60 litres sparkling) and 110 litres of beer.
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See plans →Schengen ≠ EU customs border
Norway, Switzerland and Iceland are Schengen but outside the EU — entering the EU from them counts as entering from a non-EU country. Ireland is EU but not Schengen. When in doubt, judge by whether the departure point is inside the EU customs territory. Information summary, not legal advice — ask the arrival country's customs about your case.
Official sources
- European Commission, Your Europe: Alcohol, tobacco and excise duties
- European Commission, DG TAXUD: Cash controls (€10,000 declaration)